Vodafone rejects claims of hidden M-PAiSA charges

Vodafone Fiji has rejected claims that M-PAiSA users are being subjected to hidden charges, saying all fees are publicly available and clearly disclosed.

Vodafone Fiji general manager of digital financial services Shailendra Prasad made the comments yesterday, days after Opposition MP Premila Kumar called for the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) to investigate mobile money providers over fee disclosure.

"You can go to the M-PAiSA Facebook page and our website; the fees are clearly disclosed. We do not charge by deception," Mr Prasad said.

He said customers seeking a breakdown of charges could visit the M-PAiSA tariffs page on Vodafone Fiji's website, where all applicable fees were listed.

Under the current tariff schedule, M-PAiSA users receive three free money transfers each day, with a 50-cent fee applying from the fourth transfer onwards.

In an earlier statement to the Fiji Sun, Vodafone Fiji said:

"The fee is charged to ensure this convenient and essential service benefitting thousands of Fijians across the country remains sustainable and available."

The tariff schedule also outlines withdrawal fees ranging from $2 to $4, depending on the amount withdrawn.

Ms Kumar said all fees and charges should be clearly disclosed, warning that failure to do so could amount to "unconscionable conduct".

Minister for Communications Ioane Naivalurua earlier said he would meet with mobile money providers to examine the matter further.