Vodafone-Idea backtracks after customers complain of unfair charges

Many users received a Rs 99 deduction for "international roaming"

Vodafone India and Aditya Birla Group-owned Idea Cellular had merged their telecom operations last year in the wake of cut-throat competition fuelled by the entry of Reliance Jio | Reuters Vodafone India and Aditya Birla Group-owned Idea Cellular had merged their telecom operations last year in the wake of cut-throat competition fuelled by the entry of Reliance Jio | Reuters

Vodafone-idea has expressed regret after money was deducted from many customer accounts today without warning, leading to uproar on social media. 

Vodafone-Idea, one of the three big telecom service providers in the country, clarified that this issue arose due to a "technical error". In its statement released on Tuesday night, it stated that the whole issue was erroneous and that “appropriate credit [will be] done for impacted customers".

"Due to a technical issue, a few customers received a message about an erroneous charge. The same has been corrected and appropriate credit is done for the impacted customers. We are fully committed to best in class service to all our customers and regret the inconvenience," Vodafone India tweeted.

Many customers across India had complained that they received a message charging them for international roaming, including many who did not have the service. The SMS stated, “Dear customer, this is to inform you that a rental amount of Rs99 has been deducted towards international roaming for 30 days.”

Many irate customers took to social media expressing their displeasure, following which Vodafone- Idea went into a huddle.

“This is mental trauma,” Senhil, a user wrote on Twitter.

"@VodafoneIN today I got sms from Vodafone that 99rs deducted from my account as international roaming rental .this is real fraud now my balance is minus 5 rupees I want my money back and the international roaming service cancel otherwise I will go to consumer court," posted Hari Parmer.

Vodafone-Idea's statement expressing regret and promising to return the money came at night and has also been posted on Twitter.

“We are fully committed to best in class service to all our customers and regret the inconvenience,” the statement added.

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