India Broadband

India Broadband

Avoid BSNL Broadband Dataone, if you have other choice like Reliance, Airtel (have introduced EDGE in Big cities, which is better than BSNL Broadband, as speed is faster with unlimited downloads).

Even cable Internet of Hathway etc. is better as it provides unlimited downloads, on limited speed of say 256 KBPS. Always go for unlimited download options, if you can compromise on speeds, as that is the cheapest option.

For users who just need day long unlimited connectivity, but can do with speeds of usual landline connections, should try the GPRS by Reliance, Tata, (on CDMA) Airtel, Idea, Hutch, BPL etc.

We required from BSNL Nashik, the usage data in last week of June 2005, to select the plan as per our usage, but the Sarkari Babus at Nashik & their bosses at Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore & even at Delhi, could not provide us the TOTALS in GB/ MB/ KB of our monthly usage, as they had conveniently forgotten to put in place the software to show total the users usage online on daily/ day-to-day/ weekly/ monthly basis.

BSNL cited technical reasons for not being able to provide us with such totals, and this lame excuse still continuous, as the bifurcated data for Home plans for the FREE downloads, between 2 - 8 AM is still all mixed up with downloads between paid periods between 8 AM to 2 AM, as available on their website.

All users were trapped into their nets, with the results, could not give ’’Change of Plan’’ letters in time to BSNL, due to the deficiency on the part of BSNL to provide the users with usage data for June 2005.

Finally fed up with their deficiency in services, we gave our first letter to BSNL to upgrade us to a higher plan on 8th July 2005, on which they could not act as their softwares were not technically upgraded to accept such ’’change of plan’’. Again we gave another letter on 15th July 2005 to still higher plan, which was acted upon only on 4th of August 2005. In the meantime, they provided us with the speeds of lower plans, but charged us 400% for additional downloads, our bill for July 2005 was Rs. 14,724.00; though it should have been limited to Rs.3,000/- plus taxes.

Our numerous representations, to correct the bill fell on deaf years and finally we had to pay the bill, on threats of getting our phone disconnected. We now plan to go to ’’Telephone Adalat’’ and failing which to ’’Consume Courts’’ to seek justice.

One thing more have come to our attention that BSNL has charged the ’’Service Tax @ 10.20%’’ on the SALE of Modems to Broadband users. Now ’’Service Tax’’ can be charged on a providing a service and not on sale/ supply of physical goods, like Modems, which are subject to VAT, which is already included in their declared prices of Rs.2000/-. , to the buyers, who paid ’’Modem Sale Price (one time)’’. BSNL staff in private agree that this excess billing of Rs.204/- can be claimed back.

They overcharged me by Rs. 1121.83, for Broadband usage during August 2005, by their unique billing tactics. Now this is more funny than pure excess billing. BSNL reduced the broadband rates for excess usage with effect from 15th August 2005, our independence day, to encourage the citizens of Independent India to use broadband more. But their billing department was bent upon outsmarting the users, in its Sarkari style. BSNL just divided the ’’MONTH’’ of August 2005, into two parts, as First fortnight & Second fortnight. The monthly downloads upto 15th August 2005, were segregated from usage from 16th August 2005, by drawing the LAKSHMAN REKHA.

Now they forfeited any less data usage during the first fortnight and just billed their consumers for excess usage during the second fortnight, by dividing the contracted monthly download limit into two equal parts. Well now the consumers have contracted for ’’monthly’’ download usage and the’’ invention of two fortnights’’ within ’’one month’’ is outright cheating the gullible users. Now, my bill for the usage within my contracted 10 GB during the month of August 2005 was bifurcated in such a way that I was billed for Rs. 1018/- plus tax @ 10.20 % for excess usage. Now I have to run from pillar to post to prove my point, but Sarkari Babus are enjoying their Air-conditioned cosiness and have no time for looking into this injustice.

Had there been no reduction in rates on 15th August (Independence day), my bill for the excess usage would have been ZERO. Had there been an increase in such rates, the bill would have been again ZERO, but BSNL deliberately changed the rates in mid month, with his formulae in mind to squeeze its gullible innocent users of last thousands of Rupees, before they run away to other ISPs. BSNL knew fully well that Broadband users tend to keep their usage low during the first half of the month and tend to utilise their download limits fully towards, the end of month.

As otherwise also, the BSNL Broadband is always down daily for minimum half an hours, specially in the mornings, when everyone has to check his emails. Users have to keep a second option like GPRS, Hathway cable Internet etc. ’’on pay’’, to fall back upon the unreliable BSNL Broadband. BSNL knows fully well that people have cancelled their second landline Basic Telephone connections and dial up internet subscriptions, from Sanchrnet, Dishnet, VSNL, Sify etc. after opting for Broadband. This Independence day, a lot of BSNL Broadband subscribers were left poorer by a couple of thousands each. Just check your BSNL bills for August 2005 and find out, if you are also celebrated this costly Independence Day.

