COAI: unable to compel retailers to accept old notes

NEW DELHI: Amid complaints about non-acceptance of old ₹500 notes for mobile recharges, cellular operators body COAI director general Rajan Mathews has said companies have given strict guidelines to accept these notes from customers, but retailers and distributors cannot be forced. “These retailers and distributors cannot be forced to do something they do not want to do, if they believe the process is tedious. This is unfortunate for customers,” Mathews said.