Safaricon Goes for Bonga Points to Settle Okoa Debts

In a new development Safaricom has introduced a new system where customers who delay or take a long time to settle their Okoa Jahazi credit will have the amounts deducted from their Bonga loyalty points.

One point will translate to 30 cents. This approach, apparently, aims to tackle payment defaults and decrease the liability of outstanding Bonga points, which are worth billions of shillings to the telco.

Furthermore, if a customer has not exhausted their Okoa balance, the telco will subtract that balance to recover part of the taken debt.

Safaricom has done similar things before or has promised to ensure that no customer gets away with products, services, or funds owed to the company.

What’s okoa

Never heard of it.
#mbirrionaires tingz

Must be anew product

Designed for pissants like @Wakanyama and @LIEN

I smell a class action.

Why? Bonga is a loyalty point system and is at the discretion of the provider, no?

Any one who Okoas automatically doesn’t have any substantial Bonga points.

Because of the variability of the rate per bonga point could be manipulated to benefit safaricom(case in point- uchumi in their dying days made their loyalty points so worthless they were not worth redeeming), and the fact that if the original terms and conditions that subscribers agreed to when opting into bonga points didn’t give safaricom powers to redeem on their behalf and they did not send new terms to subscribers adding this new development then they are open to lawsuits.

Umenipea idea, let me get in touch with my lawyer tunukishe. See draft attached.

[B]Legal Note

In the matter of a class action suit against Safaricom Kenya Limited

The plaintiffs, in this case, are suing Safaricom Kenya Limited on behalf of themselves and other customers who are similarly situated, for violating their rights and engaging in unfair business practices.

The cause of action arises from the defendant’s policy of redeeming Bonga Points, a loyalty point-based system, to recover outstanding debts owed by the plaintiffs. Specifically, the plaintiffs allege that Safaricom’s policy of redeeming Bonga Points in case a customer fails to pay Okoa Jahazi, a credit advance loan product, is unfair, unconscionable, and in violation of their rights.

The plaintiffs argue that Safaricom’s policy violates the terms and conditions of the Bonga Points program, which clearly state that the points are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash or any other form of payment. By redeeming Bonga Points to recover outstanding debts, the plaintiffs claim that Safaricom is engaging in unfair and deceptive practices that are prohibited by law.

The plaintiffs also contend that Safaricom’s policy is unconscionable because it places an unreasonable burden on customers who have accrued Bonga Points, which are earned through purchases and usage of Safaricom’s products and services. The plaintiffs assert that Safaricom’s policy is exploitative and takes advantage of the loyalty and trust that customers have in the Bonga Points program.

The plaintiffs seek to hold Safaricom liable for violating their rights and engaging in unfair business practices. They are requesting that the court order Safaricom to stop redeeming Bonga Points to recover outstanding debts and to compensate the plaintiffs and other affected customers for any damages they have suffered as a result of Safaricom’s actions.

In conclusion, the plaintiffs allege that Safaricom’s policy of redeeming Bonga Points to recover outstanding debts is unfair, unconscionable, and in violation of their rights. They seek relief in the form of an injunction to stop this practice and Kes 5B compensation for any damages suffered.[/B]

The first part makes absolutely no sense so I’ll just respond to the bold bit…now we are speculating, ain’t we?

Why is Safaricom suddenly interested in Bonga points? Why should they just kindly remind people to redeem them once in a while in a proper way other than threatening people with them

They form a significant portion of their liability. 4.5b isn’t pocket change in any economy. Imagine by some sheer coincidence all subscribers decided to redeem the points within say 3 months.

In this 2014 article bonga points are at 20 cents a point.

https://www.kachwanya.com/2014/06/24/value-safaricoms-bonga-points/#:~:text=In%20this%20promotion%2C%2028%2C000%20bonga,on%20Kenya%20Airway’s%20economy%20class .

Today safaricom makes an executive decision to redeem your bonga points at 30 cents a point.

Tomorrow when things get thick and rats begin jumping ship they will bring it down to 5 cents a point.

So how does that lead to a class action?

  1. Expiry: Bonga Points expire after a certain period of time, which varies depending on the type of points earned. Safaricom may also adjust the expiry period at any time without notice.
  2. Transfer: Bonga Points cannot be transferred to other Safaricom subscribers.
  3. Cancellation: Safaricom reserves the right to cancel or suspend the Bonga Points program or individual accounts at any time without notice. Safaricom may also cancel or void any points earned or redeemed due to fraud, abuse, or other violations of the program’s terms and conditions.

You have to understand that’s it’s a loyalty point system, a favour of sorts. And it is really eating into their books. And also growing. If I was to advise saf I will say they should expire every financial year if not redeemed.

Not necessarily a favour… It is an Incentive for people to use their services… To attract and retain customers…