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Now conning a service provider and jumping to a new player is not going to be easy.
The reason: cellular companies are planning to introduce a central information system through which service providers, including code division multiple access (CDMA) operators, will share information about defaulters.
Bharti Cellular, which provides its service under the Airtel brand, has initiated talks with Hutchison Essar (Hutch brand in Gujarat) for such a system. Efforts are on to bring all CDMA and GSM service providers together for this cause.
"Though there has been a reduction in the number of wilful defaulters in recent months, we feel the need of a centralised information system through which all cellular providers can share information on their defaulters. This will be beneficial for all cellular service providers and honest subscribers. We have recently initiated talks to Hutchison. Talks with other service providers will also be initiated shortly to help us identify such dubious customers," said Atul Joshi, chief operating officer of Bharti Cellular.
It has been learnt through sources that the chief financial officer of Hutchison Essar and his counterpart at Bharti are at an advanced stage of talks to work out the modalities for such a tie-up.
Sanjoy Mukerji, chief operating officer of Hutchison Essar, said his company is in the process of creating a system which will preserve details of all its defaulters.
"At Hutchison we are working on a system which will preserve data about defaulters. I believe if all cellular players can create a central database of defaulters that can be accessed by all cellular companies, the number of defaulters can be checked. Genuine customers will also not have to take the trouble of multi-level verification while buying a new connection. But, even after having such a centralised system, we have to responsibly handle such information and subsequent actions," Mukerji said on Tuesday.
While at Bharti, a private collection agent has been made responsible for collection of all long-standing dues, at Hutchison, there is a strong credit cell which coordinates with a private collection agent.