So the morel of the story is; be very careful if you use any services of BSNL Sarkari Service, and check their billing with utmost care and take back the refunds by making rounds to their respective offices, by spending your good money to get back your own money, if any billed in excess, due to their unique Sarkari softwares, which are tuned to make excess billings. BSNL staff agrees in private that all excess billing, as proved by me as above must be claimed back, with interest. Only the fighter wins in the end.

Jerin

Man pelase always see in your webportal wheather your plan is Plan 500 or not otherwise you can be charged because these employees harly change your plan on request

ashesh

To be really frank, I disagree on what you're saying.
There are most things in which speed is important. And now, given that BSNL provides you with a 2 Mbps connection at Rs. 250/month, DataOne is definitely a better option. Whats more, you get upto 1 GB of free downloading.
I sincerely believe that 1 GB free download is more than enough, at this speeds, unless one happens to be a download junkie.
For surfing needs, this is enough, and truly awesome. Moreover, I've had my share of extremely poor experiences with some private companies like AirTel, Idea, and so forth, and I seriously recommend all users to go for something that belongs to the government and help the government earn some money. I've been a DataOne user since a long time, and I find no service snags whatsoever (zero downtime, no speed falls). I used to have AirTel earlier, and the service they provided was downright poor, and that too at an exceptionally high price.
The private firms are making money for themselves, not your country. And also, when something you do, helps your country without you making a big compromise, you should do that.
Moreover, switching to BSNL is not a compromise at all. With 2 Mbps you can whizz through the internet, and with 1 GB, you can download all that you need.

deba

Dear Friends,
Is it common for all to have some billing related hitches with BSNL Dataone?

Mine is a Rs 250 home starter plan that gives 1024 MB free per month with no happy hour. Paid rental for the full year at one go in advance.

Could you please tell me for my consumption in any month, say Month 1, when shall I be billed/ s it the telephone bill that comes at the beginning of Month 2 or Month 3?

I got the connection on the 19th April 07. Got first billed with the Telephone bill at the beginning of June. Interestingly, though I got the connection in on the 19th, I found usage in my Dataone account from 1st April to 30th April. More interestingly, the full months consumption (1st to 30th as shown by the site) was than lesser than for what I was charged in the bill.

Next, the Telephone bill that has come in the beginning of July was supposed to have my May consumption charges in it. But it came with a huge bill of around Rs 3000 extra.

My consumption in the month June is being shown as 3 GB in excess to my free limit. The entire amount is being shown as consumed in 20th and 21st in single five hour long sessions each day from 10AM to 03PM. It is not possible that someone kept himself logged in with my account as I have changed my password on the first day. And, two persons cannot get connected simultaneously with a same account. During 10AM to 3PM, I got connected thrice of four times for short durations.

BSNL is answerless- “We have e mailed to our central Dataone administration and waiting for their reply,” was the only response.

g.rama

Hi

I have a specific proble. I chap with two friends of mine in Bangalore for around 30 mins between 5.30 Am to 6. AM every day. I have a Rs 250 Home plan. Every month I exceed the 1 GB free limit and pay excess by some 300-400 Rs. My friends say their quota is intact even though they chat for another session in the evening also. I use an Windows Xp PC. The audio clarity is great.

I also checked my account usage timings and there does not seem to be any one misusing the account. The problem puzzles me. Can any one help me? I complained to BSNL. They say there may be a virus in my PC. But I have a Norton antivirus 2007 installed which is all the time running and updating the latest definitions.

Thanks

Admin

There could be a number of reasons.. You might be browsing graphics rich pages or downloading songs and stuff like that or there might be some spyware sending data to and from your pc. I suggest you run ad-aware once and see what comes up.

I think its best to get an unlimited connection as the billing in India is a bit dodgy be it any company.

__________________

deba

Yes, that could be the reason. But as a matter of fact, my normal usage is less than 20mb per day as it went in April amd May, the initial two months before I started facing problem in BSNL log in.

Though I have reported the trouble in June end, I was assured of protection from BSNL side, but it went on as usual and I was robbed off 60 GB.

Now they have reportyed that spomebody from some other place have accessed my line.

Let's see what happens.

Admin

The best thing to do would be get an unlimited package instead of getting sleepless nights over unauthorized usage, that way you wont have to worry about your bandwidth at all.

abhuram

i recently have opted for the home combo 500 plan. it commits to give me 1.5 gb for day usage and night 2-8 unlimited. also a few other perks like 175 calls free and no telephone rental.

anyway.. my point is..

im using it for the past 2-3 days only as it got activated in feb. i see to it that i start my downloads at around 3am and end then about 5-10 mins before 8.

still afterwards when i check my account usage.. the session is shown as it started at the right time.. but the end time is 15-20 mins past 8.

hence in those 20 mins it shows the night exceeding usage to cross 50 mb or so... if this continues i am bound to cross my 1.5 gb... and pay extra although i stop my downloads well within the stipulated time of 2-8.. and then shut my pc down !

has anyone else experienced this? i hope the admins have a solution to this. or am i going wrong somewhere.. please guide.

thanks!
-Abhiram.

whitestar_999

i don't know if it helps but instead of only shutting the computer switch off the modem 10 min before 8am & see if now you get correct time in usage records.