The processing fees for all the mobile recharge coupons above Rs. 20, has been increased. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on April 19, 2012 gave its nod for the hike in the processing fees of recharge coupons.
The processing fees of coupons below Rs. 20 will be same as before. The hike of 50 % was made through an amendment made to the Telecom Tariff Order (TTO) after two and a half years.
The order mentioned, “Authority has decided to increase the ceiling on processing fee on top up vouchers to Rs 3 from Rs 2 in respect of top up vouchers having maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 20 and above. However the processing fee of the vouchers having MRP less than Rs 20 will be Rs 2”. Now all the prepaid subscribers, who use the recharge vouchers will have to pay an extra Re. 1 every time they recharge their mobile.
India has a base of 900 million mobile phone subscribers out of which more than 90 % are prepaid users. The processing fees has been increased for all the vouchers from Rs. 20 and above. The authority has also mandated the availability of Rs. 10 denomination as top-up voucher.
