Banks Reconnect MTN customers to USSD
Nigerian Banks have reconnected MTN customers to the unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) payment channels, Nigerian cable news online has gathered.
MTN customers were disconnected and dinied access to the service on Friday, following a disagreement between the banks and telecommunication companies over percentage of shared revenue.
The customers were disconnected when MTN reduced the banks’ commission from an average of 4.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent.
The banks had threatened to block MTN airtime on all their channels if the telecommunication company does not revert to the old commission.
Many MTN customers were stranded and had lamented the inability to buy airtime or mobile data because all the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) had blocked the telco from banking channels.
The telco had advised subscribers to seek alternative means of recharging their phones.
“Dear Customer, our bank recharge channels are currently unavailable. Kindly recharge using physical cards. We apologise for the inconvenience. Thank you,” one message read.
Another message read: “Please be informed that some of MyCustomers may not be able to purchase airtime and data recharges via banks including MOD and myMTN App. Please pacify MyCustomers and educate them to use MTNTopit, MoMo channels, as well as the debit card options on MOD or myMTN App,” another message read.
However, the Federal Government assured MTN customers that the issue will be resolved.
The managing director and chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, in a letter on Sunday announced a decision to revert discount offered to banks on airtime sales to 4.5 percent commission.
“Our virtual meeting between yourself (Wigwe) and Segun Agbaje (MD of GTBank) on the one hand and myself (Toriola) and Modupe Kadri (chief financial officer of MTN Nigeria) on the other refers,” the letter read.
“In an attempt to resolve the current USSD recharge impasse, given the interventions from our regulators, we hereby agree The Banks revert to the status quo of 4.5% commission.” it further read.
