Airtel’s many sins

A colleague, Anne Agbaje, was the first person who called my attention to Airtel’s unwarranted deduction of ‘airtime’ from customers’ lines. I did not believe it until I had similar experience. I have been a loyalist of the network for many years now and it is difficult to part with my number because of friends who have it on their contact list. Anne had just changed her SIM from the old phone she was using to a Blackberry. She had paid N3, 000 for the monthly internet plan. However she noticed that anytime she browses or a mail enters her mailbox, any attempt to read it means money would be deducted from the call credit on her phone. She would normally receive a message like this: “Your last call was: 3.00NGN. Your Balance is 435.02NGN.” This continued for a while until she was forced o change to another network. Early this year, I got a new android phone and I decided to put my Airtel SIM in it. I went to the Airtel Friendship Centre at the Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki to have it connected to the internet as previous attempt to send the activation code I got from their website to a particular number, for the internet service to be activated proved abortive. After the successful activation, I migrated to a monthly plan but I was shocked when at the end of the month, Airtel began deducting money from my line anytime I browse on it. Of course, like most subscribers, I did remember that my plan had expired. I was expecting Airtel to notify like other networks do to notify me for renewal. Rather, Airtel prefers to deduct my money without informing me. I think it is unfair for a ‘loyal’ network to treat her customer in that manner. A friend of mine, Stephen Ipalibo-Lawson, who is also an Airtel loyalist was forced to make a public cry on his Facebook page last week Sunday when he wrote on his wall: “How can I get Airtel to stop sending me these promos. I am not interested and it is becoming annoying. They don’t even honour their deal.” As a response to Stephen’s outcry, Temitope Felicia, a friend of his replied: “Lolsss....I have the same problem with them. Their texts are beginning to choke me.” Stephen Ipalibo-Lawson later wrote: ‎”Exclusive offer for you. Get a combined 70% bonus of FREE airtime, data and SMS on recharge of N500. Hurry, recharge now. Call 141 NOW to get this amazing offer” This is what they sent the last time and even when you load N500 or more, u no go get anything.” I also get several of these text messages myself. They could really be very annoying. At times, I get calls from strange numbers and when I picked they turn out to be some voice announcing the latest service Airtel is offering. And I begin to wonder who could have put that call through if when I was not ready to listen! A colleague, Pius Anakali, also complained about unsolicited messages from the Airtel. As I was putting this piece together he showed me a text he received from Airtel. “Dial 399 now to listen and dedicate latest songs on our Music Messaging Service now. You get 2 Free dedications per month. Costs NGN 5/Day. IVR charges only. Peter Ehigiator also complained about calls coming on his phone from unknown numbers. “A call from 14158 when I saw it I decided not to pick it. The person close to me queried why I didn’t pick my call and I told him it was a promo call from Airtel.” Yours sincerely have also received calls from this number: 07080604006 announcing one promo or another. Airtel should please up their game and give their customers value for money.