The Day I Mistakenly Sent ₦5,000 Airtime Instead of ₦500
It was a bright Monday morning, and I was feeling like a real VTU boss. Sales had been moving well all weekend, and I woke up with that “let’s make more money” energy. I sat down with my phone, logged into my Inlomax dashboard, and started processing my first few orders of the day. Everything was smooth until that message came in.
A regular customer texted me: “Abeg, send ₦500 airtime MTN sharp sharp.” Easy task. I’d done it a hundred times. But as I was multitasking chatting, checking Facebook, and sipping tea I typed the wrong amount. Instead of ₦500, my half-asleep brain decided to bless the customer with ₦5,000 airtime.
Immediately I clicked “Send,” I saw the confirmation: “₦5,000 MTN airtime successfully sent.” I froze. My heart skipped like NEPA just took light. I stared at the screen, hoping it was a dream. Then it hit me I just dashed someone ₦4,500 extra for free.
I quickly called the customer, praying they hadn’t seen it yet. The phone rang twice, and when they picked up, I said, “Good morning o! Please, did you see any airtime?” The person laughed loudly and replied, “Ah! You be better person o! I just see ₦5,000 airtime now! God bless you!”
I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. I said, “No o! It was a mistake! Please send back ₦4,500.” The customer went quiet for a few seconds and then said, “Ah, my brother, I don use am top up data already.” That was when I knew I had entered trouble.
I just sat there staring at my screen like someone watching their money wave goodbye. I even checked MTN’s website to see if there was a “reverse transaction” option nothing. I laughed at myself and decided to take it as a lesson. Since that day, I’ve learned to double-check every single order before pressing send.
My friends didn’t make it easier. When I told them what happened, they laughed so hard one even said, “At least you did giveaway!” That became the new joke in our VTU WhatsApp group anytime someone made a mistake, they’d say, “Na giveaway like your ₦5k airtime.”
In the end, I didn’t let it discourage me. Mistakes happen in business, but they teach you discipline. Since then, I’ve built a habit of confirming every transaction twice even if it’s just ₦100. That small extra moment of caution saves a lot of tears and “giveaways.”
Now, anytime I see ₦5,000 on my balance, I smile and remember that unforgettable day. It was painful, yes but it also made me sharper, more careful, and a bit funnier. After all, if you can’t laugh at your VTU mistakes, how will you survive the hustle?