Times Of India Obituary Contact Number Support
Table of Contents
Times of India Obituary Contact Numbers and Support
By Ravi Menon | Newspaper Ad Consultant, 11 years | Based in Mumbai
You shouldn't have to spend 40 minutes exploring a maze of links to find the number to call to place a Times of India obituary. But it often does. I have helped families put up TOI obituary notices at the last minute, with death certificates still being processed, family members flying in, people in the next room weeping. In that situation, the last thing anyone needs is a phone tree.
This article provides the actual numbers. Not the switchboard. The ones that get answered.
Official Contact Details for TOI Obituary Bookings
Times of India doesn't publish a single national obituary helpline. Advertisements are booked on an edition-by-edition basis, and in most cases, they're booked through an official TOI agency, not directly through TOI's office. If you dial the newspaper's head office for an ad booking, you're likely to be routed to the wrong person.
The way around this: book via an authorised TOI ad agency. They can reach the booking desk, know the current TOI obituary rates, and often secure same-day placement — which is not always possible through the online portal alone.
City-Wise Helplines
Different cities, different contacts. This is what's currently reachable.
Mumbai
The most active edition. Most agencies handling TOI Mumbai obituary ads are active between 9 AM and 7 PM. The agency contacts above cover the Mumbai edition directly.
Delhi NCR
The same agency contacts work for Delhi. Column rates are slightly different from those charged in the Mumbai edition.
Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad
Agency contacts differ for South India editions. For the Chennai edition specifically: verify that the agency you reach is TOI-authorised. I've seen two cases where clients paid an unauthorised agency and the ad was never published.
Ahmedabad and Pune editions sometimes use the same agency handling the Mumbai edition — but not always. Verify first before assuming coverage.
Email and Online Support
Online Portal
TOI has an official ad booking portal: ads.timesofindia.com. It supports classified and display obituary ads. The process for classified text obituary ads is quite straightforward — upload your content, select the edition, and pay online. For display obituary ads, there have been some issues with image formatting during upload. If design accuracy matters, use an agency route with a PDF proof.
Email Support
support@ads.timesofindia.com is the general email address for ad bookings. If you have queries about obituary ads, include "Obituary Ad" in the subject line.
Response time via email is 4–24 hours on weekdays. Avoid using email if you need to book an ad today. For urgent placements, call the agency directly.
Response Times — What to Actually Expect
This is where a lot of families get surprised.
| Channel | Response Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Phone (agency) | 15–30 minutes, within business hours | Urgent same-day bookings |
| Online Portal | 1–2 hours after payment | Standard next-day placement |
| 4–24 hours | Planning ahead, non-urgent | |
| Walk-in at TOI office | Variable — not recommended | Corporate accounts only |
For urgent situations — if the ad needs to run tomorrow — call an agency directly. That is the quickest route. Not the online portal, not email. The main TOI offices are geared for corporate ad accounts; you'd likely end up talking to an agency anyway.
Common Queries Handled Through Support
Most obituary-related queries fall into a few categories. Whether you reach TOI via agency or portal support, these are what get handled:
Pricing
Classified ad pricing is per word or per line. Display ad pricing is per column centimetre. Rates vary by edition and are updated quarterly — always confirm before booking.
Booking Deadlines
Each edition has a copy deadline — typically the evening before the date of publication. Miss it by an hour and the ad moves to the next day.
Photo Submissions
JPG or PDF format accepted. Minimum resolution requirements apply — the agency or portal will flag photos that don't meet the spec before submission.
Corrections and Cancellations
Possible before the copy deadline. After that, it gets difficult. One client learned this the hard way when a name was misspelled in a proof they approved too quickly.
Remembrance vs. Obituary
TOI accepts both. Remembrance ads are for anniversaries. They're booked like obituaries but come in different standard sizes. Mention which type you need when calling.
Where to Find the Times of India Obituary Contact Number
The direct answer: go through a TOI-authorised ad agency. The newspaper's own website lists options under "Advertise With Us," but these are mostly for display advertising accounts — not individual obituary bookings.
For individual bookings, use one of these:
| Route | Details |
|---|---|
| Online Portal | ads.timesofindia.com — classified and standard display |
| Agency Phone | 93111 16822 / (+91) 98219 84000 / (+91) 98214 54000 / (+91) 98210 61330 |
| Email Support | support@ads.timesofindia.com |
For a city-specific contact, search "Times of India authorised ad agency [city name]" — that returns the local partners who actually hold the booking slots for that edition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Times of India obituary contact number for Mumbai edition booking?
The direct-to-TOI booking method is not available for individuals. To book an obituary ad in the Mumbai edition, go through an authorised agency. Call 93111 16822, (+91) 98219 84000, (+91) 98214 54000, or (+91) 98210 61330 — they can book for the Mumbai TOI edition and confirm placement the same day.
2. What is an affordable obituary ad agency for Times of India Mumbai contact details?
Pricing depends on the size of the ad. A classified obituary in the TOI Mumbai edition starts at approximately ₹800–₹1,500 for a simple text ad. Call the agency numbers above to get a rate specific to your requirement before committing.
3. How to contact TOI for obituary ad rates?
Two ways. Visit ads.timesofindia.com and use the rate calculator — reasonably accurate for classified ads, less reliable for display. Or call an authorised agency for a direct rate quote. TOI obituary ad rates change quarterly for metro editions. Any figure you find online without confirmation is likely outdated.
4. What email for Times of India obituary booking?
Use support@ads.timesofindia.com. Write "Obituary Ad Booking" in the subject line. Only use email if the ad is not needed within 48 hours — response time is 4–24 hours on weekdays, and email is not suitable for urgent placements.
5. Who to call for urgent Times of India obituary today placement?
Call 93111 16822, (+91) 98219 84000, (+91) 98214 54000, or (+91) 98210 61330 first thing in the morning. Same-day placement is possible but not guaranteed — there is a copy deadline and edition availability to consider. Calling after noon makes next-day placement more likely. Don't delay — a phone call moves things faster than any online submission.
6. What are agency contacts to book an obituary ad in TOI?
Both display and classified obituary ads can be booked through TOI-authorised agencies. The national agency contacts are: 93111 16822, (+91) 98219 84000, (+91) 98214 54000, (+91) 98210 61330. These cover major metro editions including Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru.
7. How to reach TOI support for a remembrance ad?
Same process as an obituary ad. Remembrance ads are placed in the same classifieds section and use the same booking flow. Just say "remembrance" when you call or email. Some editions have a separate section with slightly different ad size options — confirm with the agency.
8. What WhatsApp numbers are used for TOI obituary queries?
Some agencies allow WhatsApp queries for ad bookings after hours, though responses may come the next day. Ask when you first reach out whether they have a WhatsApp number. For urgent placements, a phone call is more reliable — don't rely on WhatsApp when time is tight.
9. How to complain about an obituary ad issue in TOI?
Email support@ads.timesofindia.com with your booking reference number and a description of the problem. If you booked through an agency, contact the agency first — they are responsible for what was submitted. For a significant error, escalate directly to the TOI ad desk rather than going through the agency.
10. What customer care line handles Times of India ad rates?
There is no individual-facing customer care number for ad rate queries listed on the TOI website. The best approach: call 93111 16822, (+91) 98219 84000, (+91) 98214 54000, or (+91) 98210 61330 and ask for a rate card for your edition and ad type. A two-minute call gets you a more accurate and current figure than waiting two days for an email response.
