Is MTN Stealing Airtime from its Subscribers?


By Staff Writer    14-Aug-2016 17:16 UTC+02:00 54
A number of MTN subscribers are threatening to leave the network due to mysteriously disappearing airtime and data. Image: MTN.

A number of MTN subscribers are threatening to leave the network due to mysteriously disappearing airtime and data.
Image: MTN.

Recently, MTN’s Facebook page has been flooded with posts from unhappy subscribers, most of whom complain about mysteriously disappearing airtime and data.

In most cases, when MTN responds, it advises its subscribers to dial *141*5# to deactivate content subscriptions which may be deducting their airtime. Those who have confirmed that they have no active content subscriptions are usually advised to call 173 and select option 0 to speak to an MTN agent. However, according to customers who recently called 173, option 0 does not work. This has left many customers feeling ripped off, with some threating to leave the network.

Earlier this year, a report by the South African Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman revealed that MTN was the most complained about company in South Africa between 2015 and 2016. Last week it was reported that in the first half of 2016, the number of MTN SA subscribers declined by 2.6% to 29.8 million, meaning that the network lost close to 800 000 subscribers in the country.

However, despite losing subscribers, MTN SA’s revenue increased by 5.1% to R19.84 billion. This increase was attributed to higher device sales and data revenue. According to a financial report released last week, MTN’s data revenue increased by 19,2%, contributing 34,1% to total revenue. The number of smartphones on the network increased by 18,4% to 9,3 million, while megabytes per user increased by 53,8%.

Following the publication of these financial results, some disgruntled subscribers saw the increase in data revenue as proof that MTN is overcharging them. Usually, when customers complain of being overcharged, MTN puts the blame on content subscriptions and smartphone settings, claiming that apps running in the background and automatic updates can deplete data and airtime without the user noticing. While this may be true in some cases, we have ample evidence that MTN’s billing system can sometimes be the culprit.

Over the past few days we observed that MTN does not bill its customers accurately in real time and that sometimes the amount of data used can be greater than the available data bundle, leaving a customer with a data debt which gets deducted from airtime or a newly loaded data bundle. If for example, a client has R100 airtime and 50MB of data, MTN can allow them to use 80MB without charging them or showing them immediately how much data they have used. If they check their balance moments before being billed, they may think that their airtime is still safe and continue using the internet, unaware that there is already 30MB that they have to pay for in out-of-bundle rates (R1 to R2 per MB).

One may argue that using a billing system like this is unethical and aimed at maximizing profit. Allowing unsuspecting customers to accummulate data debt and then deducting their airtime without their explicit permission is tantamount to theft or fraud, regardless of what the terms and conditions may say. Since internet users buy data bundles to protect their airtime from the ridiculously high out-of-bundle rates, when their data bundles have been depleted, they should be disconnected from the internet and given an option to buy another data bundle or continue using the internet at out-of-bundle rates. Unlike Telkom Mobile (8.ta), MTN does not provide this option. It just deducts airtime without redirecting its customers to a page where they can choose to either approve out-of-bundle rates, buy another data bundle or stay offline. If MTN does not review and change its billing system, more subscribers may leave the network and switch to networks that allow them to browse the internet peacefully, knowing their airtime is safe.



 54 Comments


  1. Dan says:

    I’m one of those who are leaving MTN. I can’t take this anymore.

  2. Motau says:

    I dialled 173 to query about my data bundles and I was advised that apps running in the background and automatic updates can deplete data and I also dialled 141*5# to deactivate content subscriptions which may be deducting the airtime however it confirmed that I have no active content subscriptions. But still when I load data bundle it last only for that day.

  3. Bawinnie says:

    This is ##Bullshit Mtn pls stop ✋ this ? ?

  4. We should rally together and take legal action says:

    Take the fight to MTN’s doorstep

  5. Matthew says:

    We need to rally together.I think a protest is in order.If MTN won’t listen to a few. Maybe a few thousand might make the difference.

  6. Anathi says:

    Mtn is the worst network there is I am going to be changing networks after 15years using them, ripping us of and suddenly reserving your airtime without permission. One minute you buy airtime next thing its gone. Most of my friends and family have ported. The service is also atrocious

  7. Xolisa says:

    MTN is the worst network ever. It is totally outrageous!

  8. Darina says:

    I have a contract through foschini with MTN my data is depleting very fast i have contacted Foschinie and they advised they have to get feedback from MTN. The feedback I got was that I am a lot on the internet, but my qquery was if my data is completed and I load a monthly data bundle it expires before a month is over. I am tired of MTN and thinking over cancelling all my contracts and taking it to Cell C

  9. Faheem says:

    I’m losing airtime but my data stays ,please advise I have no content services activated

  10. Mario says:

    I apparently lost 3GB in so many weeks, I have about 30 low quality pictures downloaded for that data and money lost!
    Someone is busy paying their Nigerian poor service fine with our airtime and data. Buggeroff mtn!

