By OLADELE OGUNTIMEHIN
Following public outcry and the opposition from both government and the banks in the country, MTN Nigeria Thursday reversed its earlier plan on its new charging model for access to banking services via the USSD channel assuring that it would always put the customers at the fore of all decision.
The telecom firm which noted that the new charge has not gone into effect, promised to continually be transparent in dealing with customers, the industry and relevant regulatory bodies.
MTN had over the weekend notified its customers through text message of its intention to be introduce a N4 USSD charge which had generated outcries and warning from the federal government to desist from such new charges.
Both the CBN and the banks in the country had also vehemently opposed the new charge with the Apex bank saying that it would not allow it o stand.
MTN in a press statement signed by its company secretary Uto Ukpanah noted that the SMS notification of their customers was sent after formal requests received from individual banks as well as the Body of Bank CEOs to implement end user billing where customer is directly charged.
“It should be noted that the banks had up till now been on a corporate billing plan where a corporate client, the provider of the service that is accessed through the USSD channel pays the access fees at a wholesale price, believing that the costs associated with USSD banking services should be charged to the consumer only once”
The management revealed that it is in line with the National Financial Inclusion Strategy of the Federal Government that calls are resisted for end user billing but relented after exhausting avenues of engagement with the banks in pursuit of a model that enabled a single charge.
“We believe separate charges by the banks and telecoms companies are an unnecessary burden on the consumer especially the target group that the National Financial Inclusion Strategy is aimed at. It is imperative for all parties to approach the table and engage constructively towards a solution, putting the customer at the fore of all decision”
The management pointed to be looking forward to collaborating with the esteemed customers, valued partners and other stakeholders in implementing the decisions approved by the regulators.
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