Cameroonians accuse MTN of daylight ‘robbery’ as complaints mount over missing data bundles

MTN Cameroon is once again at the centre of public outrage after hundreds of users took to social media accusing the telecom giant of deducting airtime and mobile money balances without delivering the internet data paid for. The accusations, which have grown louder over the past week, come at a time when Cameroonians are already struggling with poor network quality, frequent internet disruptions and some of the highest data tariffs in Central Africa.

From Douala to Bamenda, angry customers have flooded Facebook, X (Twitter), and WhatsApp groups with screenshots and testimonies showing failed data purchases. Many claim they were debited immediately after subscribing but never received the data bundle they paid for. Some report that repeated attempts to contact customer service have led nowhere, with agents blaming “technical problems” or advising customers to visit MTN offices for help.

The frustration has deepened because internet access in Cameroon is already unreliable and expensive. Recent reports by connectivity watchdogs like NetBlocks and CADE Project have confirmed widespread slowdowns and blackouts across several regions of the country, particularly during politically sensitive periods. Critics now accuse the telecom operators, especially MTN, of exploiting customers while failing to deliver basic service.

MTN Cameroon, which claims to serve over 12 million subscribers, has not issued a clear public statement addressing the growing wave of complaints. On its website, the company maintains that users are charged only after successful bundle activation and that airtime should not be deducted automatically once data is exhausted. However, this official policy appears to contradict the lived experience of thousands of users who have lost their money with no recourse or refund.

This controversy is symptomatic of a broader crisis in Cameroon’s telecom sector, where operators enjoy near-monopolistic power, infrastructure is crumbling, and regulatory oversight remains weak. The national fibre-optic backbone, controlled largely by the state-owned Camtel, continues to suffer frequent breakdowns, worsening connectivity nationwide.

For many Cameroonians, however, the current outrage is less about infrastructure and more about accountability. “This is theft, plain and simple,” one user wrote on X, echoing a sentiment shared by many. “We are paying more every day, and MTN keeps taking our money without giving us data. They are robbing us in broad daylight.”

As public anger intensifies, pressure is mounting on MTN to refund affected customers and explain the cause of the missing data bundles. Without swift action or transparency, the company risks losing what little trust remains among consumers already weary of poor service and escalating costs.

MMI News