BSNL has launched a special settlement program for broadband bill disputes

BSNL has announced a special settlement program named “Samadhan” to settle down the dispute over the broadband billing. The scheme is beneficial for both existing and ex- customers. This program will be helpful for the customers who got a disconnection due to non payment of outstanding bills beyond the  expected usage. According to BSNL the  main reason of unexpected huge bill is due to the lack of customer unawareness about various plans and the customer requirements. This scheme is valid up to 31 Mar 2011 and this is a once in a lifetime option. The scheme is beneficial for the customers already got a disconnection due to non payment and he shall not be charged any reconnection/installation fee and Fixed monthly charges for the intervening period i.e., from the date of disconnection of BB connection up to the date of reconnection.

All the schemes are applicable  uniformly up to three consecutive bills only i.e., the latest disputed bills and two immediately preceding bills, in case these two preceding bills too are disputed and unpaid. However on the merits of each case, the heads of Secondary Switching Area have been empowered to allow settlement of such disputed bills for six consecutive billing cycles i.e., the latest disputed bill and preceding five bills, if disputed and unpaid.

Option – I (Applicable to all customers – Home & Business)

Under this option, a customer against whom one or more such alleged excessive bills outstanding, can settle maximum three bills of three consecutive billing cycles as follows :

The customer has to pay Rs. 750/- for first 5 GB per bill  for excess usage (beyond the admissible limit as per plan)  and the remaining excess usage (if any) beyond 5 GB @ Rs. 100/- per GB or part thereof per bill. This settlement shall be applicable individually against each disputed bill. For example, if you have a 1 GB plan and with an excess usage of 7 GB (Means total 8 GB) you have to pay Rs 750+Rs 200 in addition to fixed monthly charges as per your plan.

The above mentioned relief shall be allowed to the customer, if the customer (Home & Business) simultaneously chooses a BB Plan at least Start up 250 or any other higher Plan (in terms of FMC). A Home user can choose only Home Plan and the Business user has to choose a suitable Business/General Plan.

Option – II (Applicable to all customers – Home & Business)

In this the customer has an option to select a Limited Usage Plan with higher FMC (Fixed Monthly charges), and the excess usage will be accommodated with the additional data limit of the new plan. All the disputed bills shall then be settled as per the new Limited Usage Plan chosen by the customer.

Option(III)

In this scheme Customer can select the unlimited plan  to get corresponding rebate on the excess usage of his disputed bill/s.

For Home useres

For Buisiness users

For extra usage beyond the rebate mentioned above in each disputed bills, the customer shall have to pay @ Rs.100/- per GB (For Home users) and Rs 75/- per GB (For business users) or part thereof to settle the disputed bill/s.

Note:  In all the three above mentioned options,  Customers are committed to  remain in  the selected BB Plan  for a period of twelve months after the  settlement, by paying ten months fixed monthly charges in advance as Annual Payment.

Option IV (For all customers)

If a customer does not want any future commitments, he can settle the excess bill by paying the outstanding  fixed monthly charges along with Rs 1000/- up to first 5 GB , Rs 200/- per GB for every additional GB or part thereof beyond 5 GB up to 10 GB and Rs. 100/- per GB for every additional GB or part thereof beyond 10 GB. Further the customer can continue with his existing plan without any future commitments.

BSNL has updated the scheme. Please go through the details