How MultiChoice Fleece Nigerians Of Their Hard Earned Money
By Gina Emmanuel
MultiChoice, owners of Gotv and DStv cable televisions have been in the news recently for several reasons.
However, while the company strive to provide unlimited enjoyment to its teeming viewers, there are some sharp practices that are being practiced that are not going down well with its subscribers.
No doubt, MultiChoice has made its mark in the country and possibly smile to the banks weekly despite the prevailing economic situation in the country because several homes still subscribe to its cable in order to have access to news, movies and edutainment information. However, complaints of poor service delivery, cutting off subscribers unnecessarily when not due as well as breech of contract have trailed the South African company.
One of its teeming customers, Gbenga Faleye( Not real names) explained to Gtechnews that he paid for two months subscriptions but it was cut off unceremoniously.
“On January 8,2018, I paid for two months subscriptions, which ought to expire on march 8,2018. But do you know that my Gotv decoder was cut off on February 8,2018. When I called the customer service for explanation, I was told that the extra month has been transferred to an old decoder of mine that I stopped using years ago.
“I never instructed them to do the transfer and the IUC number of the old decoder wasn’t given them. I was told that that has been MultiChoice trade in stock once the unsuspecting customer subscribe in advance”.
Another customer, Ifechukwude Nwabudike also lamented that Gotv shortchanged her and nothing was done till date.
“It was during last year Big Brother Naija that I paid for two months subscriptions but instead my decoder was cut off and when I went to the agent, he asked me to be patient that he did it and we kept going back and forth until I forgot about the situation.
“This is like the third time that it is happening to me. I also subscribed in early December for three months with an agent in Okota Lagos state but as I speak, I have been cut off. Different stories and you just wondered, why it must be you that get unfair treatment.
“Several people say that the company does that during its major programme ‘Big brother Naija to recoup more money despite the fact that it has lots of sponsorship from various organisations”.
Three of its agents in Okota and Lafenwa Itele, Ogun State who pleaded anonymity also confirmed that customers have been complaining and they are also reaching out to the company to rectify the error.
Meanwhile, all efforts to reach MultiChoice for its side of its story proved abortive.