Mixed Reactions Trail Borrow Me Credit

To solve the problem of insufficient credit to make telephone calls, telecoms companies recently introduce ‘borrow me credit’ package. The service allows a subscriber who has been consistent on a particular network to borrow airtime from the network. The borrowed airtime is later deducted from the subscriber’s airtime when he or she recharges the telephone line.

A hidden charge is however added to the service as the subscriber who has borrowed airtime is required to pay between 5 to 10 per cent interest on the amount borrowed. This means that for  N1,000 airtime, a subscriber will pay N100 as service charge.

Novel as the innovation appeals, it has however been generating mixed reactions among subscribers. While some subscribers say it is a good innovation that solves  peculiar challenges, others say the package is a total rip off.

Subscribers who are favourably disposed to the service said they are happy about the package, because in terms of emergency calls, when they don’t have credit on their phones, they can conveniently borrow credit from their service providers. They also noted that it saves them the stress of walking down to a recharge centre to buy credit.

One of such subscribers, Kunle Obasa, told P.M.NEWS Consumers Advocate that the service has made life easier for him, especially when he travels to areas where there are no recharge centres.

“I once travelled to a village and while I was making an important call, my credit finished. I was a bit worried until I remembered the ‘borrow me credit’ service. Immediately I dialed the appropriate code, my line was credited with N1,000 airtime. But for that service, I would have lost an important business deal,” he said.

Another subscriber, Ebere Ogbu also commended the service saying that on several occasion when she was stranded, the service proved helpful.

“I have used it on several occasions and I can tell you that it is very good. But for that service, I would have been stranded after my car broke down on the road. I didn’t have enough airtime then, but I simply used the service and got airtime to call my mechanic,” she said.

One subscriber, who is not happy with the service Mojeed-Sanni, told P.M.NEWS Consumers Advocate that the amount being charged as interest is outrageous on the part of the telecoms companies. “If I borrow N200 credit from them, they charge N20 for the service they render.  N20 is too much.”

Another subscriber, Patience Adukwe said the credit the service give does not last during calls.

“I suspect that telecom companies  charge more on call made with borrowed credit. If you borrow N200, you will barely be able to use it to make any meaningful call. I have tried it twice and decided never to borrow credit again. I would rather buy credit from the appropriate channels,” she said.