The prepaid cards of lowest-denomination that mostly attract low-income groups and students are being excessively charged by retailers without any check.
It was observed that these scratch cards are being sold at higher prices ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 25 as against their credit value.
Interestingly, these cards are not available at designated franchises of mobile operators; however, the non-franchised dealers are selling the same cards at a 'premium' (overcharging) of their desire.
Earlier, this week PTA warned that the telecom operators including mobile companies should ensure adequate disclosure of their tariffs in a prominent manner so as to avoid misleading advertisements in the print and electronic media that confuse the consumers about the actual tariffs charged.
The authority observed that many telecom operators either mention only lower tariff talk-time for different destinations in their advertisements while the charges for other destinations are not disclosed adequately.
Under this scenario, the authority was of the view that such type of misleading advertisements have resulted in misguiding the consumers as tariffs for certain destinations cost them substantially higher then the advertised tariff.
Unfortunately, the authority was unable to look at the 'black marketing' of prepaid scratch cards.
The authority seems to have forgotten its responsibility to safeguard the interests and hard-earned money of the public.
Several consumers have contacted this scribe regarding their complaints that their hard-earned money was being minted through different tricks by various telecom operators.
The prepaid cards, which are very much in demand on the happy occasion of Eid, were being sold at prices higher than the prescribed credit value.
One consumer said that the Jazz Rs 100 scratch card was being sold at Rs 110 to Rs 125. This prepaid card is unavailable at the Mobilink outlets and franchised shops, while the non-franchised dealers having abundant of them are selling the product at a premium ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 25, he added.
Similar situation was also observed with the other mobile companies' prepaid cards like Paktel, Warid etc, a subscriber pointed.
One non-franchised dealer informed this scribe that they were not overcharging but the companies, themselves, were supplying the cards at higher prices.
It may be mentioned here that a leading mobile operator has re-launched Rs 100 pre-paid card. When it was introduced, Rs 20 were subtracted as processing charges along with Rs 13 as taxes on its loading, which could never be explained by the company.
A customer loading the card would get a balance of Rs 67. However, the company soon discontinued this card due to continuous customers' protest.
The product has been re-launched without any processing charges but, the company is playing another trick ie selling it on higher price by creating artificial shortage in the market.
The subscribers have demanded of the PTA to look into this serious issue, as it is a regulator and to take stern action against those involved in the shady practice.