Several First Bank Plc clients have gone to social media to criticise the bank for what they see as needless withdrawals from the massive money-keeping company.
Customers vented their annoyance at the bank’s many debits over the past two weeks in a number of comments on Sunday’s @First Bank of Nigeria Limited Facebook page.
Udoh Blessing, a client who responded to the bank’s most recent post on how to acquire quick loans, commented, “I’ve been noticing debit alerts this day saying it’s for QS with some digits including my phone number/MTN: USSD Something Something.
” What’s it for, please? I didn’t recharge over the phone and kept receiving debit notifications for #200, 139, 34, 100, and so on. It’s getting out of hand, please.
Another client, Esther Maurice, expressed her frustration by writing, “Please, oh First Bank of Nigeria, what is the meaning of MTN: USSD and so on Debit.?” Because I’m going nuts here. I’ve been debited more than ten times this month; what is going on? It is becoming terrible, oh. Is it now inevitable that we shall suffer in this country?
“Please, First Bank of Nigeria, what is going on? I constantly getting debits, what is going on? I can’t keep money in my account and have peace of mind.Someone sent me $1,500 only for me to return the next day with a balance of $900. Is not fair; you should look into it.”Gichi, the irreplaceable, commented.
Stephen Ochoche, on his part, said, “First Bank of Nigeria Limited debited my account four times in two weeks without any transactions.” This situation is becoming worse, and it appears that our funds are no longer protected.”
The bank advised its clients to check their Direct Message (DM) for the bank’s answer, nevertheless, as they responded to every comment that bemoaned the frequent debit.
The banking behemoth responded to its clients’ complaints on their page in less than two minutes, according to our correspondent who was following the exchange.
The statement said, “Hello (name of customer), thank you for contacting us and we empathise with you on the issue raised.” Kindly furnish us with your account number, amount, and date so that we can enquire and offer suitable guidance.
We reiterate our commitment to serving you better and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
In Essence
The complaints from First Bank customers regarding frequent, unexplained debits raise serious concerns about the bank’s transaction processes and customer service management. The widespread nature of these complaints, as evidenced by the numerous posts on social media, suggests that there may be a systemic issue with the bank’s billing or transaction monitoring systems.
Customers expressing confusion and frustration over recurring debits without corresponding transactions, such as MTN: USSD charges, indicate a potential flaw in the bank’s integration with third-party services or internal error in processing payments.
First Bank’s swift responses on social media, while commendable, reflect a reactive approach rather than proactive resolution.
Repeated issues like these erode customer trust, as the public complaints indicate a lack of clear communication and timely resolution from the bank. Although the bank urges customers to provide details privately for further investigation, the onus of resolving these debits lies with the bank.
In the long term, First Bank will need to enhance its transaction security, improve transparency around charges, and ensure timely reversal of erroneous debits to restore customer confidence.
