Prospects have welcomed Rwanda's new Nationwide Digital Fee System (eKash) for lowering the price of transfers between banks and cellular cash suppliers to a flat price of Rwf20 per transaction.
Nevertheless, many say technical glitches and unclear transaction procedures have made it troublesome to switch cash from financial institution accounts to cellular cash wallets and vice versa.
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The system, which grew to become operational on July 14, integrates banks and digital cash suppliers right into a single interoperable cost platform, permitting clients to maneuver cash throughout monetary establishments utilizing their present banking and cellular cash channels.
Regardless of the promise of quicker and cheaper transactions, customers say each the outdated and newly launched switch choices have introduced challenges, with some transactions failing and others nonetheless attracting the earlier fees as a substitute of the brand new Rwf20 price.
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Ange Umulisa, a boutique proprietor at CHIC in Kigali, mentioned she makes use of each Ecobank and Goshen Finance and has been experiencing points for the previous few days.
“The earlier course of nonetheless works for Goshen however not for Ecobank. I can switch cash from Cell Cash to my checking account, however I’ve not been capable of transfer cash from my Ecobank account again to my Cell Cash pockets for the reason that system was launched,” she mentioned.
In line with her, Ecobank suggested clients wishing to switch cash from their financial institution accounts to Cell Cash wallets to make use of the financial institution's eKash switch service, whereas transfers from Cell Cash to financial institution accounts ought to proceed by MTN Cell Cash.
“Nevertheless, makes an attempt to make use of the beneficial USSD code repeatedly returned a message indicating that the PIN entered was incorrect. Even after making an attempt the eKash possibility beneath the 'Extra Providers' menu, the identical error continued,” she mentioned.
“I don't even know which PIN the system is asking for. We want clearer and easier steering as a result of many individuals are confused by the brand new course of.”
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Related considerations have been raised by different clients, who mentioned they’ve additionally encountered difficulties transferring cash from their financial institution accounts to Cell Cash wallets.
Jean Baptiste Tuyishime, a BPR buyer in Rwamagana District, mentioned the USSD code he had beforehand used to switch cash from his checking account to Cell Cash not works.
“I'm used to transferring cash from my checking account to Cell Cash utilizing *150*3*4#, nevertheless it's not working. If you name the financial institution they insist that we use the brand new method which isn’t working,” he mentioned.
One other buyer mentioned the choice beforehand used to switch cash from Financial institution of Kigali to MTN Cell Cash account had stopped working regardless of a number of makes an attempt.
Others mentioned they have been confused by the brand new PIN necessities.
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“I used the brand new switch possibility, nevertheless it saved saying the PIN was incorrect. I don't know which six-digit PIN the system is asking for. We have been informed we don't have to register wherever to make use of the brand new service, but some transactions hold prompting me to register for USSD,” mentioned Gentil Uwiringiyimana, a resident of Kayonza District.
Regardless of the challenges, customers have praised the choice to cost a flat Rwf20 for interoperable retail transactions, describing it as a ‘vital’ discount that would encourage better use of digital funds as soon as the transition points are resolved.
“The Rwf20 price is a good enchancment. If the technical points are mounted and other people perceive use the system, I consider many extra individuals will embrace it. Though we’re seeing that many of the cellular cash fees are nonetheless regular,” mentioned Tuyishime
Many customers mentioned that they aren’t against the brand new system itself however are calling for clearer directions, constant processes throughout establishments and immediate decision of the problems stopping some transactions from going by.
