From my experience, which I am going to share, IDEA is one of the worst service providers in my state. Issues start with connection activation, bill changes and above all, the way customer care people talk to you. When you have better providers like Airtel, Vodafone and the new entrant Jio, who all have a better customer care and services, I don't see any reason for going to IDEA. I did the mistake just because they said they will give a good looking number for free (free of charges, but not free from head aches). On the latest incident, they have charged me for old plan and new plan during a plan change, after I had to change plan because they did not give me the benefits they had promised. Worst part is the way a customer care supervisor has talked.

I will continue to fund and promote this open campaign until someone from IDEA management comes back. In parallel, will also be going to consumer court and TRAI, to see if they can help. At least people will be aware and at least some of them won't repeat the mistake of taking a postpaid connection with IDEA. The IDEA mobile number is 7090490490, in case IDEA management or anyone want to verify the facts.

IDEA Connection Activation Troubles

I took a postpaid sim and the representative said 24 hour activation. Next day, even one lady contacted me and confirmed my address and location. Later by night I got a message that I couldn't be contacted and provided a callback number: 9071410548. That number is either not reachable, or switched off or wimply rings without noone picking up. Again after a day I am getting the same message again. This raises few questions: Looks like someone is trying to meet SLA by simply updating the system that I am not reachable. Also by the frequency in which I am getting not reachable in the number provided in SMS, I am getting a feeling that IDEA network is really bad in Bangalore, Karnataka. 

Even to get to this stage was difficult. I get Ads related to IDEA connection, I click on them, someone calls on next day to say they will get back, and then forgets it altogether. After following this path few times, I complained in IDEA FB page and finally got a callback. I am posting this too in their FB page hoping for some better response. 

I had posted this on following link and had shared with IDEA: http://criticscloud.com/quick-review/23/idea-connection-activation-troubles

Only IDEA Physical Verification Team Cannot Reach Me

After I had posted http://criticscloud.com/quick-review/23/idea-connection-activation-troubles, I got call from the same preverification team lady as well as the representative who had given the sim. Both could connect to me without any issue. However, the physical verification team cannot connect to me. This strengthens my doubt that they have just made it up to meet the SLA. Or let them share the exact times at which they had called me.

After posting this at http://criticscloud.com/quick-review/24/only-idea-physical-verification-..., one of their managers, came to my house and verified what I have told, took a photo as proof that he came and went back.

Problems Continued Starting From First Billing Data

Took Ultimate 499 plan. Had clicked in an ad telling 7GB internet. Got only 3 GB initially, but when followed up I got 3 GB more to 6 GB as per their current offer (not as per the ad I clicked on). In first bill generation date, the first part 3 GB became 1 GB. Second part 3 GB not even renewed. Customer care clames it on app and asked to reinstall. Even after reinstall, the same. Can't even port as it needs minimum 3 months. Anyway they can show their numbers for Voda merger. I have taken screen shots too. Hope TRAI will do something regarding these misleading ads. They don't have proper corporate customer care plans or mail address. Just ask to go to IDEA store near me(link is external), and seeing the reviews (link is external) in Google I don't think I want to go. So just moving to a smaller plan now and will port later. 

I had posted this on following link and had shared with IDEA: http://criticscloud.com/quick-review/25/beware-if-you-are-taking-idea-po...

IDEA Store Troubles

I went to idea store marathahalli as per customer care suggestion for converting to prepaid. They said I need to wait for one year to convert to prepaid or can port to other network after 90 days. Customer care had said I can convert any time after 30 days. Already you cheated once providing 499 plan saying 6gb and then giving only 1gb after one month. One year rule was also not communicated to me earlier. Again, one more point for consumer court complaint and TRAI. I have later got a mail also that clearly stated, for this number 7090490490, I can migrate to prepaid after 90 days.

Once I saw the reviews in Google for the customer care I went, I knew I was not alone: https://www.google.co.in/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=U.... See the reviews and you will understand it too.

The Final Problem: Change plan and you will be charged for both plans for a month

I had taken a plan of 499 with 6 GB internet and on my first bill date (Feb 16th) it was reduced to 1 GB. After waiting for 3 days, I changed my plan to IDEA I Plan 199. Customer care people said bill will be prorated.

Now I have received bill with three entries in Bill:

• Ultimate 499 16th Feb to 18th Feb = Rs. 0
• Ultimate 499 16th Feb to 15th March = Rs.499
• IDEA Plan 199 19th Feb to 15th March = Rs.177.

Total 676.88 plus taxes. How can anyone be on two plans at the same time. At least they should have given the plan benefits then.

Both Airtel and Vodafone has prorated plan changes. Airtel has it even for their unlimited infinity plans (verified it with 549 infinity plan). Another reason (apart from better software that these providers have over IDEA) to not go to IDEA. Above all, how can IDEA stop the benefit and ask me to pay; they should have then provided the benefits too.

Already cheated once with false offers. Have proofs including screenshots. When I talked to a customer care lady, she was telling she does not know about anything and will not raise a complaint. Forwarded the call to a supervisor, who was very rude, and told me to do whatever I want, but they will not do anything and simply cut the call. Why have I mentioned this as the final problem? Because, I don't think, after they way the customer care supervisor talked to me, I want to stay with this network anymore. 

I am going to consumer court and TRAI in parallel. But this blog will be the start. At least people will be aware and at least some of them won't repeat the mistake of taking a postpaid connection with IDEA. The IDEA mobile number is 7090490490, in case IDEA management or anyone want to verify the facts.

Update As Of March 25th

It was already one week and deadline for the billing issue as per IDEA. One rep called me and asked me what is the issue. I was shocked to hear the question after waiting for one week for the resolution. I explained it again and they said it is the policy to charge full for untimited plans. I asked if this is the policy, then why they took 7 days to decide on that. Also, social media team had asked me to wait till today before promoting this post again. Then suddenly they said they will give a waiver on bill and did that before end of day. So changing status to RESOLVED.