Porting to Airtel - Confusion with FRC

[curios_mind_huh]

I recently raised a porting request for porting my Vi sim to Airtel. Airtel's agent came to my home and completed KYC(?). He asked me that he must complete First Recharge (FRC) for Rs.349 right then for porting to complete. When I inquired about if it's mandatory, he said it's a must. When I looked at his phone screen though, it showed Rs.199, Rs.299 and Rs.349 as possible plans. I asked him to proceed with the Rs.199 plan, but he told me that it's exclusive only for 3G/2G handsets. On further observation, I saw a skip button in the FRC page on his phone and I clicked it. He wasn't able to go to the FRC page again.

He's been pestering me on Whatsapp for the past few days that FRC is a must and that he should be the one to do it. In Airtel Thanks app, I can see the minimum Rs.199 as an option for FRC.

1. Can I go ahead with FRC of Rs.199 via Airtel Thanks app myself ditching the agent?
2. Is FRC really mandatory like suggested? If not, I'll go ahead with the annual plan for Rs.1999 directly.
3. Does Airtel allow stacking of two plans like Jio? For example, Can I do recharge for a 365 day plan when the current plan is active

 

[Channakya]

1 you can ditch the agent .
2 get the annual plan , frc is not recommended
3 yes Airtel allows plan stacking .

 

[Channakya]

I have ported my sims couple of times , but never done frc. but I have recharged annual plan.

 

[tesla007]

There is no need of frc once porting is complete. You can recharge with any plan that you want.

 

[SSV]

There is no need of frc once porting is complete. You can recharge with any plan that you want.

okay, so FRC may be applicable only in the case of brand new connections.. not in the case of porting.. Learned a new thing.. thanks guys..

 

[curios_mind_huh]

@Channakya @SSV

Update: Sim got ported 2 hours ago. I was trying to search an early pack like suggested, but most of the normal recharge plans were not showing up when I entered my number for prepaid recharge in Airtel app. There were around only 6 to 7 plans with a maximum validity of 84 days, Minimum being the 199 plan. I tried with couple of other third party apps like Amazon and Mobikwik for force recharging annual plan, but still saw only the same limited plans.

Decided to go ahead with 199 plan. After recharging, Now I can see all the normal plans in Airtel app. Guess, Airtel is adamant on FRC, I guess. For better context, I'm porting from Vi to Airtel and to a different region (TN to TS).

 

[SSV]

@Channakya @SSV

Update: Sim got ported 2 hours ago. I was trying to search an early pack like suggested, but most of the normal recharge plans were not showing up when I entered my number for prepaid recharge in Airtel app. There were around only 6 to 7 plans with a maximum validity of 84 days, Minimum being the 199 plan. I tried with couple of other third party apps like Amazon and Mobikwik for force recharging annual plan, but still saw only the same limited plans.

Decided to go ahead with 199 plan. After recharging, Now I can see all the normal plans in Airtel app. Guess, Airtel is adamant on FRC, I guess. For better context, I'm porting from Vi to Airtel and to a different region (TN to TS).

Okay very good..

 

[Ash8]

@Channakya @SSV

Update: Sim got ported 2 hours ago. I was trying to search an early pack like suggested, but most of the normal recharge plans were not showing up when I entered my number for prepaid recharge in Airtel app. There were around only 6 to 7 plans with a maximum validity of 84 days, Minimum being the 199 plan. I tried with couple of other third party apps like Amazon and Mobikwik for force recharging annual plan, but still saw only the same limited plans.

Decided to go ahead with 199 plan. After recharging, Now I can see all the normal plans in Airtel app. Guess, Airtel is adamant on FRC, I guess. For better context, I'm porting from Vi to Airtel and to a different region (TN to TS).

Even I had to recharge with a 3 month plan after porting from Vi from one state to Airtel of another state. So for a port with state change as well has to go through FRC route. We still don't know about porting sim in the same state.

 

[telescope]

I don't know about FRC but last year I ported to atel. I went to official store first but they said porting is free but first recharge of 249 is must. After that I went to a roadside makeshift stall with atel umbrella. When asked how much will it cost, they said it'll be done for free.

Taken the sim from there, few mins after porting was complete, sms came that 249 was recharged for my number. So, I paid nothing to enjoy 1 months of free calls and data. Similar is the case with jio and vi, when done from umbrella stalls.

The agent told me that these first recharges are done by company for free in order to acquire customers. These are among the customer acquisition cost of company. But some unscrupulous fellows try to leech money from customer in the name of recharge, and also pockets the commission from the company too.

 

[curios_mind_huh]

I don't know about FRC but last year I ported to atel. I went to official store first but they said porting is free but first recharge of 249 is must. After that I went to a roadside makeshift stall with atel umbrella. When asked how much will it cost, they said it'll be done for free.

Taken the sim from there, few mins after porting was complete, sms came that 249 was recharged for my number. So, I paid nothing to enjoy 1 months of free calls and data. Similar is the case with jio and vi, when done from umbrella stalls.

The agent told me that these first recharges are done by company for free in order to acquire customers. These are among the customer acquisition cost of company. But some unscrupulous fellows try to leech money from customer in the name of recharge, and also pockets the commission from the company too.

Might be the case. The agent was really persistent on making the recharge for 349 and getting money from me, even though a lower plan was available