Subscribers Accuse Telecommunications Operators of Over-billing, Others

NCC - Nigeria telecommunications commission, receives 15,377 complaints in quarter 2. Meanwhile, billing-related issues have topped the various complaints put up by subscribers over telecoms service providers in the second quarter of the year in Nigeria.

Although, the complaints in Q1 is 19,730 and more many than those in quarter 2, which is 15,377 accounting to 58 percent. All complaints are from telephone users in the country over billing related issues.

The billing-related issues include deductions for activation of unauthorised Value Added Services (VAS), inaccurate charges, charges for unauthorised services, charges for unsuccessful calls, charges for undelivered Short Message Service (SMS), inability to change tariff plan, deductions for virtual top-ups not received, charges for caller ring back tune not downloaded, among other.

Others complaints include SMS/MMS and VAT accounted for the second and third highest number of complaints received by the commission, which are eight per cent and seven per cent respectively in Q2.

SIM card issues had three per cent, inability to reach call centres had one per cent, recharge card issues had three per cent and data centre issues had six per cent. Call set-up challenges saw five per cent complaints and failed/unsuccessful DND request accounted for six per cent.

A comparison of complaints received in Q1 and Q2, 2017 showed a reduction in the number of complaints received by 22.06 per cent.

Nevertheless, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMS), has called for compensation for subscribers.