TheCable

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says all telecommunications service providers in the country must automatically renew data packages without the subscriber’s consent.

NCC said non-adherence to this would result in a N5 million fine.

Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), made this known at the first edition of the NCC Consumer Conversations in Karu, Nasarawa.

Helen Obi, director of Northern operations who represented Danbatta at the event, said the complaints received by the commission has reached an unacceptable level.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on May 21, 2018, issued a directive to all network providers to desist from carrying out automatic or unwarranted renewal of data packages without their consent,” she said.

“We have also directed that no mobile service providers should impose their services to consumers. It is expected that they should obtain their consent.

“There should be a written text by the network provider to the consumer requesting to know whether the consumer is interested in renewing the package, after that, the network provider must also repeat the process to ensure that the consumer understood the terms and conditions of the service and has given consent before automatic renewal.

“In a situation where the commission receives complaints from the consumer that he or she was short-changed, the commission will take it up on behalf of the consumer because that will be a violation of directive.

“The penalty for the violation will attract a N5 million for any service provider who defaults. And for every day that the commission issues the sanction and the fine was not paid by the service provider, it will attract an additional 500, 000.”