  11. Sbongile says:

    mtn is by far the worst I called their customer care helpline but I didn’t get help I was just told that their system hasn’t updated therefore they don’t have a clue what’s consuming my data I should call again at 3,they didn’t even try to help

  12. Heib says:

    OK so I buy 2 gigs costs me R269. I get 1gig midnight express. Gone on to Facebook switched off my data afterwards. The next morning my data and whatever airtime I had is at 0? What the f#ck MTN YOUR DATA RATES ARE RAPING THE WALLETS OF YOUR PEEPS THEN YOU F#ck them again by taking the remaining airtime. That’s low. Please know you will me loosing more peeps. After this week I’m out. This is the kakkest service from a service provider that rapes their subscribers wallets.

  13. Elliot mokoena says:

    So how do I stop mtn stealing data

  14. Elliot mokoena says:

    Mtn stealing data

  15. Sandile says:

    when i load MTN airtime, it dissapears and i get the mtn free airtime which i can only call MTN numbers with 5mb data which also dissapears, this really stealing at its best.

  16. Trevor says:

    MTN must Go to Hell. I’m out of this S***t.

  17. Conner says:

    Decided to test this for good today. Disabled background data on my phone, bought 1gig of data, browsed facebook for 20 minutes, check my data usage report (27 MB), checked my MTN balances (Data 300 MB left!) and R6 airtime gone!? How does airtime also dissapear when you have a data bundle? And 700mb in 20 minutes of browsing with no background data usage? Blatant thievery.

  18. Conner says:

    Anybody interested in taking this further, respond to my message. I am creating a petition to be signed and sent to the consumer protection commission. Since the company protects it’s shareholders from the consequences of stealing, our only option is to take the company down.

    • Lorrence says:

      I want to help, tell me how

      • Leah says:

        I paid my account every month but end of March, I didn’t receive a sms as usual confirming my payment and is still not able to make a phone call because as the message says: “you don’t have sufficient airtime to make this call”. I never made one call this month and mtn cannot answer me. what is going on?!

    • Greg says:

      I’m with you!

  19. saj says:

    Mtn is a joke.

  20. Tekano says:

    MTN ke masepa . MTN is kaak MTN is shit . I’m left with no choice but to end the end our 15years relationship because of you stealing my airtime and Data, i hope Vodacom will treat me much better

  21. Lutho says:

    I have a contract with MTN and I cannot wait to until the duration period elapses. Just this morning i lost R150 and no application was open, nothing. I called 083 1808 and those people could not help me instead told me to wait until the 15th where I should call them again and lodge a complaint. ARE YOU FOR REAL. I am ready to go to the Ombud.

  22. Nicole says:

    In 5 minutes on Pinterest I lost 100mb and R80 airtime…. please can someone explain this robbery to me!!!

  23. Laetetia says:

    Changing to vodacom MTN is just stealing and covering it up by blaming new smartphones reserving air time

  24. Louis says:

    Mtn is sending you a sms offer for extra airtime and data.
    You have no way out. Which ever way you exit or colse the message, your money has been stolen and the transaction completed whether you want it or not.

  25. Bethuel says:

    Guys Ithought it myself alone having this problem about MTN,we can’t go on like this,I use two sim for MTN but nothing comes right contract and prepaid but it’s the same,this bill with MTN.

  26. samkelisiwe says:

    ihate mtn bcz mai airtime iz gone by now idon’t what i can do
    im done with mtn. niyanyanyisa.

  27. Nakedi says:

    Mtn has been stealing my airtime nd data since the begining of this year. i cannot load airtime this days since i m done wi5 h mtn will buy cell c airtime

  28. bonny says:

    My airtime vanished after recharging and made one call that lasted one minute and six seconds. How can i claim it back ?

  29. Theunis says:

    My Airtime are running out. I make 1 call and next time when I want to make another call the phone said there is insufficient airtime. When I call 808 they said I must put my phone off and on again. When doiing that R2 or more is lost, not speaking of my data also. MAYBE WE MUST BOICOTT MTN LIKE SPUR!!!! MTN MUST FALL!!! They rob our money and getting rich because our money end up in there Pockets!!!

  30. Muhammad says:

    I have airtime and can’t make calls cos it says insufficient airtime. Mtn advised that if u on prepaid and have a smartphone u will have to put mobile data off and reboot phone when it tells u u have insufficient airtime to make a call. Everytime have to reboot -totally ridiculous

    Also loaded R30 airtime to monitor y it’s disappearing and made 2 minutes of calls and airtime vanished. I have 1gig from axxess loaded onto mtn sim card every month so y use my airtime for data. Amazing thing is my phone automatically chooses mtn apn. So it goes off the axxess apn to mtn apn and finishes my airtime. Even deleting the mtn apn didn’t help, it pops back and deleted the excess apn. Makes u wonder.

  31. Nyiko says:

    My air time diapear pls don’t my life is hell wen u do this p

  32. Portia says:

    MTN is ripping me off I can’t load airtime any more cause they take it.I’m tired and migrating to another network can’t take this anymore

  33. charity says:

    mtn is shit ….I really can’t take it anymore.I had R88.9O this mornin and it’s all gone now,m sick of ur stupid jokes man and i want my airtime back!

