Airtel Mobile- Bangalore - Quality of Service

I have been using Airtel Mobile (postpaid, personal connection under corporate scheme) for many years now and as their customer base has increased, the quality of service has taken a major hit. In last 1-2 years it has gone from being bad to worst. 

What all problems I have faced and keep facing? Here are some, some recent ones and some in past - not in any specific order. Similar issues have been reported by many friends and colleagues.

1. Dropped calls when in conversation (even when you are not moving and in good signal quality area.

2. Frequent one gets Network busy and calls not getting connected both mobile to mobile and mobile to land line (local as well as STD) 

3. Calls not getting disconnected when you press call disconnect button. (it is not a phone problem but network problem as it happens on any handset one uses). Many times the phone keeps showing continuation of the call even after multiple attempts. One is on mercy of the network and it some times takes anywhere from 30 seconds to more than a minute for call to get disconnected. Looks like a very smart way of Airtel to increase billing from customer as I have seen in detailed billing specially those calls which got disconnected after a delay.

Any one recalls those BSNL/DOT PCO days when you used to disconnect  a call and your STD meter used to jump and show a higher reading.. I see a similarity here, trying to cheat customers, may be.

4. You call customer care about any billing issue or for a complaint, more than 7 out of 10 times answer is - Sir system is down or we are facing some problems - can you call later.. Many times they do not issue a complaint number. One way to get rid of customer - Sir, I will SMS you the complaint/Case number in some time.. that some time never comes.. So one tried once or twice and then seeing their attitude and in interest of our time, one just lives with the problem or just pays whatever you are billed for.

5. Wrong billing for data services. Once when I was on a weekly unlimited data plan, there was a time when I was charged twice in a week and for many times charged when network had issues and no data services were available. Once you get billed you remain on mercy of the operator and call center agents in case you want to get your billing fixed.

6. Non responsiveness to the DO NOT CALL registry related complaints.. In fact Airtel folks  themselves call and send unwanted marketing messages.

And why the hell I am staying with Airtel? Do not have mobile number portability yet.. so in order to retain my number I have to stay with the operator. 

Share your views.

Thanks.. Have a nice day.

Neeraj