Section 22 in Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Standards of Quality of Service and Consumer Protection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017
22. Delivery of post-paid bills and payment.
(1)Every distributor of television channels shall, either directly or through its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, deliver to every post-paid subscriber, the post-paid bill within fifteen days from the end of billing cycle:Provided that the distributor or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, shall deliver such bill to the subscriber either in printed form or electronic form, as may be opted by the subscriber.(2)Every distributor of television channels or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, shall provide a period of at least twenty one days, from the date of generation of the bill, to every post paid subscriber, for making payment of the bill:Provided that in case of default in timely payment by a subscriber by the due date, it shall be permissible for the distributor or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, to charge a simple interest at a rate not exceeding 2% higher than the base rate notified by State Bank of India from time to time, on the amount payable by the subscriber for the period of such delay.(3)It shall be permissible for the distributor of television channels or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, to enable, in addition to other payment options, consumer friendly electronic payment options in the subscriber management system for the electronic payment of post- paid bills by the subscribers.(4)It shall be permissible for the distributor of television channels or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, to temporarily suspend the broadcasting services related to television of a post-paid subscriber, in case of default in payment, after the expiry of due date for payment:Provided that in case the services of the subscriber remain suspended continuously for a period of three months, such subscriber shall not be counted as an active subscriber of the distributor and it shall be permissible for the distributor to deactivate such subscriber from subscriber management system:Provided further that the distributor or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, shall, upon request of the subscriber, restore services and it shall be permissible for the distributor or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, to charge, in addition to the outstanding payment with interest due from the subscriber, an amount not exceeding rupees hundred as re-activation fee from the subscriber for restoration of services if such services have remained suspended continuously for a period exceeding three months.(5)Every distributor of television channels or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, shall, issue a receipt to every post-paid subscriber for every payment made by him and shall enter the details of the receipt including the date, serial number of the receipt, and amount paid by the subscriber in the subscriber management system against the name of the subscriber, within seven days of the payment made by the subscriber:Provided that the distributor or its linked local cable operator, as the case may be, shall deliver such receipt to each subscriber either in printed form or electronic form as may be opted by the subscriber.(6)Every distributor of television channels shall, on its website, maintain the records of billing and payment of subscribers, for at least preceding six months and provide log-in access to the subscribers to their accounts.(7)If any distributor of television channels contravenes the provisions of sub-regulation (1) or sub-regulation (5), it shall, without prejudice to the terms and conditions of its registration or the provisions of the Act or rules or regulations or orders made, or, directions issued there under, be liable to pay an amount, by way of financial disincentive, not exceeding rupees twenty per subscriber for all such subscribers in respect of whom such contravention is observed, as the Authority may by order direct.(8)No order for payment of an amount by way of financial disincentive under sub-regulation (7) shall be made by the Authority unless the distributor of television channels has been given a reasonable opportunity of representing against the contravention of the regulation observed by the Authority.(9)The amount payable by way of financial disincentive under these regulations shall be remitted to such head of account as may be specified by order by the Authority.
