Kenyans over the course of a few days took advantage in a glitch Safaricom’s data billing system to award themselves several gigabytes in data.
The telco has a platinum data offering, in which a user benefits from tens of gigabytes in data that are valid for long periods, as long as a month.
It is only common sense that most products in the platinum package would cost an arm and a leg; which most users cannot afford. Hence when subscribers learned about the glitch, they jumped aboard the gravy train and redeemed a lot of data, at absolutely no cost, using Safaricom’s Bonga points reward service.
Safaricom upon discovery of the glitch, promptly pulled down the Platinum service from its USSD platform.
Not so lucky! All users who had taken advantage of the glitch had the remainder of the illegally acquired data bundles taken back. Those who had already used some of their bundles will have to pay them back the next time they purchase a data plan.
Safaricom will not deduct payment for the used bundles from their M-Pesa mobile money wallets as social media users speculate.
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The telco has also reportedly involved law enforcement, as CS Interior, Fred Matiang’i said, they may switch of culprit cell phones.
With previous glitches the telco never took action to retrieve its losses. This marks the first time it has taken such drastic measures on errant subscribers, who have been caught off-guard.
