TRAI directs Aircel to refund deposits

In much-needed relief for the subscribers of beleaguered telecom operator Aircel, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a directive asking the firm to refund the security deposits of postpaid subscribers by May 10. It also asked Aircel to furnish details of the subscribers whose security deposits have been refunded and on unclaimed/undelivered security deposits.

Report sought

The firm has been asked to issue a public notice on its website and in newspapers, calling on customers to send their names and their bank account details to claim refund of unspent prepaid balance electronically.

“Furnish a compliance report of this direction to the authority by May 20, 2018, along with [details on] the unspent prepaid balance amount and the number of subscribers available with the Aircel Group to whom refund could not be provided and reasons thereof,” TRAI’s directive read.

In Tamil Nadu alone, Aircel had a subscriber base of 1.5 crore, of which more than 60 lakh have migrated to other telecom firms.

The move by TRAI comes after it received a large number of complaints from subscribers over the refund of the balance amount in the form of recharges or vouchers/plans in their prepaid accounts and the non-refund of security deposits for postpaid accounts.