In transparency for the prepaid mobile services, TRAI has issued a new directive to all mobile phone operators making it mandatory to
provide accurate updates regarding all the calls made and data downloads- each
time voice and data services are consumed by a user.
According to a press release issued by TRAI in that context, the telecom operator has said, ‘To ensure that a prepaid consumer is aware of the charges made on his last call or data usage, the service providers have been mandated to inform the consumer, through SMS, about the deduction from his account – after every call made or after every data usage session. This information will include the duration of the call or usage, the charges deducted, balance available, quantum of data usage. The consumer can also get details of his tariff plan, available balance in his account and details of any Value Added Service activated on his telephone number at any time from the service provider, free of charge.’
With this step, prepaid users can have an account of all the charges that have been levied on them by their telecom operator. That's not all. TRAI has also asked the telecom operators to ensure that ‘a prepaid consumer get their itemized usage of his account, the service providers have been mandated to provide the same within 30 days to the consumer on request and at a reasonable cost not exceeding Rs 50.’
The telecom regulator has also talked about providing colour coding to the vouchers for making them easily identifiable. TRAI has decided that, To promote further transparency and easy identification by consumers, a distinct colour band has been mandated to be provided on the reverse of the each voucher. The Plan Voucher will have a red colour band, the Top Up Voucher a green colour band and the Special Tariff Voucher a yellow colour band.
