NCC confirms directive to banks on USSD, issues EUB policy

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially issued a change in how telecom customers are charged for their USSD transactions. NCC in a notice on its website seen yesterday said the End User Billing (EUB) policy for USSD  emerged as a consensus option between banking and telecommunications services sectors and their respective regulators (the Central […]

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially issued a change in how telecom customers are charged for their USSD transactions.

NCC in a notice on its website seen yesterday said the End User Billing (EUB) policy for USSD  emerged as a consensus option between banking and telecommunications services sectors and their respective regulators (the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission) to address challenges around the seamless provision of USSD services.

“It is also designed to enhance customer experience and transparency”, the telecom industry regulator said.

Some of the banks last week sent email messages to their customers informing them of a directive from NCC ordering them to stop deducting USSD transactions fee from customer’s bank account.

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Instead, they said NCC directed that the fee should now be deducted from customers’ airtime by their telecom operators.

“With the EUB, now you get to pay for USSD with your airtime like you do on other transactions via your mobile phone. This gives you several advantages, like:

 

 

 

“Clarity of your billing: You determine what you will spend before a USSD session, and you know exactly what you have spent immediately you conclude the transaction. Just like with your calls, SMS and data sessions. You do not have to wait till deductions are made from your bank account.

 

 There will be no more issues around USSD deductions from your bank account.

 

 

 

Opt-in/Opt-out Options: You are free to opt-in or out of using USSD services for banking transactions.”

 

 

 

NCC said the EUB was being introduced to improve consumer quality of experience and to put customers in better control of their spending, adding that there will be no more deductions from customer’s bank account for USSD.

 

 

 

“The model also helps to resolve long-standing disputes over USSD service debts between banks and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have approved this change”, the NCC said.

 

The country’s telecom regulator said itself and CBN had put several measures in place to protect consumers.