TeleTalk’s special offer a dilemma for consumers

State-owned operator TeleTalk’s special offer – a 2GB “Shotoborsho” data package with 15 days of validity – has garnered significant criticism from subscribers, who claim its renewal process is inconvenient and poorly designed.

TeleTalk launched the offer for Tk 17 on March 17, 2020 to mark the Birth Centenary of the Father of the National Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. When a subscriber avails this offer, they get 15 days of validity, but without any possibility of renewal within this timeframe.

If a user tries to buy this particular package again within the package period for any reason, TeleTalk blocks the move, and extends this period for another 15 days. This renewal issue has been causing a lot of inconvenience among subscribers who use a lot of data.

On the matter, TeleTalk subscriber Musharof said, “I am an online content creator and 2GB of internet is not enough for 15 days. Whenever I try to renew this offer after exhausting my data, TeleTalk extends my package period for 15 more days, but without giving me any data at all.

“Though I am not being charged any money for my failed renewal attempts, the operator should allow us to avail this offer multiple times with the package period.”

Terming the renewal process as unnecessarily complicated and ridiculous, another subscriber Munir said, “Just because TeleTalk is state-owned, it does not mean they can punish us like this.

Responding to a query, TeleTalk customer care official Munia said, “Subscribers can avail the 2GB Shotoborsho data package twice a month. Once activated, a customer will have to wait 15 days to renew this offer.

“TeleTalk does not charge a customer for trying to retake the package more than once per 15 days, it only adds an additional 15 days to the period. The offer is available till date, and will continue until further notice.”

Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumer Association’s (BMPCA) President Mahiuddin Ahmed said, “People should get the best possible service from state-owned institutions against the backdrop of the Birth Centenary of the Father of the National Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“However, TeleTalk’s Shotoborsho package is not consumer friendly. We will file a complaint with the Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection against the state-owned operator as this particular package clearly violates consumer rights.”

To mark the birth centenary, TeleTalk had launched several offers for its subscribers, including a package containing a free TeleTalk SIM with Tk 100 balance, but a consumer will have to recharge Tk 100 first to avail this offer.