₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHy8KoAa0QE?si=rcqrpfIK-AD-DERt

"I Went to Activate My New Prepaid Meter, Only to Discover It Has ₦406,000 Debt" – Lady Cries Out After Visit to Calabar Electricity Office

A Nigerian woman has shared a shocking experience after visiting the Calabar branch of the electricity distribution company to resolve an issue with her newly installed prepaid meter.

According to her, a prepaid meter was installed at her family house while she was away. However, every attempt to purchase electricity tokens failed, prompting her to visit the office for clarification.

To her surprise, she claims officials informed her that the meter was registered in another person's name instead of hers. Even more alarming, the account linked to the meter allegedly has an outstanding debt of ₦406,000.

She said:

"I don't know what Nigeria is turning into. I went to the Calabar office because I couldn't buy tokens for my prepaid meter. When they checked, I discovered the official who installed the meter used his own name to register it. The account now has an outstanding debt of ₦406,000. They told me there's nothing I can do about it."

"I asked if I could get another meter or have the name changed because I can't be paying someone else's debt. How can I inherit a ₦406,000 debt for a meter that isn't even registered in my name? I'm considering petitioning the official because this is unacceptable."

Her story has sparked widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing outrage over the alleged incident. Several commenters also claimed they had experienced similar issues, sharing their own unbelievable encounters with electricity meter registration, billing, and account discrepancies. Many called on the relevant electricity distribution company to investigate the matter and ensure affected customers are not made to bear debts that are not theirs.

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Debt on a prepaid meter?


Strange things are really happening. End times things!

She owes that amount when using postpaid

brain54:
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Debt on a prepaid meter?


Strange things are really happening. End times things!

but Nigerian now do everything for content monetization

I don't know what Nigeria is turning into. I went to the Calabar office because I couldn't buy tokens for my prepaid meter. When they checked, I discovered the official who installed the meter used his own name to register it. The account now has an outstanding debt of ₦406,000. They told me there's nothing I can do about it.

Nigeria is not turning to anything. The official only carried you over 40.5..

She should report to the DSS make dem arrest every body

Amovingman:
She owes that amount when using postpaid but Nigerian now do everything for content monetization

She said the name on the meter is not her name. Obviously, there's something fishy... it's the same content every Nigerian now does that has exposed many rots going on in the country, I think that's the good side of the content.

That thing no be new meter.

chicfarmer:
That thing no be new meter.

Right? Let's know what Nlfpmod thinks about this.

Nothing new, JEDC billing us .

Rebuke:
She said the name on the meter is not her name. Obviously, there's something fishy... it's the same content every Nigerian now does that has exposed many rots going on in the country, I think that's the good side of the content.

I'm glad you point that part out because I don't understand how the person you quote arrive at that his conclusion.

Chai ! Things are really happening…… Crazy things !

Don't accept that fraud. Some Nigerians are so innovative in corruption; even they have found their ways into New prepaid meters...!!!

Yes, if you want to buy prepaid meter, go to PHCN and do it yourselves.

Stop using a proxy or third party compromised officials.

Them do me same thing for my family house. Had to call DSS officials. Traced the official, picked him up and he confessed. I later got a new prepaid.

I know I spent money to use DSS on the guy, but I am happy I taught someone a lesson never to do shady deals with me.

Those PHCN guys are something else.

Seems likes accumulation bills
Ur former meter nko??
Last bill??

She's not lying..


There was a time I had issue with my prepaid meter, it was not supplying light and there was enough units on it. So IBDEC staffs later told me the only solution is to work on it.

They did came to my house and uncoupled it, did their job and mount it on the wall again.


So the staffs that came to my house told me that I should make sure I keep recharging on it. The guy said if the unit finish, I will still have light but i will have negative balance on the meter.


So, if to sey I wicked like the former occupant of that lady's apartment now, I go just dey use light dey go without recharging, for the next occupant of my apartment to pay


It's just pure wickedness from either the landlord or who left the apartment 💯

Glimpsetv:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHy8KoAa0QE?si=rcqrpfIK-AD-DERt

last last you ll pay for the darkness

Amovingman:
She owes that amount when using postpaid but Nigerian now do everything for content monetization

Ok they remembered to migrate the debt but didn’t remember to migrate her name? How interesting !

