TTSL directed to pay Rs 60K for disconnecting mobile number

Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL) has been directed by a consumer forum here to pay Rs 60,000 to a man for disconnecting his mobile connection without any notice and allotting his number to someone else.
New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, presided by C K Chaturvedi, asked TTSL to pay the amount to south Delhi resident Pradeep Gupta while holding the company guilty of deficiency in service.
"....This is a serious deficiency to allot the number to someone else without notice to complainant (Gupta). We hold opposite party (TTSL) guilty of deficiency and award compensation of Rs 50,000 to complainant.

"We also award Rs 10,000 for litigation expenses," the forum, also comprising members S R Chaudhary an Ritu Garodia, said.
While passing the order, the forum noted that initially on March 21, 2007, there was an outstanding bill of Rs 530 which was paid by the complainant, even then his outgoing services were restricted by the company.
Gupta had told the forum that on March 21, 2007, he found that the outgoing calls of his post-paid mobile connection were blocked without any reason.

On enquiry, he learnt that the service was blocked for not paying bills, he said, adding that he had already paid the bill.

Later on, after finding that his phone number was being used by someone else, he informed the police. The company, thereafter, also blocked his incoming services, prompting him to approach the tribunal with his complaint.
In its reply, the company contended that Gupta had certain credit limit on his number which he exceeded and at first it only blocked outgoing services and asked him to pay the bill.
After the bill was not paid and Gupta continued to use the number beyond the credit limit, it was disconnected and allotted to some other person, it said.
The forum rejected the company's contention and said the question to be considered was that TTSL had not placed on record any notice issued to the complainant about exceeding of credit limits or notice of disconnection on that account.

"...It has simply stated that credit line were violated, and in terms of agreement the phone was disconnected and allotted to someone else," the forum said.