'Telecom service providers to ensure transparency'

New Delhi, May 23: Telecom regulator TRAI today asked service providers to ensure transparency in tariff and the services offered and also improve consumer interface.

In a communication, it said the service providers were not giving adequate importance to consumer transparency issues.

Several underlying information relating to tariff/service were not being explicitly brought out during the process of offering, promoting and marketing the products.

This, it said, had led to consumer dissatisfaction and the credibility of the service providers were being questioned.

The Authority also called for further strengthening of the consumer protection measures since a large proportion of new subscribers would be from non urban areas.

''All telecom service providers should improve and educate their retail outlet chain to cater to the requirements of the growing customer base,'' it said.

It also asked them to provide printed material in English and Vernacular language to customers at the time of enrollment that should contain: -- Full and complete tariff information sheet.

-- The features of the service offered with special emphasis on roaming, premium rate services and other optional and value added services.

-- The Terms and Conditions including the exceptions attached to the service in unambiguous terms.

-- The rights of the consumers emanating from the various decisions of the TRAI -- The common charter of service agreed upon by the service providers.

UNI