As a loyal MTN subscriber for the past several years, I’ve definitely been a victim, like hundreds of thousands of other Nigerians to their profit maximization strategies and general lack of conscience and/or integrity in the way they conduct their business in this great country.
South Africa, MTN’s base, is a saturated market with nowhere near the level of opportunity that Nigeria has to offer, and so the company decided to pitch its tent here, and it brought along a service, what it did not bring along were:
- Good manners
- Ethical behaviour
- Reliable network
Just to name a few. Personally I never use the company’s data plans which you subscribe to by sending a short numeric code to 131. However last week, I had to catch up with some business demands in Abuja and wasn’t sure if my normal ISP would work, so I decided to use the data plan which I have always felt is exploitative, and another get rich quick scheme put in place by MTN executives to milk the Nigerian consumer whilst the regulatory watchdog looks the other way.
Things went fine in Abuja and the data plan was reliable. When I got to Lagos, I realized that during my trip to Abuja, I had forgotten to re-subscribe to my normal ISP which provides me with unlimited data for N8,500/month. Such a plan on MTN, based on my consumption would put me in the poor house or at least on AMCON’s persona non grata list for the forseeable future. Let me give a shout out to SPectranet at this time. They are after all the ISP that has kept it real with me over the past 2 years.
If Spectranet is Abel, MTN would be Cain. Anyway back to the matter, I forgot to re-subscribe and so I had to use the data plan once more, so I got on a 24 hour plan with MTN data bundle again. The data kept expiring before I could do any meaning ful work and so I had to buy data a few times. After spending a small fortune on the data plan, I was able to pay for my Spectranet subscription using Quickteller and breathed a sign of relief.
Just as I thought the MTN nightmare was over, I got a message from 131, telling me that it had rolled over my service, obviously the funds were automatically deducted from my account. I get a lot of unwanted messages from MTN and her cohorts but this one was the height. I immediately dialed 180 and spoke to one Blessing (ironic considering the way I felt). I was enraged but managed to convey the anomaly to her in polite tones. Her response was that the process was automated and since I have the data I should just enjoy it as there was nothing she or anybody at MTN could do about it.
Seeing that my help was not going to come from Y’ello, I decided to take matters into my own hands…literally and have spent the last five minutes writing this little note to all and sundry who will care to read it, including I’m sure some of the top brass at MTN.
Seeing as you guys have stumbled upon this article, don’t you wonder why your network is the most ‘ported away from’ network in Nigeria. Despite the Saka coup, Etisalat has more people porting to their network from MTN. This is according to NCC data. Those of us who are still on MTN are just looking for a great reason and moment to leave.
No matter how many Don Jazzy’s or Prince you get to produce and recite silly songs for your near 419 service, we all know we are jonzing still being 0803 loyalists. Your shoddy service will eventually cause us to port. Infact this is your last chance MTN, I am saying this personally. You just chop my money and said it happened, “automatically”. Habatically!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely yours,
One Aggrieved Subscriber (OAS)