Airtel provided wifi modem query

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anfjavid

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HELLO GUYS, A friend of mine wants to give his BB wifi modem provided by airtel. He has paid a one time non refundable deposit of around Rs.1000 and he is continuing as an airtel customer for a couple of years. I heard that he will get replacements of the modem till he ceases to be customer under airtel.

Now he wants to give it to me for Rs.500 since he doesnt require it . If i get it from him, will i get the replacements as my friend would get ??

I asked CC regarding this and one exec. told that its a one time charge and even if i get it from him, i wont be charged the amount (1000). In order to confirm it i called the CC the second time and asked. Now i was told that the name of the modem will become registered under his phone number and address in their database and if my friend transfers the modem to me, then they have to make alterations in their database and then i will also have to pay Rs.1000. WTF .

Guys, plz tell me . How come what she said could be correct ?. The deposit is a one time non-refundable deposit and they have already collected it from my friend. Even if he uses it 4 or 5 yrs they will provide free replacement and there is no charge. Now he wants to transfer it to me . This being the case how can they charge me the above one time rental which has already been paid by my friend ??

I also asked them whether they could refund atleast 50% of the amount to my friend if he surrenders the modem (modem only and not connection) and they said that is also not possible.

On the other hand, my friend says that the modem and all wont get registered under their database. (This is believable cuz, whenever i call CC in case of any issues in my BB, they ask the name of my modem). So its like when the customer has beetel modem, it is entitled for replacement and the airtel guys wont enquire as to the ownership of the modem - my friend says. Is this true ??
plz help guys...
 
Well they bind your connection to MAC address of modem....when ever they change the modem, they update it via a web interface...i have seen it...so it's true that they have the record of modem which you are using to dial up the connection...and instead of going for wi-fi for 1k from then, why don't you buy a Belkin G wi-fi router for Rs 1.2k?
 
The MAC binding and the executive updating the MAC on web is just a Placebo. I have used many a modems for my Airtel Broadband connection without fail.

@OP: There is a workaround for this. If you take this modem from your friend and the modem cease to work anytime, you just take that to your friend's place and call the executive to fix/replace the modem but this is applicable only if your friend is not surrendering the DSL connection from Airtel.
 
No you need not pay any extra charge.... I have done this... One of my friend travelled to US and he had to disconnect the airtel broadband. I guess he paid the same amount of Rs1000 initially for the wifi modem. However he was not asked to return the device back to airtel.

He gave the wifi modem to me... and i called up the CC... to have the new modem configured to my account. Just type 192.168.1.1 in your IE and log onto to the wifi router details you will find the account# of the previous user. Thats the detail that needs to be changed in your account at backend....

So do not ever let the CC folks know how you got it...so that you need not pay any fees as such... However regarding the replacement i dont think you will be eligible because the owner of the device would be your friend and not you....

so if you think you have a problem with the modem ask your friend to initiate the request for replacement.. Hope this helps
 
a small correction in what ive stated. . He is not my frnd, but an airtel employee himself who came to fix a bb issue. Since he was very friendly i addressed him as friend. I dont know whether he is having a bb connection or not currently. the unit might be a stolen one also.

@arihant - like u said, in case of any replacement its possible only in the premises of the person who transferrd it. Or the transferor should continue to be bb customer as said by cc. So rather i would get another by paying 1000.

@konqueror - i already have an 8 port dlink switch since i require it. If the belkin router coms along with 8 ports, then surely will go fo it. May i know the model and warranty. Moreover the airtel provided modem is entitled for a lifetime wrnty period . Anyway will consider the belkin 1 also provided its value for money.
 
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