By Janet A. Sesay
Orange Money-Sierra Leone has launched the new 1% Case-Out fee for their customers using the orange mobile money wallet.
This new charge fee has drastically reduce the mobile money charge fees for their customers from 2.2% to 1% which signifies that from now on, cash-out charge on customers is 1% instead of the usual 2.2% deduction.
This offer by Orange Money-Sierra Leone is aimed at sustaining the people of Sierra Leone and ensuring that the Orange Money facility is efficient for their customers.
Reactions from customers have been electric, and according to a customer at the launching event, “this is a very unique opportunity offered to us by Orange Money Management as this is a realization that they truly are catering for us their customers the best way they can.”
This new 1% charge fee launch took place on Friday, 1st November, 2024 at their Orange Money head office at Hill Station in Freetown.
During the ceremony, Dr. Joseph Saffa Tengbeh, Head of Strategic Marketing and Partnership, noted that every cash-in or cash-out from an Agent only requires 1% transaction fee, nothing more, pointing out that the reduction is in response to concerns by a broad range across the country about the 2.2% surcharge on their cash-out transactions in particular. According to Dr. Tengbeh the reduction is a testament that the Management of Orange Money-Sierra Leone listens too well to their customers.
He said the Orange Money Company wants to show love to each and every one of their customers and partners, adding that it is in that direction they have listened from their customers and have responded appropriately resulting in the reduction of surcharges and the effective launching of the revised tariff of 1% on all cash-out transactions on Orange Money.
He went on to maintain that Orange Money Management has decided to risk their profits to give back to their customers, which he stated is because over the years, Orange Money has been consistent and reliable to its customers.
He said as far as Orange Money is concerned, they are not in competition with any other electronic money transfer company in the country, because they visibly standout all over the country and they have agents operating in all of the GSM coverage areas across the country.
David Mansaray, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Orange Money-Sierra Leone said the launching of the 1% cash out fee “is an exciting thing”, adding that over the years they have been hearing complaints from their customers in the public.
CEO Mansaray noted that the hike in price for Orange Money services is a pressure on ordinary people on the street, and that customers have been complaining a lot that the cash-out of their mobile money is expensive.
He however pointed out that they have noticed the interests in too many people wanting to participate in the digital financial inclusion drive, but that they are being scared away by what they consider as high charges on their own money.
He admitted that they have therefore listened to the cries of their customers, and considered the desire of the many more with desire to join in, especially for those living in remote areas in the country and do not have access to electronic money transfer services and want to live their lives to now join in with Orange Money with this reduced cash-out charge in order to make life even better for them.
The CEO furthered that if someone wants to cash-out for instance, Le 1, 000 (One Thousand New Leones), the charges now will be 1% equivalent to Le 10.0 (Ten New Leones) instead of the 2.2% that could be equivalent to Le 30.0 (Thirty New Leones).
He stressed that no matter the amount of money customers want to cash-out from their Orange Mobile Money Wallets, the cash-out charge will not be more than 1% of the amount cashed-out.
Haffie Haffer, the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Orange Sierra Leone expressed delight that Orange Money was launching a reduction of a surcharge based on the demands of its customers, and acknowledged that Orange in general is a listening company.
She said as a responsible company, they will never get tired of meeting customer demands as long as they are aimed at improving their lives and strengthening their relationships with the company.
She informed that the cash-out launching is an addition to the “Kotuku” launched the previous week that targets small medium businesses. “This new 1% cash-out charge fee means that as a company, Orange understands the difficult times of their customers in a difficult economic environment.”