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Jio ya Maro: When a post-paid connection is disconnected for want of ‘prepaid recharge’
Yogesh Sapkale 04 August 2017
Economy & Nation
Reliance Jio, the newest entrant in the mobile business, delivered a shocker Friday morning, when this writer, a post-paid subscriber, found his mobile connection disconnected without any information. Upon enquiry, I learned from a senior official that they do not have post-paid subscribers and I need to recharge my connection as pre-paid to continue to avail of Jio services! 
 
This is when, even today, on the MyJio app, I am shown as a post-paid subscriber and there are bills (off course of zero rupees due to continuation of free offers) raised against my number.
 
 
What is more shocking is there is absolutely no communication whatsoever from Jio, either about ‘converting’ my post-paid connection to prepaid or any other such thing. I bought this connection in September 2016 by making sure that my plan is a post-paid one. This was re-confirmed when Jio launched Prime membership (see the image below).
 
Since there was no data connection since morning, I could not even check the issue from MyJio app. After using shared data connection from my other mobile number, I started a chat call with an executive from Jio. He told me all post-paid subscribers were mandated (without any communication!) to fill up an ACH form (don’t ask what is ACH). He said this is an authorisation form filled up by post-paid subscriber to automatically deduct the billing amount from the subscriber's bank account. He also said for availing post-paid connection benefits (!), autopay is mandatory. This ACH form is not available online and I need to visit Jio’s store and fill up the form manually! Did somebody just say ‘digital India’ or are my ears playing tricks on me?
 
 
 
I also learned that there were some issues at Jio with post-paid subscription and now these are being sorted out. 
 
Anyway, at present my post-paid Jio bought with much fanfare, is dead (till writing this report) and until I allow them to automatically deduct money from my bank account, it may not become alive soon. This is mandatory and even if I encounter any issues in the bill, my money would be deducted first and raise I may raise grievances later. So much for free offers!
 
I sent emails to senior officials from communication department of Reliance Industries and will upload their response as and when we receive it.
 
Comments
suresh appu
8 years ago
i want to pre on post sim
Reply
Ramesh I
8 years ago
Mr. Sapkale. I wish you had lodged a complaint against this gross mistake by Reliance Jio to TRAI formally. I believe it's against TRAI guidelines/rules if a pre-paid customer is shifted to post-paid category without express consent / approval of the subscriber. Since its inception, Jio has been teasing prospective and actual customers with all sorts of 'offer' only to circumvent TRAI's rules. Moreover, ECS or authorization for direct debit from a customer's Bank A/c is always a voluntary and optional facility which no utility service provider can 'force' upon a customer to avail their services. But then, despite its name 'Reliance', the business group since Dhirubhai Ambani's time has always been known for unethical business practices. One shouldn't expect any better from the Ambanis.
Reply
Saurabh Sharma
8 years ago
I have been using jio since more than a year. Before that I spent 2-3 thousand a month to airtel to get data for a few GB, as I used to travel a lot. My experience with jio has been best among vodafone, airtel, old reliance rcom, docomo. You could have opted for monthly auto recharge. However, I agree that you must get freedom of choice between postpaid and prepaid.
Reply
Ramesh Bhartia
8 years ago
Yes your grievance is true. I also faced same trouble and I had to switch to another provider.
Reply
SUNDARAM APPAN
8 years ago
This should be a WECOME SLIPUP BY JIO ..THEY WILL CELEBRATE AND MAKE SURE JIO MARKET IS DOWN!!
Reply
SUNDARAM APPAN
8 years ago
My Jion connection is down last 3Days..Post paid valid up to OCT '17. But suddenly it says prepaid recharge immediately yp balance is nil when I made call 3 days ago. Also messaging is DOWN

MY COMMENT ..TELECOM TECH IS NOT OIL GREASE ANG GAS...WATCH OUT JIO OTHERWISE AIRTEL AND VODOFONE IS WAITING FOR SUCH MAJOR SLIPUPS GIVING MAJOR PROBLEMS TO COSTOMERS...
PROF SUNDARAM APPAN
Reply
Subhash Khurana
8 years ago
Yogesh is luck

Yogesh is lucky. His plight has been highlighted by google cards. What about the thousands of others who just bear it ? The majority of other sufferers don't have a chance to present their case.
Reply
Vikas V Deodhar
8 years ago
I was about to port my number to JIO. Now am avoiding it. I fought with Vodafone in Consumer Court, for excessive billing of 2,800/- and won the case after spending more than 2,800/-, only to get satisfaction of getting justice. Should all Consumers keep fighting only to get justice.? Vodafone connectivity is equally bad in City of Mumbai itself. And Modi is talking of making digital India reaching to far off rural areas ! What a dream ! And making Cashless economy ! And after demonatisation 75% of Cash is already back in circulation but how much it is gone in recirculation, RBI is not publishing because they still counting their notes. Acche Din ki Jai ho !
Reply
Aditya Bajpai
Replied to Vikas V Deodhar comment 8 years ago
Subah subah tumhari tatti bhi modi he dhone aate honge,abe obscessed person apna kam kar
Reply
Vikas V Deodhar
Replied to Aditya Bajpai comment 8 years ago
Dhone ke liye , bureaucracy ki Be-akal ki advice sunkar Modine Swachh bharat ka tax bhi laga diya hai - Jai ho Modiji.
Reply
Om Prakash Chitlangia
8 years ago
Very poor network service downloading & internet speed very poor
Reply
Chander Shekhar Sharma
8 years ago
Remember every business has a long term goal of hefty earnings. Who doesn't know this. Every Corporate House is not like TATAs. So think and decide your all future options.
Reply
Anand Hariharan
8 years ago
I was planning to do MNP into Jio for a postpaid connection. Now I'm not doing that. I'm not giving auto debit or ECS to any service provider most specifically to Reliance. Money once taken away will certainly not come back.
Reply
Vikas V Deodhar
Replied to Anand Hariharan comment 8 years ago
I have visit several districts in India. I do not know which company is good in respect of Connectivity in rural areas also. I do not know which company is good in terms and conditions and Billing ? My Vodafone bill paid by internet banking is debited from my account but not credited instantly, and the company charges late payment fee in the next bill and after fighting continuously, I got the credit. That shows Vodafone internal "Systems" are imperfect and company penalises for that, to Consumers. Consumers have no other option - keep fighting.
Reply
H Yajnanarayana Rao
8 years ago
I had bought Reliance Jio sim along with my wife during January, 2017. We paid ₹99/- & enjoyed 3 months free(₹99/-x2) Then I paid ₹309/-as per scheme. Whenever I need badly to speak with my sharebroker it is of no use as connectivity is not available. With the second sim is.Airtel I used to communicate. Now I lost interest in Reliance Jio sim as my complaint was not attended. Now I use only Airtel
Reply
Atul Gupta
8 years ago
I have already filled the ACH form. Still they have disabled my post paid numbers. After complaint they have applied some summer pack which is valid till Nov. Really Their post paid seems to be Pain in ass..
Reply
Nurani Subramanian Iyer
8 years ago
Jio is a business entity to catch business,keep an alternate no from strong player always, if jio become unaffordable port out and say bye bye to them
Reply
Prasad Krishnapurkar
8 years ago
Have taken up this with Jio, DoT, TRAI and even sent email to TDSAT. All are conveniently keeping quite from last 2 months.
One more bad news for you, even several Hundred line agreement of prepaid also allows them to steal money from your bank account which is linked with UIDAI.
No one is bothered to read fine print and all are forgetting that there is nothing free specially from a group which runs government department's.
Reply
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