Welcoming the participants, Mr. Solo Sima, Director of Consumer Affairs PURA, informed participants that as an institution, the authority is fully aware of the frequent credit scam affair in the country, which he said, is causing more havoc and distrust in the public.
He thanked the participants for their response and encouraged them to always raise such issues to PURA by calling 148 for prompt action.
As a measure in minimising the rising trend in the country, Sima reiterates Authority’s firm stance by rigorously employing measures to avert scam tricks often used by unscrupulous individuals all out to cause social discord.
He equally renewed calls for concerted efforts of this kind in a bid to advance and tackle any other challenges happening in the business of credit dealings.
For her part, Jamilatou Saidy-Faye, Senior Manager Consumer Affairs PURA, took the participants through a quick presentation specifying complaint handling approaches employed by the institution.
In its efforts to protect and promote consumers, Madam Saidy-Faye reminded that PURA uses various complaint methods among them 360 Degree Complaint Resolution Mechanism, advocacy through ‘Bantaba’ Outreaches (in rural areas), Consumer Parliament and diverse forms of radio talk shows.
All these, she added, are means of engagements purely geared towards canvassing thoughts and proffer fitting solutions to current problems received in the regulated sectors.
“This is our desire to intensify our collective resolve as the regulatory body, dealers, consumers, and service providers to advance to a progressive stage free of hitches,” she added.
The diverse super credit dealer groups present were Herico (dealer with Gamcel and Africell), Marimoo (dealer with Africell), Benteh (dealer with Comium and Africell), Alpha Omar Barry (dealer with Qcell), Eleman Secka (dealer with Gamcel and Africell), and Baba Sanneh (dealer with Gamcel), who all praised PURA for what they described as a ‘timely and relevant’ engagement.
Such an engagement they say would undoubtedly help to register positive results in their work operations.
“We the credit dealers are often challenged with credit scam scenarios from unknown individuals, and this has a negative image on our work. We are confident that today’s engagement together with GSM operators will go a long way towards helping us find tangible solutions to this growing credit scam menace,” participant Abdoulie Jallow states.
Muhammed Yaya Jallow stated: “We are aware of this phenomenon, and I have advised my customers to be judiciously vigilant about the rising scam. It is a terrible and disastrous situation.”
Aji Jeng, the representative of Gamcel, also hailed PURA for the significant forum, which she said, is meant to tackle credit scam cases and bring about sanity in the business sector.
