Vodafone Idea Ordered to Compensate Senior Citizen
In a recent ruling, a consumer commission in Mumbai has instructed Vodafone Idea to pay a total of Rs 50,000 to a senior citizen due to the mental distress caused by the sudden disconnection of his mobile services. This decision stems from a case where the complainant faced issues while using an international roaming pack. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission found the mobile service provider guilty of failing to deliver adequate service, which resulted in considerable inconvenience, mental strain, and financial troubles for the complainant.
Complaint Details and Service Disruption
The complainant had purchased an international roaming pack (i-Roamfree) for a duration of 28 days, starting on May 2, 2019, which included unlimited calls and 5.2 GB of internet data. While traveling in Kenya, he used a significant portion of his data, but when he visited Victoria in Zimbabwe, he was shocked to discover that his service was abruptly cut off after he used just a bit more data. He reportedly did not receive any notifications from Vodafone Idea regarding the limitations of his roaming plan, nor was he informed of any potential additional charges for roaming in Zimbabwe.
Consumer Commission’s Ruling
The commission highlighted that the telecom company failed to communicate important information about roaming charges and unjustly disconnected the complainant’s services without prior warning. As a result, the consumer was left without access to his remaining data and was presented with an exorbitant bill, which he contested. After a prolonged period of service interruption, the commission ruled in favor of the senior citizen, acknowledging the significant mental and financial distress he endured. Ultimately, Vodafone Idea was directed to compensate him with Rs 50,000 for his troubles, along with an additional Rs 10,000 to cover the costs of filing the complaint.
SHOTRS COVERAGE.
A Mumbai consumer commission has ordered Vodafone Idea to compensate a senior citizen with Rs 50,000 for mental harassment. The ruling stemmed from the sudden disconnection of the customer’s international roaming services without prior notification, despite a purchased plan that included 5.2 GB of data. The complainant faced financial distress, including a penalty of Rs 72,419, and was left without service for 40 days. The commission found Vodafone Idea guilty of service deficiency, causing significant inconvenience and distress.
