Trai begins tracking billing process

With a view to provide relief to customers suffering from high and unjust billing, telecom regulator Trai has initiated a process of auditing the billing systems of telecom operators and has appointed a consultant for that.

‘‘Trai has been regularly receiving many billing related complaints, particularly from mobile customers. Most of these complaints emerge from likely lapses, flaws in billing programme. The quality of service survey, which Trai is conducting quarterly, has also reported that the billing parameter is far below the norms and the operators needed to focus on this to improve,’’ it said.

In a competitive telecom market, operators offer various tariff packages, introducing new ones periodically, Trai said. It is not easy for subscribers to verify whether billing under these tariff plans is being properly implemented.