This is the second time I’ve really had to call them, and it was just as bad as the last time. Sometimes you get the feeling that the person on the other end of the phone doesn’t understand English at all. Here I was telling him that a certain number I have been asked to call is not getting connected from my handset. And those people reply – Sir, please call the number we have provided you. I do not know any simpler way of putting this!
I wanted to activate Airtel Mobile Office on my Sony Xperia X1a handset. I called up the call center and asked them to activate the RC98 plan. In this plan you pay Rs. 98 for broadband connection having 30 days validity and 2gb data transfer free. Also you get free Airtel to Airtel calls worth Rs. 98. This seemed like a good offer to me. The airtel guy who answered the call told me that settings shall be sent to my mobile and that I had to activate the connection by dialing *567*14#. Simple!
Then started the problems. I did what was needed to be done on my part and was waiting for the settings to arrive. I get an sms telling me that settings shall be sent momentarily. A minute later I get another message telling me that settings have already been delivered to my mobile. WTH! I checked if settings had been updated and the answer was no. Still I tried connecting to internet and obviously my phone tells me that no network settings are available. What do I do?
I call up the call center once again. I go through all the steps to make sure that no mistake had been committed on my part. The airtel person tells me that he’ll send the settings once again, and that if I am still not able to connect then I should call up 12118 for further support. The whole process repeats and no settings delivered.
What was to be done – call 12118. I dial the number. A brief pause and then a message – The dialed number is invalid! Frick!
I call the call center again. Go through the whole thing. Tell them that 12118 is not going through from my mobile phone. The reply – Sir, please dial 12118 for any further assistance. To which I tell him once again that I am not able to dial the said number. The reply – Sir, please dial 12118 for any support regarding mobile internet.
I had serious doubts if he could understand english. So I repeated the whole thing in hindi, slowly and politely. The reply – Sir, please dial 12118 for any further assistance.
I gave up on the guy and disconnected. 121 again. A new guy. Thank lord! I tell him the whole story. He was a smart fellow. Tells me to hold on while he checks back. Sure. Couple of minutes pass by listening to Airtel’s new song. Song stops and he answers back – Sir, please call the alternate number provided to you. And what is the number I ask? 121 he replies and disconnects before I could say a word!
I gave up altogether. Googled up and realized that I could request for the settings from my phone itself. Did that and I have Airtel Mobile Office (EDGE) working on my Xperia X1. 
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