Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) plans to resolve consumers’ issues more aggressively by setting up a sophisticated and rapid responsive unit of Consumer Relationship Management (CRM) System in the coming months.
The project should be considered as quintessential with paramount importance as the telephone services are the biggest utility in the country with over 161 million connections.
In 2018, the authority addressed over 40,000 complaints from the telecom sector but it is termed as the tip of the iceberg as a majority of customers are unaware of the PTA complaint service for quality-related issues and overcharging by operators.
The telecom watchdog has also been active on different social media platforms which has also increased its interaction with the customers. However, there are emerging issues requiring interactive customer interaction and awareness such as DIRBS.
PTA is managing complaints through Consumer Protection and DIRBS project. At present 10 telephone lines, walk-in consumer counters, website and email are available to the telecom consumers to address their queries and complaints.
Methods through which consumers can interact with PTA include:
i. Telephone Lines
ii. Walk-in consumers are served at Consumer services center
iii. Ticketing system which is integrated with PTA’s website
iv. Contact us form at website
v. Email
vi. SMS
Consumer queries or complaints are managed through different databases of different offices of PTA. The manual entries of these complaints and queries increase back-office processes and also often result in inefficient complaint handling.
However, there is a need to integrate all complaint management systems, in a dedicated Consumer Relationship Management (CRM) System. The new system will integrate PTA’s existing systems dealing with complainants including Complaint Management System – CPD , Online Content Portal – CVD, and DIRBS – Services Division
In this regard, a Call Center will be established under the proposed project to manage/process increasing number of consumer complaints received through emails, call, fax, post, online form, SMS and social media etc, according to PTA website.
The project will provide increase the PTA’s responsiveness, efficiency and accessibility through offering enhanced consumer care service. It will also improve the telecom consumer care through proactive approach through Call Centre.
The new project will also make efficient use of existing manpower deployed for complaint management and DIRBS.
PTA has recently announced Mobile Device Identification and Registration System to ensure the use of PTA compliant mobile devices, which has led to an increase in the, number of telecom consumer complaints. Keeping in view, PTA has decided to introduce 24 x 7 call centre services to end users for rederessal of consumer complaints round the clock.
