Earn Quick Cash In Durban

We're watching you, MTN

Most overcharging is unintentional, the result of system or human error. But it can also be deliberate, the result of greed and exploitation. Our defence against both is the same: vigilance.

If a business systematically overcharges its thousands or millions of customers - even by a cent - it scores a handsome sum at our expense.

Take MTN. It may be involved in a massive rip-off of its customers - or it may not. Unfortunately, it won't tell me.

So I'm sharing reader Susan Burstein's story today in the hope that MTN data customers scrutinise their bills and shout if anything's amiss.

Burstein recently took advantage of an internet connection special offer from MTN and was assured she would pay not a cent more than R149 a month. A few weeks later, she discovered she had been charged R7 extra for "call line identity". On a data contract, to boot.

She returned to the Hazelpark, Germiston, MTN store to object. The manager called MTN for clarity and was told it was "an automatic charge on all MTN statements".

Burstein protested and was assured the charge would be stopped, but not refunded. When the amount was charged the following month, Burstein was promised, again, that the charge would be stopped and, this time,refunded.

"I told the supervisor that it wasn't enough just to stop it for me, but [it should be stopped for] all other MTN data clients, as this was blatant theft ... and that since it was literally impossible for me to be put through to the financial director, she should complain on my behalf and let me know. Naturally, nothing of the sort was done," said Burstein.

"I know that a few rands a month is not going to make me richer or poorer - but there are many people out there for whom it does matter. And MTN is reaping a dishonest profit from all those who are unaware."

I asked MTN to comment. That was three weeks ago. I repeated the request. Silence. Last week, I called and was assured feedback would come. It didn't.

Dhaka to raise voice in Durban meet to release climate fund soon

He also criticised the slow disbursement, saying “Only $ 2.4 billion of the total promised $ 30 billion had been disbursed so far.”

“Of the disbursed money some amount was disbursed in 2008 but now they are claiming it was disbursed under the fast start fund,” he added.

He also said the country would emphasise ensuring transparency and stopping of hide and seek game by the developed world regarding disbursement of the fast start fund in the ensuing Durban conference.

Mr Hasan told this to newsmen on the sideline of a national level roundtable discussion on ‘Climate Change Negotiation Process Towards COP 17 in Durban’ organised by Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP) in association of Concern Worldwide, Bangladesh at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city.

The programme was chaired by Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad.

The discussion was also addressed, among others, by lawmaker Zunayed Ahmed Palak, climate change unit of environment and forests ministry co-ordinator Didarul Ahsan, Concern Worldwide, India country director Dipankar Dutta, Concern Worldwide Bangladesh country, director AKM Musa.

Mr Hasan told the reporters that at Copenhagen, (in COP 15, 2009) wealthy nations promised the least developing countries $ 30 billion in ‘fast start’ assistance from 2010 to 2012 to help them adapt to the impact of climate change and try to minimize their own greenhouse gas emission.

‘But some hide and seek game were played the developed countries while disbursing money’ Hasan said.

Hasan said that Bangladesh would demand disbursement of money of the fast start fund on the basis of necessity, ‘the country would decide where and how they would need the money,’ he added.

Deputy secretary of environment and forests SM Munjurul Hannan Khan in his keynote paper said Bangladesh would raise the issue of ending the debate of setting peaking year of greenhouse gas emission by 2015 and developed countries should implement their promise to reduce carbon emission.

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