The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) on Wednesday said MTN had complied with its directive to pay N1.85 million to an allegedly short-changed promo winner, Mr Omeje Fidelis.
This is contained in a statement by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs of CPC, Mr Abiodun Obimuyiwa, in Abuja.
The payment was made following a directive by the council on Feb. 10 that MTN Nigeria Communications Limited should pay Fidelis N1.85 million within 14 days, the statement said.
It said the payment was the balance of the aggrieved customer’s winning in the promotion held in 2012 which the telecommunications company failed to pay.
“MTN raised a United Bank of Africa’s draft in the said sum in favour of the complainant on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 barely 24 hours after its receipt of the agency’s order.
“ Fidelis, in a telephone conversation, confirmed to CPC his receipt of the amount, disclosing that he received the cheque for the balance of his N2 million prize on Feb. 15, 2016.’’
The statement said that CPC also received receipt of a settlement agreement made to that effect between the parties in the matter.
According to the statement, MTN’s decision to pay the complainant is in consideration of CPC’s directive and MTN’s concern over the negative implications of the complainant’s claims.
It said CPC gave the instruction because of alleged lack of due diligence displayed in the verification of the winners of the N2 million category of the sales promotion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Fidelis filed a complaint against the telecommunications giant that he was underpaid after he was declared winner of N2 million in the sales promotion.
Fidelis said he was called that he had won N2 million in the promo and was also invited to the presentation ceremony, which was done on Oct. 19, 2012 at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
Fidelis said that during the ceremony, he was presented with a dummy cheque of N2 million with his name on it, interviewed and paraded as a winner of the amount.
He said he was stunned to receive another call from MTN line 180 after the much publicised dummy presentation ceremony that his winning was N150,000.
He said the MTN, thereafter, gave him a Verve ATM card for that amount.
“MTN, in its response to the council’s intervention, denied the claim, saying that Fidelis was informed from the beginning of its communication that his winning was N150,000.
“MTN said the complainant deceitfully presented himself when winners in the N2 million category were called forward on the day of the prize presentation.
“Fidelis’ antics were discovered at the verification of winners, which was done after the ceremony and he was thereafter contacted on his misrepresentation, over which he apologised.
NAN further recalled that CPC, in order to determine the claim of the telecommunication firm, demanded for the call data of the communications between both parties but MTN was unable to produce them.
The Director-General of CPC, Mrs Dupe Atoki, while reacting to the development, welcomed the prompt compliance by MTN.
Atoki said “this underscores the supremacy of the consumer in the market-place”.
She charged business operator to exhibit best practices that would engender value for money for consumers.
http://telltimes..nl/2016/02/4years-after-mtn-pays-n185m-to-short.html

It is good news

All dis south Africa companies.

MTN robbing Nigerians since the day of Judas. imagine MTN unable to provide the call record. this is a case of NOI telling Nigerians that she doesn't know that DASUKI shared our money among his cronies. MTN should ask me to produce the call record since they can't find it. MTN Oleeeeee. THANK GOD FOR THIS NEW NIGERIA where stealing is corruption.

i ported due to their insincerity in dealing with subscribers. well done CPC!

this mtn sef
scamming everywhere they go.
if the dude truly made a misrepresentation, why was his name also on a dummy cheque of 2m. Thank God he no gree after you don take am shine

Have a feeling they were forced to do that, very stingy network

Many days for the thief, one day for the owner.

Useless network

It's not enough to compel them to pay the measly N1.85m. MTN should also be fined at least N10m as punitive or exemplary damages. This is the worst kind of unethical behaviour that should not be glossed over.

MTN Nigeria said it received with shock, the news that the Consumers Protection Council (CPC) ordered that it pays N1.850m to one Fidelis Omeje who claimed he had won N2m in one of the Telco's promos.

In a press statement through Mr. Kayode‎ Olagesi, CEO of Towncriers, the experiential marketing agency that managed the prize presentation on behalf of MTN, the Company said they feel obliged to address the subject matter in view of the misrepresentation which has since caused substantial embarrassment, over a process which was conducted professionally and under the supervision of credible regulatory and audit agencies.

Olagesi‎ said, "Whilst we were not party to any proceedings conducted by the CPC over the claim by Mr. Omeje Chukwuma Fidelis, we state without any equivocation that the process of selection of and the list of winners was duly endorsed and vetted by all parties involved, including the client, MTN Nigeria, renowned auditors, Alexander Forbes and the National Lottery Commission. Consequently, Mr. Fidelis was confirmed as a winner in the N150,000.00 category and not the N2m category."

He said that Mr. Fidelis was inadvertently issued a dummy cheque in the wrong sum which was later clarified to him pursuant to which he did receive and acknowledge his winnings of the sum of N150,000.00 in November, 2012.

"We were therefore surprised when our attention was again drawn to this particular promo which was concluded almost four years ago with Mr. Fidelis and all other winners in the said promotion receiving their prizes".

He added that in any event, having organised the prize presentation ceremony, they are desirous of final closure on the subject and following the CPC’s position, "we expect that Mr. Omeje Chukwuma Fidelis’ receipt of the sum of N1,850,000.00, without prejudice to our reservations, will bring this matter to a close.

Olagesi, added that as a long-standing marketing communications partner, they remain committed to providing excellent services to the clients, MTN inclusive.

"Our services to MTN are in the area of experiential marketing and events management, working in different capacities since 2007.

"With regards to the issue at hand, we are aware that MTN as a matter of policy engages independent auditors and relevant regulatory agencies to supervise their promos, as was done in this case. Indeed, the testimonials of hundreds of winners over the years lends credence to the authenticity of these promos," he concluded.

http://www.changenigeria.org/news/17776-mtn-nigeria-denies-shortchanging-promo-winner

Are there more people with Fidelis' complaint? It is indeed strange that of all the promo-winners, he was singled-out to be shortchanged *strokes chin*

Make he send my own share of the awoof sha o even if na recharge card I go collect.