Published 29th Jul, 2022

By Opeyemi Lawal

Illya Polycarp, an Abuja-based pharmacy technician, has detailed how an agent of Bell Loan made his sensitive bank details public after deceiving him into taking a loan.

Polycarp told FIJ that he had requested for N10,000 after receiving messages from the company that he was qualified for a loan from them.

He said he called one of their agents to ask questions. “I asked if the company was registered and how they handled repayment because I didn’t want a reoccurrence of a similar issue that nearly cost me my reputation. The loan agent told me that theirs was a different company and that they handled loan repayment differently,” he said.

“With all these assurances, I took a loan of N10,000 on July 13. I was expected to pay back on July 20, as there was a seven-day timeline for repayment. However, the agent also told me that I could get an extension of the deadline because it was my first time.

“He said I could pay back in 14 days, which would end on July 27, instead of the seventh day, and that each day would attract a fine of N210, which I agreed to.”

Polycarp said Bell Loan agent had not kept to their side of the deal as everyone on his contact list received messages from them on July 20, labelling him a criminal wanted for defrauding people.

“I called the agent back, asking why he would send such defamatory messages to my contacts when we had an agreement. Another of their agent went ahead to insult and call me unprintable names,” he said.

“As humiliating as this can be, what hurt more was that Bell Loan made my details, including BVN, public. After they made it public, on July 22 around 3 am, I got a debit of N3,900 from an unknown source. I am afraid this was because my details were out there.

“This is a threat to my job because I make huge purchases as my profession demands. If this continues, it could affect my integrity. If I had known it was all deception beforehand, I wouldn’t have taken any loan from Bell Loan.”

In an audio, a Bell Loan agent was heard cussing out Polycarp. She said:

See, you see, all these things you are telling me ehn, everything is into your pocket. I agree that she lied to you and I am not disputing the fact. See, if I don’t see my payment, me I am promising you between God and man, I will do you bad this afternoon. I give you 12pm go and make that payment. You will not listen unless they insult you. You are very stupid.

When FIJ contacted the agent, she denied calling Polycarp names or using any kind of derogatory words in the conversation with him. She also said the company tries to get customers to repay their loans in whatever way they can.

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