Trai pulls up ISPs on extra services

The telecom regulator today made it mandatory for the Internet service providers to obtain consent from subscribers before making value-added services chargeable.

Trai had earlier issued similar directives to both fixed and mobile operators. The direction came because there had been instances where ISPs had charged subscribers for value additions, without obtaining their consent, Trai said.

The regulator cited a recent instance, where a prominent ISP was providing value additions in the form of "unlimited access" at a monthly fee, and had activated it on all dial-up customers. The ISP had also said unless the subscriber called the customer care of the operator and un-subscribed, the monthly charge would remain automatically applicable.

"In such cases, the onus of declining the chargeable service will be put on customers. In case they fail to un-subscribe for the service owing to any reason, they will get charged without their concurrence. Trai's intention was to put an end to such practices," the regulator added.