On Friday, January 3, 2025, Sadapay, a leading fintech platform in Pakistan, sent a bulk email to its mailing list with the subject line, “Apkay Sadapay funds process ho gae hain!” (“Your Sadapay funds have been processed!”). What initially appeared to be a routine notification has sparked widespread confusion and criticism online, as the email was sent not only to active Sadapay users but also to non-users, including individuals living abroad.
One baffled recipient, a non-user based in the United States, took to social media, posting:
“I don’t have a Sadapay account… what funds bhai? Muje account close kea hua 2 sal ho chuke hain [It’s been two years since I closed my account] 😭!”
Context and Speculation
The mishap has raised questions about Sadapay’s internal processes and communication practices. Notably, the incident follows a series of high-profile issues involving the platform. Recently, Sadapay initiated a crackdown on users exploiting its debit card to abuse “free trial” periods of premium services without paying post-trial fees. This led to account suspensions, with funds held in limbo following repeated warnings. While the erroneous email may have been intended for a targeted group of these users, technical or operational lapses seemingly caused it to be dispatched to the entire mailing list.
Industry observers suggest this points to deeper systemic problems. Following its merger with Papara, a prominent Turkish fintech firm, Sadapay has faced widespread scrutiny over internal layoffs [According to Pakistan Today Sadapay laid off 30% of its entire workforce, including some C-suite executives as of july, 2024] and service disruptions. Users have reported persistent bugs and network issues, attributing these challenges to a significant downsizing of IT staff after the merger.
One Reddit user encapsulated public sentiment:
“The original company sold it. The new owners laid off roughly half of the IT staff, leading to bugs and network issues. I’ve stopped using it since.”
Fallout Among Freelancers
The email debacle has also reignited discontent among Pakistan’s freelance community. Sadapay’s business platform was initially touted as a game-changer for facilitating international payments for freelancers. However, many freelancers claim the service has fallen short of expectations, citing delays, technical issues, and account freezes.
Company Response
In the aftermath of the errant email, Sadapay issued a follow-up apology titled:
“Oops! Our apologies for the previous email – please ignore.”
While the company has acknowledged the error, it remains unclear whether the mishap stemmed from human oversight, a technical bug, or a breach of the company’s databases.
This latest controversy compounds Sadapay’s ongoing reputational challenges, raising concerns about its operational stability and commitment to user satisfaction. As speculation continues to swirl, affected users and industry analysts alike await further clarification from the company’s leadership.
