Digicel forcing purchases even when you’ve got credit

THE EDITOR, Sir: IN EARLY February, I purchased Digicel credit in the amount of $1,000. Later i n the month, towards the last week, I began receiving messages that my credit was about to expire and I needed to top up.

Initially, I thought it was an error message because, on checking my balance, it revealed that I had more than $700 remaining. On February 22, I realised that I could no longer make a call and when I checked my balance, I had more than $500 remaining. I went to the Digicel outlet in Tropical Plaza and asked to speak with someone in management. I was referred to a lady to whom I lodged my complaint and expressed my disgust about the situation.

She told me that it was the company’s policy to expire credit after a fixed period. She, however, said I had a valid concern and I should go ahead and report the incident.

On February 28, I made a further report to the Consumer Affairs Commission, which took my statement and sent it to Digicel for their response. My question to Digicel is: Whose responsibility and right is it to decide how frequently you purchase credit? Is it Digicel’s or the consumer’s right?

Consider the impact that this multiplied effect would have on Digicel’s surplus if one million customers were forced to buy more credit just to be able to make a call, even though they already have enough credit to do so? Why should we be forced to drain our pockets to fill the bank accounts of merciless and exploiting gold-diggers?