TRAI flags issues over tariff validity, seeks feedback on recharge system

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Thursday floated a session paper to debate the assorted elements of tariff orders and their validity. The regulator stated although the telcos had been very clear in regards to the validity of tariff recharges, the customers have of their complaints stated these tariffs created confusion and so they felt cheated.
“The consumers have stated in their complaints that not only the same causes confusion but also they feel cheated. It also results in hardships for them as they need to make 13 recharges of the monthly prepaid tariff offering considering the validity period offered as 28 days instead of a month,” Trai stated.
Telecom service suppliers, when consulted on the problem, stated that even when a tariff providing for 30 days was mandated by Trai, clients would nonetheless need to recharge greater than as soon as in a month as some months have 31 days.

“It was pointed out that unlike postpaid services, where a concept of fixed billing cycle on a monthly basis is followed, prepaid services resume from the date of recharge and follow the validity period of tariff expressed in terms of number of days rather than a fixed monthly billing period,” Trai stated. In its session paper, the telecom regulator had framed 4 fundamental inquiries to be answered by stakeholder, which embrace a dialogue on whether or not Trai ought to intervene within the concern of validity interval or enable it to proceed underneath the forbearance regime as it’s, and whether or not telcos ought to be mandated or simply suggested to supply tariff. The third concern on which stakeholders can ship their feedback, is whether or not the validity interval for tariff to be specified ought to be thought of by default as a 30-day validity interval or whether or not there ought to be requirement of tariff to be solely on the identical date of every month, no matter the variety of days within the month.
Trai has additionally sought to know if it ought to take into account mandating separate tariff orders for 29,30, and 31 days.