Archive for December 25th, 2007

PTA Consumer Alerts Are Not Good Enough

Published by Babar Bhatti on December 25, 2007 under Consumer Rights, Emerging Markets Telecom, Government Regulations, Mobile Companies, blogging

PTA must have been feeling guilty about all the consumer issues in Pakistan telecom. Perhaps thats why they have recently started throwing a consumer alert as soon as you get to their site. Last time I checked, the role of the regulator / watchdog is to take corrective action. I get a feeling that PTA thinks that by putting up a pop up page, they have completed their obligation. First, with the low number of internet users in Pakistan, how many have access to this? and then how many will visit their site and follow the terse instructions? It seems that more and more responsibility is being shifted to the consumers to fix the mess created by the industry. This is wrong and unacceptable. I hope other bloggers take note and write against this trend.

Anyway, here’s a snapshot of the alert from PTA site.

The general public / users of Telecom Services are advised to note the following:

 

International Roaming Tariffs for Saudi Arabia

The cellular mobile operators are offering International Roaming (IR) facility to prepaid as well as postpaid subscribers. For IR tariff details, click here

 

PTCL Pakistan Package

PTCL has activated “Pakistan Package” on all its subscriber-lines w.e.f. December 01, 2007. PTCL is charging Rs. 199 per month (excluding 15% GST) in addition to normal line-rent and is offering 5,000 free on-net (PTCL to PTCL/Vfone) NWD minutes. Validity of PTCL “Pakistan Package” is “Two (02) months”. For de-activation of “Pakistan Package”, dial 1236.

Helpline & Friends & Family Charges

The cellular mobile operators are charging for helpline and friends & family services (Excluding 15% GST & 10% Advance Tax). For further details, click here

PTCL Voice Messaging Service (VMS)

PTCL is charging local call charges of Rs. 2.01 per 5 minutes (excluding GST) when a call is diverted to VMS or a caller listens greeting message / prompt tone. For de-activation, dial 1236 or visit PTCL’s website for further details:

http://www.ptcl.com.pk/contentb.php?NID=133

 

Mobilink Helpline

 

Mobilink is charging Rs.0.86 (including taxes) per call for calls made to Mobilink Helpline (111).

 

Hoax Calls and Falsified / Unsolicited SMS(s)

Be aware of hoax calls and falsified / unsolicited SMS(s) that are being called / sent to subscribers to buy scratch cards and notify scratch number to calling party for prizes of immense value. You are requested to be mindful of receiving hoax / unsolicited calls and SMS(s) notifying that you have won a prize of immense value. However, in order to retrieve the prize, you have to inform the calling party the hidden numbers on the prepaid scratch cards. As a result, you will be deprived of the value of the Scratch Card.

For Further details, click here