TRAI New Guidelines When Mobile Phone will be deactivated for Non-Usage , Required Minimum Balance

TRAI New Guidelines When Mobile Phone will be deactivated for Non-Usage , Required Minimum Balance

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a Regulation on ‘Deactivation of Cellular Mobile Telephone Connections due to Non-usage’.

Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) currently prescribe a condition of deactivation
if  the mobile  connections  remain  inactive  for  some period of  time.  

TSPs  contend  that mobile  connections  in  a  state  of  continuous  non-usage  block  scarce  numbering resources  and  keeping  such  mobile  connections  active  in  the  system  for  unduly  long periods  becomes  non-remunerative.  

At  present,  there  is  lack  of  transparency  in carrying  out  such  disconnections.  Consumers are also not adequately informed regarding the terms and conditions of such disconnections. In the event of deactivation, the  balance  amount  in  the  account  of  the  consumer  gets  forfeited.  In such conditions, deactivation has been causing inconvenience to consumers.

The Telecom Consumers Protection (Sixth Amendment) Regulations, 2013
seeks  to  protect  the  interests  of  mobile  consumers  while  keeping  in  mind  the  major
concerns  of  TSPs  in  the  matter  of  deactivation  of  SIMs. 

The  Regulations  inter-alia mandate  that  in  case  a  TSP  puts  in  place  any  mechanism  for  deactivation  Cellular Mobile Telephone Connections due to non-usage, then he has to abide by the following regulatory guidelines :-

(i)
The  mobile  connections  of  prepaid  consumers  shall  not  be  deactivated  for
any period of non-usage less than 90 days

(ii)
For the purpose of usage, a voice call/ video call (incoming or outgoing) or an
outgoing SMS or a data usage or usage of Value Added Services, or payment
of rental (in case of postpaid connection) etc. shall definitely fall in the scope
of activity, the service provider may prescribe any other activity as well

(iii)
There shall be no deactivation if the balance in prepaid consumer account is
Rs.20/- or more

(iv)
An  ‘Automatic  Number  Retention  Scheme’  shall  be  implemented  for  prepaid
consumers on payment of reasonable charges

(v)
A consumer whose connection is deactivated shall be given a grace period of
15 days within which he can reactivate the same number

(vi)
Consumers shall be transparently communicated the terms and conditions of
deactivation of SIMs due to non-usage.

The new regulation allows TSP to deactivate pre-paid mobile number that have been not in use for a period of 90 days and has a balance of less than Rs. 20.

As per new rules TSP will be allowed deduct an amount, not exceeding Rs. 20, every month based from balance amount in inactive mobile number till the number is not deactivated and the balance falls below Rs. 20.

The Regulations also mandate implementation of a ‘Safe Custody Scheme’ for
postpaid consumers on payment of a reasonable charge.
Such consumers will not be required to pay monthly rental during the period of safe custody
As per this scheme, the subscriber can be charged an amount not exceeding Rs. 150 for three months to retain the inactive number by the TSP.

Source – TRAI

Monday, February 25, 2013

Tags – Mobile Deactivation Regulations TRAI