Prepaid customers at receiving end

ITANAGAR, Nov 6: When Tara went to buy a Recharge Voucher (RCV) for his newly procured BSNL SIM, he was in for a shock. The Rs-225 RCV was sold to him at Rs 230. His complaint on being charged extra 5 bucks was met with stoic ignorance. Every shop in the vicinity sells at the same price.

This is not only the story of Tara but many like him across the capital complex. Many BSNL RCVs and top-ups are being sold at rates many times higher than its original MRP value by the retailers. The one valued at Rs 55 is being sold at Rs 60, Rs 110 at 120 and the RCV of Rs 220 is sold at Rs 230 in the market.

Surprisingly, every shopkeeper expressed total ignorance, while one revealed that although they are being provided vouchers at 4% less than the MRP, they raise it a bit to make maximum profit.

“It is the law enforcers to act if RCVs and top-ups are being sold at prices more than the MRP. From our side there are no anomalies involved,” said BSNL AGM (Administration & Planning) M K Das.

He also said they can only take action against the franchisees and Direct Selling Agents (DSA) who are getting the RCVs and top-ups with 5% commission from them, which means the franchisees and DSAs get it for Rs 52.25. Incidentally, there have been no complaints against the franchisees or the DSAs so far.

Deputy General Manager Arun Siram said BSNL has issued notices several times to the shopkeepers on receiving such unofficial complaints.

Project Officer of Rebia Agency, one of the BSNL Area Sub Franchisees of Itanagar, Tana Nobin said they sell the vouchers to the retailers at 3% of the rate, which means that if it is a Rs 55 top-up, the retailers are being sold at Rs 53.35 giving them a profit of Rs 1.65 per voucher.

However, in the market the same is sold at Rs 60, which is actually about Rs 6.35 profit for the retailer.

On the other hand, Direct Selling Agent Rajen Wahge claims that he is selling the vouchers at 4% rate to the retailer which is Rs 52.8 for a Rs 55 top-up.

This anomaly is not a new thing. People have been paying more than the MRP since the beginning but nobody has questioned it so far. Maybe the citizens of the State have more money than they can account for.

Meanwhile, all kinds of shops from gumtis, video parlours, grocery shops to PCOs selling RCVs and top-ups are laughing all the way to bank. THE SENTINEL