… Consumer Views on Telecoms Services

Tope Ogidan:

It has become a daily routine for GSM operators to send unsolicited junk messages. I have always found it impossible to call MTN customer service, drop calls are the order of the day. When will MTN stop deducting 15 Naira for text messages to other networks? The regulators, are they relaxing in their oversight functions on erring operators? Who certified those adulterated phone brands into the country? What are the roles of Ministry of Information on the allocation of frequencies to these GSM operators who fail to commence operation after obtaining licenses from the NCC? Please, let’s hear the story from the NCC because it’s the consumer that suffers all these consequences.

Emmanuel Majebi:

I commend Zain for being the first network that introduced a package “Zain Step Up” that can be enjoyed across other networks!! But they should endeavor to send clients sms notices of when your step up cover will expire to prevent you wasting your credits

Funmilola Dada:

I am a victim of adulterated phone brands. My husband bought a Samsung (slide) for me at Slot (they rank the company the best in Lagos) at the rate of 31,000 naira in Dec/Jan (I can’t remember the actual month but it was between Dec. 2008 and January 2009). There was an article a friend sent to me about how to know the make/maker of your handset. I tried it only to discover my phone was China made and it was sold for that high price! The worst part of it is that I never enjoyed this phone for a day. I charge this phone everyday (like warming soup). That’s how easily we are being swindled in this country.

Nnamdi Onyeuma:

It is about time we got answers for all the outrageous charges from telecom operators. Worst still, these days, you find all kinds of worrying promos and text messages about one win or the other, which almost always turn out false, a broad day hoax! And you ask; who is behind it? Call MTN customer service and you get a response that the texts were never from them, yet they came through their system. We must know about this because so many people have been fleeced of their hard earned money.

Awonusi Olufunmi: I live in Ghana where telephone tariff is so cheap that I can call 5 people in Nigeria with just 2 cedis, your sms charges are not deducted until the text has been delivered and you get bonuses too. On the same MTN network! What is wrong with my country?

Larry Happiday:

Please where are the five hundred (500) cars promised in Glo promo? They are not on the roads so, are they driving them on the moon?

Iyoha Ebos Harroson:

Bad network every day. My Glo and MTN have been giving me sleepless night. May be I’ll try Zain.

Seun Yomi Olubuyide:

Poor Services: Sometimes, I dial a number and it won’t ring, but my credit will be deducted, even when I flash a number, and the person just picked it for 1 or 2 secs, 15 or 20 naira would have been deducted from my credit, and I am not on per minute billing…

Adekunle Wilson-Sodipe:

There’s this new thing with Zain; it keeps saying, ‘there isn’t enough credit to make this call…’ even when you have more than enough credit.

Nicholas Iroegbu:

Bad network, drop calls, inability to recharge. MTN is the worst, followed closely by Glo. In fact, to keep up with business I carry three phones! By that they make one a target of bad boys. Thank God for the safety of Abuja.

Iyere Eyieyien:

The internet access they provide is very fraudulent as far as I am concerned. When they start, it works fine for some time but when people flood the network they buckle under the weight. They never have plans to expand the capacity of the networks and seem more interested just to keep collecting money from helpless customers; very painful and annoying.

Isimemen Nate:

I would like to commend Starcomms on the ingenious setup where you can recharge your data card directly from your phone and it comes on immediately, but what’s with Etisalat?

Fehintola Bello:

I just wonder why MTN should make recharging of all things that bad, or bar your phone on the postpaid service. It can be so bad that I got all the networks since they seen to be giving them out for free.

George Akpayen:

My issues with some telecoms networks is that even when they fail to deliver your sms, yet they make their deductions as if nothing is wrong, and then MTN is a big culprit in fluctuating networks. At times, recharging is like trying to pass a camel through the eye of a needle.

Jumoke Ajibade:

First, customer service lines hardly ever go through on all the networks (all attendants are forever busy!). Worst of all is Visafone. I have never been able to talk with Visafone customer care, as each time they tell me I am number 200 plus on the waiting list so I may want to hold on or call back later. If I choose to call back, I get the same message again. Secondly, Visafone should please stop waking us with unsolicited mails in the dead of the night. I’m fairly okay with Zain (I think it’s the best out of the lot). Starcomms is improving, they should keep it up.

Seyi Ayeni:

On MTN’s customer service, I actually got to speak with someone after holding on for few seconds! I discovered this surprisingly but only when I borrowed a phone that uses minimum of N2000 airtime daily! Does that mean customers like me are not worth servicing? Secondly, I pay five thousand naira monthly for internet service only to have access for 10 days in 30 days but MTN’s system is ever prompt to remind me daily once it’s five days to expiry and also ever faithful to make the five thousand naira deduction at the exact second due.

Emmanuel Offiong:

I subscribed to Zain internet service on my mobile set but you can’t believe it that for one clear week now I have not been able to get service! Their customer service in Calabar said I am not alone. It’s a shame.