Airtime vendors charging extra Shs200 for each scratch card

Starting Saturday morning, several airtime vendors in Kampala suburbs and some parts of Wakiso, started selling Mobile airtime with an extra charge.

Reports from different consumers sate that airtime for all mobile networks is being sold at an extra Shs200 or slightly higher.

Nile Post visited a few shops where air time vendors have added Shs200 on each scratch card.

“We have been told to sell with an increment of Shs 200, and this applies to all airtime. Some people who distribute the airtime to us came this morning and made the announcement to each one of us,” One of the vendors along Bukasa road, Bweyogerere tells us.

“Yes if you want airtime of Shs1000, you should pay Shs1200,” another vendor says. When we asked why the extra charge, she said: “I don’t know, that is what they have told us.”

Meanwhile another consumer sent message to Nile Post claiming he had been charged extra Shs400 for MTN and Airtel scratch cards.

“Hello MTN, Airtel, what is this thing of buying airtime of 2,000 and paying extra 400/= for agent commission?  Isn't there a better way of pricing? I hope I'm not the only one experiencing this,” reads the message.

Nile Post contacted the different Telecoms on the matter;

Africell Uganda distanced self from the price changes; “Unfortunately, we have not made any changes to airtime prices.”

MTN also indicated that they are not aware of any rates changes.

“Kindly note that we have not increased our prices, this is being done illegally, we are working on having this stopped but in the meantime, we advise you use mobilemoney or easy load to load airtime,” a message from MTN customer care reads.

However, Airtel Uganda did not reply our messages.