Abuja DSTV subscribers agitate for“ pay as you go billing“
NAN-H-100
DSTV
By Bukola Adewumi
Abuja, Sept. 22, 2016 (NAN) A cross section of Nigerian DSTV Multichoice subscribers have called on the National Assembly and the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to compel the company to commence “pay as you go billing”.
Some of the subscribers who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, said that this was the practice in South Africa, the country home of the company.
The subscribers spoke in reaction to the company`s recent directive that subscribers who might want to travel for 14 days, should apply for travel subscription suspension within 48 hours.
It would be recalled that DSTV MultiChoice had in a statement on Wednesday, indicated that Nigerians could now suspend their subscription while away from home.
According to the company, such privilege will be granted upon request and with 48-hour notice twice yearly.
Most subscribers, however, expressed dismay at the notice, saying that the company was taking Nigerians for granted.
Mrs Dorcas Adeoye, a civil servant and a DSTV subscriber, described the notice as unfortunate and called on relevant government authorities to look into the situation.
She added that the Federal Government should compel the South African company to embrace the “pay as you go billing” as was done in other countries.
Adeoye described DSTV action as an affront on Nigerians and blamed the National Assembly and the NCC for not enforcing the law.
Mr Muhammed Musa, an Abuja-based businessman, said that it was unfortunate that foreign companies dictate how they would serve Nigerians.
He added that such companies most times, did not consider the ill-feelings and complaints of the people about their services.
Another subscriber Mr Chinedu Ikedi, described the DSTV directive as an insult on the collective sensibilities of Nigerians.
He maintained that it was the responsibility of DSTV to know when subscribers were not using their decoders and “ when to do the needful“.
According to him, since the company normally calls subscribers to remind them to renew their subscription ones it expires, it should apply same method rather than asking Nigerians to apply for service suspension.
It would be recalled that DSTV Abuja Subscribers’ Forum in 2015 protested the company’s tariff increase at its Maitama office.
The protest was meant not only to push for tariff reduction but to also demand a prepaid tarriff plan for subscribers.
Also, in Ebonyi, DSTV subscribers while protesting the company`s decision to increase tariff on April 2015, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the activities of the company to save Nigerians from exploitation. (NAN)
BOL/EEM/NKO
Edited by Emmanuel Mogbede/Nkechi Okoronkwo
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