Telecom service providers refund Rs 2.30 cr for charging CLIP: TRAI

New Delhi, May 19 (UNI) Telecom regulator TRAI today said the service providers have refunded Rs 2.30 crores to about two lakh subscribers across the country for charging caller identification facility as a compulsory item.

''This refund marks total implementation of the consumer friendly decision announced by the Authority in August 2007,'' TRAI said in a statement.

The authority had issued direction to the service providers on August 23, 2007 mandating that the caller line identification presentation (CLIP) cannot be made a compulsory chargeable item in any tariff plan.

This decision meant that the service provider could levy caller identification charges from only those subscribers who want to avail the facility and also after obtaining their explicit consent.

The direction became effective from September 7, 2007.

However, some service providers had sought extension of time for re-structuring the existing tariff plans to incorporate this direction.

TRAI accepted their request on the condition that if a customer is charged for CLIP as a compulsory item, the same had to be refunded.

UNI MP AK CS1812