One of Cameroon’s leading mobile telecommunications company, MTN, has announced a new tariff plan for its mobile money services and transfers across the country. Set to take effect on November 20, the company aims to streamline and optimize charges across all transaction levels.
Unlike the existing fee system, MTN has decided to eliminate charges for both light and heavy transactions, a move that garnered attention a few weeks back.
Under the revised tariff structure, withdrawals for transactions ranging from 3,000frs to 233,000frs will incur fees ranging from 10frs to 750frs. This marks a significant reduction compared to the current range of 30frs to 3600frs, as reported at the time of this article.
The decision has been met with a mix of anticipation and scepticism. Paul Tsafack, an MTN subscriber, expressed hope in the implementation of the new charges, citing concerns about excessive charges from mobile operators. “It will be a good thing if they really implement it because the scam we have been going through in the hands of these operators is too much,” he remarked, emphasizing the need for genuine execution.
Concerns about the previous high charges are echoed by others, with Paul stating, “MTN transfer charges are enormous, and if they do not implement their so-called new charges coming up, then there will be trouble.”
Noteworthy is the observation that MTN’s charges traditionally fluctuate based on the transaction amount. The existing system requires users to spend up to 1,000frs for a 50,000frs withdrawal and up to 2,000frs for a 100,000frs withdrawal, a point of contention for many users who find these fees excessive.
Marcelina Tchinda criticized the high fees, stating, “Imagine spending 2,000frs to withdraw 100,000frs? That money you can use for a meal for at least 4 people. MTN are scammers operating freely in Cameroon with the government saying nothing about it.”
The prevalence of high charges across various mobile money services in Cameroon has left consumers with limited alternatives. Orange Money, another prominent service, imposes similar charges, and other money transfer agencies are often perceived as complicated due to issues like name discrepancies and unreliable network connectivity.
In the midst of these developments, there are reports that Cameroon’s national operator, CAMTEL, is preparing to introduce its mobile banking system, “Blue Money,” in the near future. However, details about its fee structure remain unclear.
Sending money without charges is considered a significant concern, especially when users have already expended a substantial amount on transactions or during withdrawals. The duration of the new tariffs remains uncertain, leaving users and industry observers pondering whether this adjustment is a long-term strategy or merely an end-of-year marketing initiative from MTN Cameroon.
In April this year, Cameroonian celebrities and influencers took to social media to denounce the poor quality of services provided by major telecom companies in Cameroon. Dozens of them championed a campaign called ‘airplane mode’. They deprived themselves of MTN services for several days to call for reforms.
Their nationwide campaigns followed series of complaints from users who accused MTN of extortion. Could this be some of the company’s reforms to appease customers?
