Vodafone to Airtel MNP (postpaid)

Vodafone story:-
First let me tell you about my usage for my 3 Vodafone postpaid numbers used by my family.

1st no - 500 Local + 200 STD + 1.5 Gb 3G + 200 SMS ( STD 299 plan + 3G + SMS ) Bill around 900
2nd no - 100 Local + 600 STD + 100 roaming + 500mb 3G (STD 299 plan + 3G) Bill around 600
3rd no - 1000 Local + 200 SMS (some 399 plan + SMS) bill around 900

Those are rough numbers including taxes and roughly spending around 2500 per month for more than 5 years.

Then came vodafone red plan and how we can we merge and I thought I would take 899 for 1st number and 499 for other two makes it around 2200 with taxes. Cost will be slightly less but lots of benefits (4000 local+STD, 3 Gb data and 3000 SMS)

Then started the trouble. They said 1st convert yr primary no to 899 plan and later convert other two to join. Primary no was converted to 899 in next billing cycle. then I asked them to convert other two numbers to 499 plan they refuse to do it. According to them best plan for me will be 899 for all numbers which will be way more expensive and unnecessary. Their store representative also told the same.

So basically they knows my usage better than I do. Vodafone 499 plan is not available unless you are new to vodafone. That was so stupid. So many calls and complains but they refuse to give me 499 plan.

Airtel Story:-
Then I saw airtel my family plan. I checked 999 plan with additional number at 99 each so for 3 numbers its 1200+tax - Max around 1500 and I will get 2000 Local + 800 STD + 3.5 Gb data + 300 SMS. (customizable according to your need) which I was looking for. (for port in they gave additional 200 local lifetime per month and if I exceed I will get 30p/min lifetime). So I was saving 1000 per month.

Airtel was helpful guiding for steps for MNP. Person came to my door steps in couple of hours with 3 SIM card and I signed and gave few documents. They gave free sim card and no security deposit too and process finished within 15 min.

Meanwhile got phone from vodafone that why I am changing and they were happy to give me 499 plan now. but refused it as it was costly anyways.

Now problem with airtel started. Verification was done successfully. I paid my all dues in vodafone. But that guy mixed up UPC MNP number within three numbers and all are rejected after week.

I called airtel back process began again and in a week only my primary number was transferred to airtel as they said because I opted for family plan 1st my parent number later my child number. In mean time porting time of my child numbers were expired and rejected.

So again airtel guy came with 2 forms and 2 new sims and process gone smoothly and all 3 numbers converted to airtel. But 2 numbers are now on individual my plans not on family plan. I called 121 and they said visit store as family plan they cant do anything. Been to store and they said wait for all billing cycle to get over and come back again.

finally complained over twitter and as I mentioned in other thread some one personally looked over and converted to all 3 numbers to family plan last week. When I get my 1st bill I will come to know surely.

Some notes:-
1. Vodafone 111 care is way better than Airtel 121
2. Vodafone app is way better than airtel
3. Airtel plans are cheaper than vodafone
4. In both family plan its difficult to get started.
5. In airtel response time is faster in customer care
6. Weirdest thing I find about airtel - landline call is never free in any plan so if you are doing lots of landline calls airtel is not for you

Long post but I hope this will help some one. I will be happy to answer qs.

Circle?
Also, on airtel, do the free minutes include calls to landlines too?

Mumbai circle.
No landline is not free. That weird thing I found around hour ago. I shld add that in notes. Lucky me almost zero landline calls from any number

I wonder sometimes as to what is attractive about postpaid. I mean prepaid has packs for almost everything that you need discounted rates for. Agree its a hassle recharging periodically but then it isn't much. with a lot of calls and data, I spend not more than 500 on a prepaid VF number a month.

Depends. On rcom, with 600 odd bucks, I get 1500 minutes and 2GB 3G, not to mention all India roaming. I don't think there are comparable prepaid packs across any operator.

Moreover, with most operators switching to a 28 day validity system for prepaid, one ends up paying for one month extra over the period of a year.

Only drawback of postpaid, the way I see it is, are the potential issues that could arise during disconnection.

uumeshh said:

I wonder sometimes as to what is attractive about postpaid. I mean prepaid has packs for almost everything that you need discounted rates for. Agree its a hassle recharging periodically but then it isn't much. with a lot of calls and data, I spend not more than 500 on a prepaid VF number a month.

Click to expand...

what is your usage like? Prepaid and post paid is like habit I think. My brother never wants to switch to post paid and me with auto debits since years cant go to pre paid. (specially I control 3 SIM card)

How much will you spend on 1000 (local+std) min + 2gb data + 200 SMS

I guess you are right about the habit thing. I just can't justify the rental thing in postpaid. Plus the constant fear of haywire billing and bombs dropped by the providers. I generally am fine with half a GB of data for whatsapp etc as I have WiFi at home. No SMS packs for me, I'd rather call up instead.

Yes... Afaik, the only postpaid plan in Airtel with FREE calls to LL is Solitaire1599 plan, which is not for everyone...

Now since Govt has removed the IUC for calls to and from LL, there is a chance they may include LL in FREE usage in coming days...

Heard that even Vodafone treats LL calls the same way...

Solitaire 999/1599 are pretty old plans, AFAIK, offered to MNP/retention customers these days.
Probably the best plans for non corporate users.

Atleast Airtel have standard call rates to landline, airCel prepaid in delhi overnight increased call rates to landline without intimation.From 1p/sec to 3p/sec... Ripoff.

My prepaid monthly balance got finished in fortnight. No stv to decrease rates. No reply to email i sent them.
Ported to Airtel postpaid within a week.

kanagadeepan said:

Yes... Afaik, the only postpaid plan in Airtel with FREE calls to LL is Solitaire1599 plan, which is not for everyone...

Now since Govt has removed the IUC for calls to and from LL, there is a chance they may include LL in FREE usage in coming days...

Heard that even Vodafone treats LL calls the same way...

Click to expand...

No vodafone local landline calls were included in local calls. infact in vodafone RED 899 plan they give 2000 local+STD landline and mobile calls free. there is no difference between any calls.

I hope airtel follow the suit.

On different note I just got airtel android app update. Its much much better than before but still cant come close to vodafone.
I just want to adjust packs in my family pack from app.