The rest of the amount is taxes as far as I know.

The balance is your line rental and commission for the person who sells the top up.

Can't see as how it can be line rental on a pay as you go and commision at that amount seems unlikely. The amount they charge is the MRP on the card. It just seems very odd to me. But , then again, it is India!!!

I too was told it was a tax thing.

I have been in contact with IDEA (this problem is with other companies as well) and they asked me for the number I was using in Goa. I have not heard back from them yet but will post replies when I do.

it would be in everyone's interest to help out with this as it appears as though a scam is going on.

may I ask as many people as possible to email the offices that cover Goa and ask them why when buying a top-up card costing 375 rupees(the mrp on the card) only 199 rupees are credited to the phone. the more they are made aware then it might encourage them to investigate this rather than us all summising what the problem is. many thanks.

http://www.ideacellular.com/ConsumerGrievanceRedressal.htm

You are not being ripped off. I dont live in england but I think you will find that the same happens with pay as you go cards there. You are paying line rental (did you think it was free?) and tax. Quite simple.

When pay as you go sims were first introduced in the UK we were wxactly the same as Goa, A portion of your top up fee was for line rental.

"You are not being ripped off. I dont live in england but I think you will find that the same happens with pay as you go cards there. You are paying line rental (did you think it was free?) and tax. Quite simple.

In England if you buy £10 worth of credit thats what you get.

You are not being ripped off. I dont live in england but I think you will find that the same happens with pay as you go cards there. You are paying line rental (did you think it was free?) and tax. Quite simple.

hapi and goonerfan are wrong I think. Did you both have a look atb the website? Why did IDEA when they contacted me tell me what you both said? They have taken the number I used to investigate it.

When you initially buy a sim card package line rental is paid then. Bolt has the idea what I was on about.

Just loosen up and don't get touchy. trying to help everyone with this by the way.

Hi - pedrogooner, I bought a 3000 rup Idea card a couple of weeks ago because I need to keep the same number and this I can do as long as I top up at least once per year - the total cost to me was 3500 rup which is the shop charge and tax and the photo for the registration. The credit on the phone was 2999 rup.

That maybe so. When I first registered I paid 750 rupees and that included 500 rupees talk time. The problem comes when you purchase normal top-ups. Just wait till you have to do that.

Every pay as you go sim card in Goa has a service charge and government tax. The airtel one is 450 rupees and you only get 283.50 credit for calls. Many companies have introduced the lifetime card now. I paid 999 rupees for airtel and got 20 rupees credit, however I only have to make one call every six months to keep my number and now when I buy the top up card I don't have to pay the service charge plus calls are cheaper - 7.6 rupees a minute to the UK anytime. Not quite as good as the Sitfy rate of 4 rupees a min but at least I can ring from the comfort of my apartment without everyone earwigging!. Text is still the same to UK at 5 rupees. Now a 450 card gives 414 credit and I will have paid the 999 back after a few more top-up cards. Plus Cafe Day in Panijim gave a free cappuchino (sp?) to every airtel customer yesterday. Oops sound like I'm on commission for them now.