Posted by In a curious case of mobile number swapping brought to the notice of Himachallive.com a distributor of a major mobile service operator in Himachal Pradesh swapped number of a customer to his own mobile when by mistake a re-charge of Rs. 150/ was made into the customer’s account.
Shikha (name changed) was using services of a major cellphone operator for the past 3 years in Shimla district. One fine day she found there was a recharge of Rs. 150/ in her account though she had not made any recharge. Next day her SIM card went dead and when her acquaintance tried to call her, the number was picked up by someone else who claimed ignorance knowing anyone named Shikha.
Investigation done by HimachalLive.com traced the number at Mehatpur in Una and found this gentleman was a distributor of a big-shot mobile company operating in the state. Apparently he made a wrong re-charge of Rs. 150/ in Shikha’s account. Once the mistake was realised he simply swapped the number to his SIM card rendering Shikha’s SIM useless.
Cellphone companies give rights to distributer to swap numbers between SIM cards to be done in emergency cases like loss of SIM etc.
The most disturbing factor in this whole episode is swapping of number was done by a distributer of the mobile company itself. This raises a huge question mark of the level of service ethics of the ‘big shot’ mobile companies in the state. As such they have entire details of a customer namely proof of residence, proof of identity, payment history including credit card details which leaves a huge scope of mis-using such details.
One can easily imagine the harassment to the customer if such swapped numbers are used by criminals and terrorists in connivance with mobile operator distributors. The number of an innocent customer can be used for unlawful activities leaving the customer to face questioning by law enforcement agencies.
Next time if anyone accuses you of making spam cell calls, you know who could be the culprit!!
Names have been protected as per ‘Shikha’s’ request.
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Name and shame the company publicly.
Make them apologize.
And as compensation lifetime free service.
Too harsh? What if there was an emergency?
Thats one problem in India punishments are not too harsh on companies and organisation. Imagine US courts fining Drugs and Cigarette companies in order of 250 million.
Hi Varun
I would have loved to make the company name public but this story was given to me with the condition that the names will not be given out until told to do so. I totally agree with you. The person here should be definitely compensated.
Such company must be penalized and the girl must be compensated.
Distributor should be black listed to do this type of business any more with any mobile operator any where in the nation…
Thank you Katoch ji for your comments. The issue is very serious as in this case an identity of a person has been stolen. Will keep posted about all the details.
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This is really sad. I was never knowing that such *swapping* of mobile numbers is possible. Plus you are right Nityn that these distributors can misuse our details. N you know what, so many times i have received stupid phone calls from those idiots who deal with the easy-recharge thing (as we have to give them our ph numb). Saddest thing is that for any problem or inconvenience like this, the mob. companies never helps you straight.
I think Nityin, if you have enough evidence, name the distributor and the company. Put the number too here so that everyone knows which number is being misused by the distributor.
I’m sure this is not the only case that has come up. There must be many more.
An FIR should be filed against the man.
Another thing is that since the number is prepaid, Shikha must not be having any proof too that the number belongs to her. If you can give me the details of Shikha, and the distributor and the company, I can may be try here from here in Delhi.
This is indeed bizzare. When you go with a genuine complaint to these companies, they take forever to redress your complaint, and only after you have submitted several different papers.
How could a mobile company swap numbers like this, without looking into detail is beyond me. I think you and “Shikha” should not make any attempts to hide the name of the guilty company.
It is their fault,even if by any chance it is inadvertent, and they should accept it, and apologise.
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Sheer harassment to the poor sim card holder…
Howsoever big the
personculprit is he should be pulled under Consumer Court!Drag this company to consumer court. That may be the easiest and fastest way to brings things on track.
Only consumers activism can help fight such cases. If the end-consumers decide to raise voice against such unscrupulous mean, the companies will think twice before taking people for a ride. Great Job Himachal Live for bringing up this topic.
Suprising, thanks for posting this info. Didn’t really know that such a thing can happen. Think you should name the company and the people involved. I am sure Shikha can build a case as well as the number has been in use for 3 years and all her friends must have been speaking to her on this number.
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that’s pure harassment and they should apologize !!!