Advertisment

TRAI warns public on receiving high phone bills for international calls made through online conferencing platforms

TRAI experienced bill shocks when they joined online conferencing platforms inadvertently dialing international telephone numbers.

author-image
VoicenData Bureau
New Update
TRAI warns phone bills will be high

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released an advisory to the public urging them to exercise due care while joining online conference platforms through audio calls.

Advertisment

TRAI says that a few consumers approached the regulatory body with concerns related to experiencing bill shocks when they joined online conferencing platforms inadvertently dialing international telephone numbers.

TRAI in the press note had said, "Considering that a large number of members of public have been using online conferencing platforms due to continued lockdown to check the spread of COVID-19, it is necessary to alert them to check applicable charges for dialing such numbers/ helplines of such platform/ App providers. Incidences have also come to the knowledge where the customer care centers of some of such service providers are either premium numbers or international numbers."

Obviously, the members of public who use such services inadvertently may have to pay higher rates applicable to

premium numbers or international numbers which would imply application of ISD tariffs.

Accordingly, TRAI has advised the public to carefully check the terms and conditions before using the dial-in service provided by online conferencing platforms and cost applicable for contacting the customer care center of such platform in terms of tariff for voice calls and other charges as may be applied by the service providers.

"Any inadvertent lapse in this regard may result in significant bills causing bill shocks. Thus, all the members of the public are advised to exercise full caution and make themselves aware of the details of terms and conditions of using the online conferencing services particularly nature of numbers to which voice calls have to be made for joining the online conference and/or contacting customer support and details of tariff applicable for each of such services," warns TRAI.

trai
Advertisment