DoT allocates public grievance helpline number for telecom complaints

A note circulated by DoT said a short code '1063' has been activated by the Public Grievances Cell in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) headquarters in New Delhi as a telecom consumer grievances helpline.

The new number will bring subscriber grievances to the notice of DoT. A subscriber, at present, needs to call customer care centre of the service provider to register a complaint.

Customers can go to nodal officers and then to the appellate authority in case of unsatisfactory reply. More often than not subscribers fail to get satisfactory resolution of their grievances.

Earlier this month, DoT had had said that "District Consumer Forums are competent to deal with the disputes between individual telecom consumers and telecom service providers."

Back in February, DoT allocated a public grievance helpline number to the Election Commission. The helpline number, '1950', is meant for the public to register complaints against poll-related issues.

"Code '1950' was allotted to Election Commission of India or public grievance redressal as per request from Election Commission," DoT said in a notice to telecom operators.

By dialling 1950, people can reach a telephone number indicated by the chief electoral officer of the respective state, it added.

The cost of making the calls will be paid by chief electoral officer of the respective state to telecom operators.

"You [telecom operators] are hereby requested to realise this service up to the satisfaction of Election Commission i.e., the chief electoral officers of the state in the interest of public and nation as a whole," the notice said.

Written with inputs from PTI