NCC warns GSM service providers against short-changing customers

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on Thursday warned GSM telephone service providers against short-changing their customers.

Alhaji Abdullahi Maikano, Director, NCC Consumers Affairs Bureau, Abuja, issued the warning in Bauchi while delivering a speech at the 80th edition of Consumer Outreach Programme, organised by the commission.

Maikano, represented by Ismail Adebeba, Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs of the commission, said that it was the responsibility of the commission to protect customers from exploitation and other sharp practices by service providers.

He said that the commission initiated the customer outreach programme to educate consumers and receive feedback on their grievances against service providers for redress.

He urged providers to disseminate information to consumers in plain and simple languages, adding that such information must be relevant, current, accurate and timely.

Alhaji Sani Garba, an official of one of the GSM Service providers in Bauchi, told the gathering that his company had 200 Retailed Touch Points and 100 others, being managed in the state.

He also said that the company had of recent initiated Mobile Points of Sales (MPoS) at the company's Out Touch Points being managed by trained staff to further educate consumers.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most of the customers who attended the forum complained of unnecessary deductions for services not rendered and deduction money in the name of debts they were not aware of.

Other complaints included the imposition of unsolicited caller tunes, music and other services, as well as inundating them with text messages during odd hours, particularly at midnight.

No fewer than 1,000 customers from all the 20 Local Government Areas of the state and service providers attended the one day forum.

Representatives of MTN, ETISALAT, GLO and AIRTEL responded to some issues raised by both consumers and officials of the commission.