Trai directs annual audit for telcos, asks to refund overcharged tariff

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has said that telecom companies will have to refund any excess amount they charged from consumers if it is proved by an auditor that they have been overcharged, The Economic Times (ET) has reported. Trai said the refund should be issued within three months of receiving the audit results.

The latest directions have been issued as a part of the quality of service (code of practice for metering and billing accuracy) regulations, 2023, notified by Trai on September 11. According to the rules, every telecom company should get its metering and billings systems audited once a year and submit the action taken report to the authority, the ET report said.