Well believe it or not but BSNL is India’s largest ISP by user base and can also be considered largest by the amount of pre charges they impose on their prospective customers. BSNL charges a hefty amount of Rs. 2,000 from it’s new customer though some of the amount is refundable but still in case you are going to get the connection for a longer term this is definitely a high security amount.
Most of the ISP in India do free installation or charge at a standard rate of Rs. 500 but BSNL always being special charges a hefty premium to their new customers. Break up of the various adjustments are given below:
- Land line installation : Rs. 500
- Land line Security : Rs. 500
- Broadband Installation : Rs. 250
- Broadband Security : 1 month Fees of your selected Broadband plan (In my case it is Rs. 750. Most will go for this plan only as this is their base unlimited plan.)
Think twice before going to BSNL. If you have other ISP like AIRTEL in your area than avoid BSNL at any cost. Also Land line Security was never conveyed to me by the BSNL employee who came to collect the documents. It come as an added fees in my first bill.
I wish I had seen this before applying. I got my first bill of Rs. 2400/-. Applied for new line and 750UL combo. I have been charged 500 extra, i.e., 500 for the BSNL installation (which should have been 250/-) and another 250/- extra for modem installation when in fact I have my own modem and did all the configuration myself, no personnel visited to do that. The actual first bill for such a connection should have been 1250/- (Rs.400 above is my usage charge for the month). Go speak with the exchange, and they have their own “justified” story. Call the customer care center, and they ask to go visit exchange; and all this trouble for a connection that disconnects every 10 minutes (you won’t believe, but true. If possible I would post the detailed connection log and you’ll be shocked to see this). This is Moodabidri exchange, so people around be cautious. If you need BSNL for some serious office work, don’t go for it if you
have other choice, (I don’t have other providers around, so have to live
with it).
BSNL Customer service is the worst, be it city or village. Keep this in mind; they are shameless also (e.g., I have logged at least 15 complaints, no solution yet).