Leadnaija
Subscribers to MTN’s USSD services have been assured that the recently introduced N6.98 per session charge will not affect airtime recharges or lead to double deductions.
• Billing now deducted from airtime instead of bank accounts
• Operators to ensure transparency, avoid double billing
MTN Nigeria’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, gave this assurance during a chat with MTN MIP fellows, following the introduction of the new end-user billing model for USSD services, as mandated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
She clarified that the N6.98 charge — which applies per session (defined as 120 seconds) — will now be deducted directly from subscribers’ airtime rather than their bank accounts.
“There is no significant change other than the source of payment. The same N6.98 is now deducted from airtime instead of direct bank debits,” she said.
Saint-Nwafor explained that the updated billing model was introduced to improve transparency and trust, especially in light of complaints regarding transaction failures and unexplained charges.
“Our regulators mandated us to provide monthly history and statistics to ensure accountability and clarity. Also, standardised messages will be issued across all networks for failed transactions,” she added.
According to her, this new model allows subscribers to clearly identify the cause of failed transactions — whether from the telecom operator or their banks.
Operators to Address Failures, Prevent Double Billing
The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, also weighed in, stating that telecom operators have committed to ensuring seamless USSD transactions under the new regime.
He clarified that customers will only be charged when transactions are successfully completed from the telco’s end.
“If there’s a network failure from our side, the customer will not be charged. But if the failure is from the bank, the customer will still be billed because the session was successfully delivered by the telco,” he explained.
Adebayo cautioned customers against double deductions, urging them to approach their banks if charged by both the telco and the bank.
“If people see deductions from their bank accounts after they’ve already been charged via airtime, that’s double billing — and they should take it up with their banks,” he said.
He further noted that customers will receive consent messages before any charges are made, and telcos will confirm eligibility through banking aggregators.
“Just like Uber, if we get you to your destination — the bank — we charge for that. Whether or not your transaction was completed at the bank is another issue,” Adebayo explained.
He added that in cases where failures occur due to bank or aggregator issues, customers will be notified accordingly. He also revealed that banks still owe telecom operators over N180 billion in unpaid USSD service fees.