  34. jacks says:

    Everytime i load airtime nowadays its either i will use R2 of the airtime the rest R10 or R20 Mtn will Take it. I am really boared wirh Mtn.Something has to be done.

  35. Timothy Goosen says:

    I had such a huge fight with mtn. On the 26 October I loaded 3 gig data and R200 airtime. I made 2 calls since. I work night shift so I’m not really on my phone a lot as I’m working. However on Tuesday morning the 31st October I checked my balance as I could not make a call or access any web base app like WhatsApp or emails. I then phoned customer care on 173 and was told there is some subscription named notify me that take R15 4 times a day from my airtime. Also there is apps rugging in the background and updates running in the back ground that is taking my data. I was told to turn my phone off for 48 hours

  36. Timothy Goosen says:

    I called mtn back as my data and airtime is still gone. They then told me to call 0831555. This guys did not even know what I was talking about. For someone working in a call centre I know the pressure one have while on a call with a client thus today I called them back again and put more pressure on them. I was given a reference number and was said I can call back in 2-24 hours for feedback on what was taking my data. I told them that thus is a conspiracy as 4 of my coworkers is having the same problem now after how many years using the same apps on the same phone. The lady got rattled and did not know what to say. Please guys how can we all get this sorted out as this is now they need to make a certain income percentage in order for them to get bonus now they think us as the consumers is illiterate and do not know what is going on. They can’t give us answers as they were told to tell the clients that it is our own fault that we using all our date while they working on getting their bonuses this year.

  37. Zamo says:

    I’m just waiting for my contract to come to an end, this is day light robbery. I found out today that they added a 500mb data bundle without my consent, and this has been going on since April this year. And this airtime story, I bought R30 airtime earlier before I could use it, it was done had to buy another and 7min later it was done. Something is not right here

  38. Amogelang. says:

    Mtn is bullshit. I spend more than 100 within 5 days. After recharging airtym is vanished very minute. Mxhm!

  39. Meshack says:

    My airtime are running out,I can’t load airtime any more cause they taken it

  40. seipati says:

    mtn haikhona I recharged with R60 in the morning and I never went to internet or calling anyone but im left with R8

  41. GvR says:

    I have just recently changed to MTN and using Prepaid. I loaded R60 airtime on the 1/2/2018, which was gone by the 5th, and another R60 early yesterday on the 6th, gone by today the 7th!!!!Hardly use calls during the day – prefer to use with my wi-fi at home. What the hell is going on???

  42. Sergey Cohen says:

    Always have 1-2 gigabytes data on my phone. But the airtime dissappear every time. How is possible? I hope Mtn will spend this money only for medicine.

  43. A Maharaj says:

    MTN are crooks, they have steal data and airtime. Fedup! rather go another network!

  44. Angry ex-client says:

    I had a 1GB nightshift bundle and used only about 500MB. I forgot to switch my data off and fell asleep before 6am. They waited until it was after 6 before updating my data usage. When I woke up my remaining monthly data and airtime were gone. I’m so pissed. MTN = Money Theft Network. Yerrr.

  45. ho says:

    i recharged with 35 airtime today and today after switching my phone of its all gone what kind of shit is this amma start a Twitter account just for them they bloody sucking me dry f…k them

  46. Moses says:

    What a sad thing done by mtn I loaded R60 airtime never even made one phone call the next day balance is 0 I called mtn and they can’t properly explain where my R60 gone to

  47. Etienne says:

    Mtn is robbing poor people from there monies, but what I can’t understand is how are they getting away with it. Are the Govermnt involved in it and the public regular. I won’t be suprise if all of them get a share out of our money, how else do they get away with this for so long…

  48. Tasha says:

    All I can say is that I’m glad I left Mtn and ported to Telkom, the last few days have been the happiest..Telkom doubles everything you purchase and disconnects you from the internet when you ran out of data, without consuming your airtime. I never thought I would leave Mtn after many years of being a Loyal customer, Mtn is a Scam. My whole family is also porting, Enough is enough!!!

  49. Keletso says:

    Mtn steals airtime from pensioners what the f**rk guys this is bulls**t and i am going to leave mtn and go to vodacom mtn doesn’t look out for their customers

  50. Jeff says:

    Just happened to me….
    Had all my airtime stolen by MTN who did not warn me.
    MTN even disregarded the setting on my phone to prevent this.

    Once the data is used up, then all your airtime is stolen within minutes by MTN. That is their business model since they are doing nothing to correct this.
    They offer no out of bundle data blocking at all.

  51. amos says:

    between march and April i spend most +- R400.00 my airtime also stolen by MTN.
    I remember three days ago i bought 50,40,30 and 20×2 stolen as well, i called them they told me to call *155# to cancel the competition subscription which i never requested,
    then they told me recharge after 24hours i did they stole it again.
    this is fraudulent.
    this must come to an end they gonna lose customers.

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