Without getting into details, I had to change my mobile number twice in the last 6 months. The primary reason for this change was rather silly as Maharashtra has two mobile circles and to avoid roaming, I had to change the numbers. Not long ago, all of us believed how tedious job it was to update all your friends about your new number. But with the advent of social networking sites, cheap SMS rates, email address to everybody, the job of updating your friends has become very easy. By now, some of you might be wondering where‘s the “nightmare” part in this. So let’s start by going a step ahead and talk about all other places where you want to update.
1. Bank accounts - In spite of having net banking, phone banking and mobile banking facilities, a well known bank still wants you to come down to their bank and submit a application form to update. And then they take 7 days to update. Banks – Are you listening? Please automate the systems
2. MF Investments– Should I give a written application to every fund I invest in to get my number updates? Kidding? Yes, there might be a system for updating your KYC. But is it for mobile number updating also? Nobody knows. Everybody wants me to visit their fund management house and submit a written application. Thank god, at least there are offices in my current city.
3. Loan accounts – When your loan account holder calls to update his number, why can’t you do it by checking the basic credentials. No doubt there are so many defaulters who simply change their contact details and never bother to inform the bank.
4. DTH – I believe changing the Registered Mobile Number (RMN) should serve the purpose here.
5. Motor Insurance – All this while I was relying on service center guys to call me and remind me when my car insurance was due for renewal. I guess I will have to put a reminder to track it manually.
When UID plan was planned, Mr. Kishore Biyani suggested to Mr. Nandan Nilekani using mobile number as the UID number. Nandan refused and said the UID shall be a combination of alpha-numeric and special characters. Whatever be the reason, the mobile connections and the classification of circles are beyond logic. Agreed that MNP has been rolled out amidst huge hype, but what’s the use if it is confined to only a circle. Should we wait for another 3-4 years to see it being rolled across circles?
Somebody told me that in Maharashtra, you have a place where women can update their name post marriage and the same would be updated in all the records. If this true, why can’t there be such a system for mobile connections also. I take a new connection and then I update this place and all my bank accounts, investments, loans are updated. Rest of them upon intimation from me can then check with this place and update their records. Cmon India, we design processes/tools for the west. When are we going to set our houses right?
