CPC orders MTN to pay N1.85m to customer over flawed promo

Nigeria’s telecommunications giant MTN, again earned itself another controversy yesterday as the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has directed it to pay one million, eight hundred and fifty Naira (N1,850,000) to one of the winners ofits Ultimate Wonder Promo for lack of due diligence.

CPC’s order was sequel to a complaint brought by Mr. Omeje Chukwuma Fidelis, against the telecommunications firm to the effect that he was underpaid after being declared winner of N2 million in the said sales promotion, held in 2012.

According to Omeje, he participated in the promo and was called through MTN line 180 on October 10, 2012 that he had won N2million in the Ultimate Wonder Promo and that on October 12 of the same year he got a text message informing him of the presentation ceremony fixed for October 19 at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

The complainant asserted that during the said ceremony, he was presented with a dummy cheque of N2million with his name on it, interviewed and paraded before the media and the world as a winner of the said amount.

He recounted further that he was stunned to receive another call from MTN line 180 on November 2, 2012 that his winning was N150,000 and was thereafter given a Verve ATM card for that amount.

MTN, in its response to the Council’s intervention, denied the claim of Omeje, saying that he was from the on-set informed that his winning was N150,000 and that the complainant deceitfully presented himself when winners in the N2million category were called forward on the day of the prize presentation.

The company stated further that Omeje’s antics was discovered at the verification of winners, which was done after the ceremony and he wasthereafter contacted through its 180 line on his misrepresentation pursuant to which he apologised.

CPC demanded for the call data of the communications of October 10, 2012 when Omeje was informed of his winnings of N150,000, but MTN failed, refused and neglected to comply with the request made both in 2012 and 2016.