Ok, here is the thing , i called up Airtel and asked them to add my prepaid number to the do not disturb list, which basically means i dont want the SMSes and the calls they keep spamming me with. I dont want to download a Salman Khan song on his birthday or a Priyanka Chopra Ringtone on hers. The funny stuff is that it says FREE everywhere and at the end it says call charges Rs.6 or Rs.12 per minute.
I just want to get rid of the ads that i get. 1 month ago i was told that prepaid customers would not opt for Do not disturb, but yesterday i was told the “Solution”.
SMS UNSUB to 170 (toll free) to get rid of Airtel Spam Messages and enrol yourself for DO NOT DISTURB.
The customer care guy told me it would take 5 days. He asked me if i would not like to receive the service promotions (LOL, what promotions, blatant and shameless advertising i said) , i said yes. Hopefully after 5 days i would be a much happier man 
Airtel’s site’s stance on the Do Not Disturb thing :
Do not disturb :: Postpaid
If you are a Postpaid customer and you wish to register or unregister from our Do Not Disturb list, kindly register yourself on “My Account” on the home page. Your request will take 48 hours to be implemented.
:: Prepaid
If you are a Prepaid customer and you wish to register or unregister from our Do Not Disturb list, kindly call our 24 hour customer service at 121 from your Airtel mobile and place your request. Your request will take 48 hours to be implemented.
:: Landline
If you are a landline customer and you wish to register or unregister from our Do Not Disturb list, kindly call our 24 hour customer service at 121 from your Airtel landline and place your request. Your request will take 48 hours to be implemented.
But i can assure you, i as a Airtel Delhi prepaid customer was told to SMS UNSUB to 170.
July 20th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
So, did it work?
July 20th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
@George - Seems to be working, i am yet to get Spam today, but i am not giving it a seal of approval till i go through 3 days without spam !
July 21st, 2007 at 3:48 pm
i m having prepaid connection,and i dnt want tht airtel msgs and calls to disturb me all the time,pls guide me wht to do..thanks
July 21st, 2007 at 4:16 pm
@Sonu - Just call 121 and tell them you want to register for Do Not Disturb
Alternatively, if you are a Delhi prepaid customer, just SMS UNSUB to 170 free of cost.
July 22nd, 2007 at 11:54 pm
…& what if I’m using Hutch?
PS: I guarantee they’re worse than Airtel!
Just when i had come to terms with spam SMSs Hutch decided to deepen my misery by adding voice activated ads to their already long list of annoying FREE services! So now i also get spam phone calls informing me that I’m one of the privileged few who can download Himesh’s nasal twang onto my phone, all for a nominal price of 12 rupees! (Do people voluntarily download that crap???)
July 26th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Trust me riya, Airtel is SO bad its not even funny anymore! I have an Airtel prepaid which is basically a spare phone, that I use as an occasional landline. Whenever I pick up the blessed instrument, there are at least 10 new messages, with these blooming semi-lunatic offers! And their Customer care is non-existent… Ive sent the unsub message like 10 times, and those promised 48 hours before action are yet to come! I want to throttle someone… Mr. Mittal, perhaps??
July 26th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
@Ameet - lets hope someone from Airtel reads your comment, but i wont lie, all spam to my phone is over !
July 29th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Well the SPAM is back, looks like the Airtel Do Not Disturb is another big sham from their company.
Airtel’s Do Not Disturb does not work for Delhi’s prepaid customers.Expect a post on this SCAM soon !