Consumer forum has directed telecom service provider Vodafone Essar Mobile Services Ltd to pay Rs. 5,000 as compensation to a subscriber for activating ‘hello tune’ service on his phone and charging him without his permission. 

Hello tune is a popular service which allows incoming callers to listen to songs preset by the owner of the number.

The decision against Vodafone was made by the New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum. The complaint was raised by Rajendar Yadav, a Delhi resident. The Forum also directed Vodafone to refund Rs.50 which had been deducted from the subscriber’s account for activating the hello tune service.

The Bench presided by C.K Chaturvedi stated, “Keeping the facts in view, opposite party (Vodafone) is directed to refund Rs 50 (charged for activating hello tune)”. The court also awarded Rs. 5,000 as compensation to the complainant which includes the litigation charges.

In the registered complaint, Rajendar Yadav had accused Vodafone of unfair trade practice for deducting Rs. 50 from his account towards the activation of hello tune service on his number without his permission. Rajendar Yadav said that though he was informed about the activation via SMS but he did not approve it.

Rajendar called up Vodafone customer care for raising a complaint immediately after the amount was deducted. He also had visited several customer care centers of Vodafone for seeking the refund. However his efforts went in vain. This made him turn to the New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum. Vodafone has however denied the allegations made by the complainant.