MTN Can I buy data bundle with top-up airtime? [answer: no]

[rapidblue]

Hi there,

Hoping someone can please help - I asked at an MTN store but the staff weren't sure.

On Vodacom it is possible to use the money assigned to you every month on your TopUp to purchase data or SMS bundles. Is this also possible on MTN or do you have to buy "extra" airtime to purchase bundles?

Thanx a mil guys

[D3x]

Sorry dude, its not possible, last time I checked anyway.

You can convert monthly allocated airtime to data on Vodacom but you need to load money for MTN.

[rapidblue]

Sorry dude, its not possible, last time I checked anyway.

You can convert monthly allocated airtime to data on Vodacom but you need to load money for MTN.

Thanx so much for the info - a pity though

[droidx]

Thanx so much for the info - a pity though

Yeah a big pity. Its possible on all other networks.
This is a very big reason for me leaving mtn.

[rapidblue]

Yeah a big pity. Its possible on all other networks.
This is a very big reason for me leaving mtn.

Is a pity though. At my new home Vodacom sux BIGTIME!!! They have promised numerous times to fix the tower here but it has now almost been a year and no luck yet - even got the CEO involved but still no luck... So, tested MTN for a while and it works really really well here. Was hoping to be able to purchase bundles with my airtime but if I can't, it's a small price to pay for a working phone

[AirWolf]

Hi there,

Hoping someone can please help - I asked at an MTN store but the staff weren't sure.

On Vodacom it is possible to use the money assigned to you every month on your TopUp to purchase data or SMS bundles. Is this also possible on MTN or do you have to buy "extra" airtime to purchase bundles?

Thanx a mil guys

Can't purchase data bundles with included top up airtime on MTN (as already mentioned). On Vodacom, you can purchase data bundles, but not sms bundles, AFAIK.

[rapidblue]

Can't purchase data bundles with included top up airtime on MTN (as already mentioned). On Vodacom, you can purchase data bundles, but not sms bundles, AFAIK.

Ah, interesting. I have purchased data bundles with my top up airtime on Vodacom before but have never tried purchasing a SMS bundle like that before...

[m.badza]

That's one down of Mtn... But u can buy Airtime n use that to buy a bundle

[adam88]

That's one down of Mtn... But u can buy Airtime n use that to buy a bundle

Why would you do that though?

You have R200 airtime a month, that is not really airtime.

[hamdijumai]

yes u kan buy airtime,top up nbuy internet bundles using mtn.dail *138#

[ginggs]

yes u kan buy airtime,top up nbuy internet bundles using mtn.dail *138#

Maybe with MTN Ghana, but not with MTN South Africa.

[MTN-Lazola]

If I am on a Anytime Topup package, is it possible to purchase a data bundle and then it just subtracts from the total value? You can do this with Vodacom Topup, so I am wondering.

...and I quote from the Vodacom section:

"
FAQ FOR PREPAID DATA BUNDLES:

 Available to both Prepaid and Top Up customers.
 Only (MyMeg 500, MyGig 1, MyGig 2) options will be available at launch – 01 April 2007
 Customers purchase a data bundle by allocating available funds in their prepaid account for the purchase of the data bundle of their choice. It is the customer's responsibility to ensure that they have adequate funds in their prepaid airtime account to purchase the data bundle of choice.
 When a customer purchase a data bundle, the funds used to purchase this data bundle is converted into the appropriate MB of data usage that has been bought. Balance enquiries will then display the appropriate amount of MB still available for usage in the data bundle.
"

.


Yes you can with MTN:
Contract and Top-up Packages
All standard MTN contract package conditions apply.


All of the new price plans shall have a per second (1:1) billing method.


All the new packages offer inclusive Airtime Value (Rand value based). This inclusive Airtime can be used on a variety of MTN products and services such as voice calls, MMS, SMS, International Calling, MTN Roaming etc.


Any services that incur a separate charge such as Itemised Billing, Calling Line Identity, SMS Bundles, Data Bundles, BlackBerry, migration charges, Me2U transfer charges etc. will not deplete the inclusive Airtime Value.


Usage Rates and Inclusive airtime value advertised is VAT inclusive.


All of the new packages are offered on a 24 month contract basis.


The in-bundle call rate is only applicable to local voice calls and will deplete the inclusive Airtime Value related to the package.


The out-of-bundle rate is only applicable to local voice calls and will be charged once the inclusive Airtime Value for the month has been depleted.


All MTN AnyTime packages only have 2 call rates for local voice calls and apply to calls at any time and to all local networks.


All MTN Off Peak packages only have 3 call rates applicable for local voice calls and apply to calls to all networks. These in-bundle and out-of-bundle rates are applicable only to Off Peak calling, while Peak calls will be billed at the applicable Peak call rate.


All MTN AnyTime and MTN Off Peak packages offers free inclusive SMSs over and above the inclusive Airtime Value. These SMSs will not carry over to the next month and if unused at the end of the month / billing cycle, it will be lost.


Data and SMS Bundles can be loaded onto all new price plans.


Should any of these MTN AnyTime or MTN Off Peak contracts be cancelled early, the standard claw-back rules shall apply


Customers performing a SIM swap shall not lose their inclusive Airtime Value


Customers performing an MSISDN swap shall lose their inclusive Airtime Value


All of the TopUp packages shall not be able to send a Me2U airtime transfer, but will be able to receive a Me2U airtime transfer


All of the non-TopUp packages shall be able to send a Me2U airtime transfer, but not receive a Me2U airtime transfer.


Unused inclusive Airtime Value shall carry over up to the limit of 5 times the monthly subscription value and any inclusive Airtime Value over and above this shall be lost


When a customer tops up with a PayasyouGo airtime voucher value more than R25, this airtime will never expire.


When a customer tops up with a PayasyouGo airtime voucher less than or equal R25, this value will be placed in an expiry wallet and the following rules will apply:


If the top up value was between R25 and R10 then value left over after 30 days from top up date will expire.

If the top up was R5 or R10 then value left over after 20 days from top up date will expire.


The MTN AnyTime and MTN Off peak packages are voice packages and are not to be used primarily for data.


The MTN AnyTime and MTN Off peak packages are not to be used for purposes Least Cost Routing / Fixed Cellular Terminals or International Bypass. MTN reserves the right to take necessary action where boundaries are crossed with respect to stipulations.

[AirWolf]

.
<snip>

And the short answer is: No, on MTN included top up airtime cannot be used to purchase data bundles. While on Vodacom you can.

[Shaun_SA]

So I'm on a Top-up 200 on mtn and tried to buy a 2 Gig data bundle this morning, I have R539 airtime on my phone and the bundle cost R289 and it said insufficient funds. So it means you have to load airtime other than the airtime you receive from Mtn every month! That's just Bollocks! Why do we have to pay for something we can't use as we please?? Cell C here I come! Mtn's data pricing is also ridiculous!

Sent from my BlackBerry 9790 using my fingers :P

[Chevron]

So I'm on a Top-up 200 on mtn and tried to buy a 2 Gig data bundle this morning, I have R539 airtime on my phone and the bundle cost R289 and it said insufficient funds. So it means you have to load airtime other than the airtime you receive from Mtn every month! That's just Bollocks! Why do we have to pay for something we can't use as we please?? Cell C here I come! Mtn's data pricing is also ridiculous!

Sent from my BlackBerry 9790 using my fingers :P

It's always been like this. Unfortunately.