Update: The Indian telecom regulatory body TRAI has been struck with the realisation, supremely delayed as it is, that consumer complaints are not being addressed by the three-tiered structure most operators have - customer care, nodal officers and appellate authorities and has decided to set up an online complaints register by April 1, 2010 to determine how many are redressed by operators, Economic Times has reported. The site will be open to the public and TRAI is also looking at allowing complaints sent by SMS or voice next. Meanwhile, operators are planning to make call centre services paid for callers who dial in for enquiring purpose rather than to register a complaint. Instead of introducing a strict law and a heavy fine or punishment to help protect consumers from telemarketers, TRAI is re-inventing the wheel - there is an archive of complaints at the Indian Consumer Complaints Forum - why not use that database? Earlier (Jan 19): In a blow to consumers in India, the Delhi High Court has adjudicated that the earlier verdict of mobile operators, banks and other bodies placing telemarketing calls and sending unsolicited text messages having to pay the subscriber a penalty of Rs. 25,000 has been annulled, the Indian Express reports. In 2007, the Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission decided that under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986, a subscriber could be compensated with Rs. 25,000 by the concerned party making the calls or sending the SMSs. But the ruling has been made void…
