I am a consumer of Tata Sky (consumer no. 1015935578) from Gurgaon. I wish to take your views of course of action against the company, if possible since they have duped me of my hard-earned money through unfair practices. On 24th Oct,2011 and prior to that on occasion of Diwali, the company heavily publicised (through their repeated alerts and messages on TV) about their some' Jeeto 10 Tola' contest to encash from unsuspecting subscribers money. Under this 'contest', the subscribers were invited to send their lowest bid by SMS and lowest bidder was supposed to win '10 tola Gold'. Nowhere in entire chain of advertisements and alerts was it mentioned that there were any applicable charges for bidding.

I sent about 19 bids through SMS from my registered mobile no. which were immediately returned by Tata Sky through SMS saying that either my bid was not the 'Lowest' or, not 'Unique'. (I doubt whether anybody actually won this or it was just for duping subscribers as no result has been declared till date to subscribers).

Thinking that only the high SMS charges of 3/- per SMS will be charged and co. was earning out of it, I sent 19 bids taking chance for 57/- for SMS (19x3/-). However, late NEXT day, an alert came on my set-top box that 25/- has been deducted from my account & my balance being displayed was totally about 475/- short from one day back. This was the First and Last (& the only) indication of deduction of 25/- each by Tata Sky for my 19 bids which I later found out from their Customer care. No SMS or Alert on Set top box came to me after any of my 19 bids (the aforementioned alert on TV was the only one and final alert coming next day). Or, I would have stopped after my first bid itself if the return SMS on my mobile or any alert on TV had indicated to me that 25/- has been deducted for my bid. The return SMS received by me after the bids only said that bid was rejected and was silent about any charges applied.

On immediately taking up matter with tata Sky customer care after receiving said alert on set-top box late next day, they informed me that 475/- have been deducted (to add to 57/- in my mobile account for SMS sent) from my Tata Sky account balance for bidding charges. On my insisting that these were hidden charges and nowhere in the earlier advertisements or alert messages there was even a single mention of 25/- per bid charges or even any " **Conditions apply or charges applicable" kind of information, they lodged my complaint and call from their HO came next day.

The guy supposedly calling from their Tata Sky HO was very rude and blankly said that it was not their obligation to tell charges in advance and it is the subscriber's duty to call helpdesk and enquire about charges before bidding. He flatly refused to cooperate & said that they will not reverse the charges.

I have again lodged another complaint online through my Tata Sky account on 30.10.2011 (no. SR3010110674097) for which supposed resolution last date was 31.10.2011, but till date there has been no response from Tata Sky and call is being shown as 'Open' in my account till now.

Although I may discontinue with Tata Sky after such duping and misbehaviour and shall take alternate DTH service very soon & it is not matter of paltry amount of 532/- for me, however, please advise course of action against Tata Sky prior to that whether they can be taken to 'Consumer Forum' under 'Unfair Practices act' or alternate action which I can take against them. I request you to take action against Tata Sky, as thousands and lacs of subscribers like me must have been duped through such fake contests by DTH companies like Tata Sky.

With Thanks & Regards,

Satyabir Singh

Sec.23, Gurgaon.