There were unpaid arrears on the postpaid account before the prepaid was issued. The electricity officials should have simply explained and agreed on the terms of debt repayment, which are typically 50 debit and 50 credit for each power unit purchased.

Miserable and desperate people in every corner

michoim:
Don't accept that fraud. Some Nigerians are so innovative in corruption; even they have found their ways into New prepaid meters...!!!

New meter doesn't mean there's no arrears. If it's a new building with new prepaid meter, that's a different thing all together. If you have an unpaid debt and you request for new meter, you will have to negotiate with them on how to clear those arrears - mostly 50 50. In other words, if you recharge say 10k, nepa will deduct 50% for the arrears and keep the remaining balance for you.

Sue them to Court straight .

A corrupt man told you guys to jump into fire. And you obliged .no b juju b that?

Nigerians NTTOORRR....

Let me make her understand since she is not informed.

1. They were paying estimated billing before, and did not pay off the previous balance. They must have been paying N50k and using N150k lol.
2. The same account was used to open the new PrePaid Meter, and the NEPA guy used his name to help her parents from running up and down to submit this or that.
3. The Balance she is seeing there is what they have used.

If she thinks the guy used the meter, and removed it and passed it over to her, she is probably very wrong because they MAP these prepaid meters to addresses. She can also request for her usage records, so she can see where the charges came from.

Glimpsetv:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHy8KoAa0QE?si=rcqrpfIK-AD-DERt

Then it is not a new meter and it is certainly not a prepaid meter.

Amovingman:
She owes that amount when using postpaid but Nigerian now do everything for content monetization

You are wrong. Same thing happened to me. A new house on a virgin land, yet a prepaid meter came with almost 200,000k we managed to clear it after several failed protest letters.

In fact, Corruption detector techniques should be a subject in schools. It is the root of the tree that becomes its stems.

michoim:
Don't accept that fraud. Some Nigerians are so innovative in corruption; even they have found their ways into New prepaid meters...!!!

It's very terrible experience

Whether old or new, can there be debts on a prepaid meter?

chicfarmer:
That thing no be new meter.

Welcome to Nigeria beech😂

Re- negotiate with the owner and the person in control.
That's is better than their crazy bill.

Amovingman:
She owes that amount when using postpaid but Nigerian now do everything for content monetization

No power distribution company install prepared meter in a compound that is owing. Don't be quick to think you know more than the victim.
I've used prepared meter since 2016 and and in 2019, phed claimed I owed 96k and they will have to take half of the subscription I made. That was how they removed 96k over a period of time.
2025 phed alleged I owed 72k. I called their port Harcourt office to register my complain and they promised to resolve the issue.
By March 2026, phed inform me that my residence come under band A.
This is an area that has never seen 7 hours of uninterrupted power supply.
We wrote a complaint and till now they are still charging exorbitant rate in subscription.
We are dealing with a fraudulent situation orchestrated by power company.

If this account is true, it's honestly heartbreaking and unacceptable.

Imagine doing the right thing by getting a prepaid meter so you can pay for only what you consume, only to discover it's registered in someone else's name and saddled with a ₦406,000 debt that isn't yours.

No customer should be held responsible for another person's liability because of an administrative error or alleged misconduct. That's not just unfair—it undermines public confidence in essential services.

Rather than telling her "there's nothing you can do," the distribution company should thoroughly investigate how the meter was registered, determine who authorized it, and rectify the records if the facts support her claim.

This is also a reminder to Nigerians: whenever you're getting a prepaid meter installed, insist on verifying that the account is registered in your name, keep copies of all application documents, and confirm the account details before activating it.

Hopefully, the company investigates this promptly and ensures that no innocent customer is forced to pay a debt they did not incur. Accountability and proper customer service are the least consumers deserve.

Glimpsetv:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHy8KoAa0QE?si=rcqrpfIK-AD-DERt

instead of you to hold the disco responsible, you're here shouting "what's Nigeria turning into"? you'll soon blame PBAT.