Monday, October 01, 2007

TATA/ VSNL Broadband Scam: The Fight Continues!

This fight against TATA Indicom/ VSNL Broadband is on at Orkut: http://www.orkut.com/CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=32867446&tid=2551305980118236875
Readers who have been following this story may be surprised at quite a few revelations:
a. That even though a broadband service is from a name as renowned as TATA is, it could be spurious.
b. That even if courts in India are notorious for the time taken for judgement (as the myth goes), the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum is actually quite fast and effcient (Complaint filed in this case: 30 June 2007; Judgement Date: 13 August 2007; Days taken: 43)
c. That even if judgements are awarded in favour, even if the opposing party happens to be a supposedly reliable name as TATA, getting refunds is quite another story!
According to the court order, refund was to have been given in the case (1381/07) by 10 Sep 2007. There has been absolutely no news of any refund till today, 1 Oct 2007.
It is unfortunate that consumer rights are being treaded upon by companies whose brands have come to symbolise the power of corporate India and whose name still resonates as trust in the minds of millions of ordinary citizens.
There are always bad boys who amass wealth; but then, they would be avowed bad boys. But to preach of good corporate behaviour, project an image worthy of emulation and to practise socially objectionable business is dangerous. Brands grow too big, become larger than life and form a veil that would blind the consumer and keep trapping him in the glow. The internet echoes of complaints against TATA Indicom; while the money-power of TATA still powers the advertising campaign of TATA Broadband.
To extract justice out of such hypocritic organisations is only likely to be cumbersome. Clearway, hence, considers it its responsibility to announce to the world that all that glitters need not be gold.
Despite the judgement in case 1381/07, the fight for refund is still on. And since this violation is being committed by a larger-than-life company that TATA is, Clearway declares the behaviour by TATA, reckless!
Mr Ratan Tata has this to say in his website: "One hundred years from now, I expect the Tatas to be much bigger than it is now. More importantly, I hope the Group comes to be regarded as being the best in India — best in the manner in which we operate, best in the products we deliver, and best in our value systems and ethics. Having said that, I hope that a hundred years from now we will spread our wings far beyond India..."
Clearway has this to say here: "A quarter of that time-frame from now, I expect the Tatas to have lost their present shine and glory; In less than 50 years from now, they should count themselves lucky if the brand survives in India. By then, I hope TATA's would at least serve as case studies in demonstrating how NOT to do business and perish in the process"
The fight for Justice continues. Clearway invites Mr Ratan Tata to witness the proceedings!