There seems to be no relief from unsolicited calls and promotional short messages (SMS) as they continue to be an irritant - and sometimes even a nightmare - for cellphone users.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s assurance on September 1 earlier this year, that cell phone subscribers would be protected from tele-marketing calls or promotional SMSes, seems to have come a cropper as subscribers continue to be harassed by these calls and SMSes. 

As per guidelines issued by the TRAI, subscribers can block such calls or SMSes by sending an SMS to the service provider, calling the customer care centre, registering on the service provider’s website or mailing a letter.

Blocking of calls
Customers were asked to register their names with the National Do Not Call (NDNC) Registry for blocking promotional calls and messages.

Those registered subscribers would, in turn, be given a reference number and stop getting unsolicited calls 45 days after registration, said BSNL, General Manager (mobile), Mani.

Drop rate
However, many subscribers told Deccan Herald that though there was drop in the rate of unsolicited calls, promotional SMSes continued to be sent to the message inbox of the subscribers.’

“Despite registering and submitting a letter requesting for a tab on these solicited calls and SMSes, we continue to receive them. Complaints with customer care centres have yielded no positive response. The TRAI guidelines seem to be a hoax,” said Naveen M, a Vodafone subscriber. Vodafone (then Hutch) then had claimed that those who want to opt from the ‘ Do not Disturb’ (DND) facility would have to send an SMS ‘DND’ to 111, or register for it on their website, following which the calls and SMSes would stop within 48 to 72 hours.

BSNL and Airtel subscribers also had similar options.

Subscribers of these cellular operators said that they have stopped receiving calls but messages have resurfaced after a period of calm.

“The calls may have stopped because of the hefty TRAI fines which will be imposed on the tele-marketing callers, but the SMSes, mostly that of the telecom providers, have resurfaced,” said an Airtel user.

Service providers, when contacted, said that the NDNC Registry is being monitored on a monthly basis and if subscribers received unsolicited calls or promotional SMS, it might have be routed by individuals.