Beware data charges on MTN Anytime

This all sounds unhappily similar to that other MTN 'barely in the fine print' wheeze discussed in another forum thread, the stipulation that prepaid SIMs used exclusively for data, no matter how much you load on them or use them for data, still have to be used every three months for a voice call or they get cancelled -- as just happened to me, taking my airtime balance with it.

That particular 'stipulation', like the one discussed in this thread, is so hidden that even my local MTN service centre was astonished to learn about it from their central helpdesk when I went to complain. What happened to transparency? Goodbye MTN.
 
milomak said:
Just looked at the pricing now. I don't understand why MTN complain when you use this package as a data package. Anytime350 is R350 for 175MB. The closest data package is R389 for 2GB. Could someone try to explain to me how using the Anytime package as a data bundle is a negative for MTN?
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The R350 is a sunk cost. If you dont plan on making much calls for the rest of the month you may as well pay R2 a meg rather than paying more and buying a bundle. MTN wants you to go and buy a bundle rather than using the leftover portion of the R350 for data.
 
I applied for this package knowing the pro's and cons. So I willfully disagree with most posts here.

Why would you sign a contract if you are not aware what the limitations are?

I applied for the Anytime100 Topup, which means that R100 will be used for calls and sms's, if I choose to, I can load more airtime and convert it to a data bundle.

I don't think MTN is so evil as everyone gives it out to be. They've got a different business model than Vodacom and it's working.

For heaven's sake. I want a Nokia 5800Express. If I had to get it on Vodacom it would cost me R345 per month :eek: seriously. On Anytime it's R139, for the same period, do the math :erm:
 
teraside said:
I applied for this package knowing the pro's and cons. So I willfully disagree with most posts here.

Why would you sign a contract if you are not aware what the limitations are?

I applied for the Anytime100 Topup, which means that R100 will be used for calls and sms's, if I choose to, I can load more airtime and convert it to a data bundle.

I don't think MTN is so evil as everyone gives it out to be. They've got a different business model than Vodacom and it's working.

For heaven's sake. I want a Nokia 5800Express. If I had to get it on Vodacom it would cost me R345 per month :eek: seriously. On Anytime it's R139, for the same period, do the math :erm:
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Also checked the different pricing on the 5800 express and also chose anytime topup 100 with 5800express.
I use vodacom for data and mtn for light phone browsing.
I cannot grumble because i have received my R100 3 times in a month!
:)
 
demon angel said:
Also checked the different pricing on the 5800 express and also chose anytime topup 100 with 5800express.
I use vodacom for data and mtn for light phone browsing.
I cannot grumble because i have received my R100 3 times in a month!
:)
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Vodacom's range of phones is below sub-standard compared to MTN's offerings.

If you work out the cost of your phone subsidy with Vodacom and compare it to MTN, you will see that it's not even comparable, Vodacom are rip offs.
 
Well - the 20% limitation isn't really a problem - because you can be pretty sure that the bill you receive will be wrong anyway.

MTN's billing systems is still stuffed. They still haven't notified their customers and their call centre is still not aware that there has been a problem. In fact their call center still insist that the customer is the idiot.

I will not renew my contract on MTN.
 
It is amazing how these big boys get away with intent to commit legal fraud and get away with it and not have to refund each person they did in. Some one is on the take again. Most corrupt and get away with it.
 
All I want to know where is ICASA who is suppose to defend us???
 
“Customers should have been advised accordingly by the relevant stores when subscribing to these packages,”... "he website and the brochure clearly state that the Anytime packages ‘are not to be used primarily for data’ and that Data and SMS bundles can be loaded onto price plans. Any reasonable consumer should then assume that there should be some restriction on data usage."

THIS IS BS! I moved from MTN to vodacom for a good phone deal. THEY ARE PATHETIC!
 
Goliath said:
Anyone knows if there are limitations,like this one from MTN, to data usage on prepaid(controlchat and topup) contracts from Vodacom and Cellc?
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Not sure about Cell C (but I doubt they follow the MTN model) but on Vodacom Top Up you can use the included airtime for anything except transferring the airtime to another number.

You can even convert the included airtime into data bundles just like prepaid.


For the rest of the people ooohing and aaahing over the nice phones MTN offer please click here.
 
So actually what happens after you use 20% of the airtime on data?Do you get charged an additional amount even if you stil have airtime available?This info is so important i can't understand why MTN didn't tell us all this time...
 
AirWolf said:
For the rest of the people ooohing and aaahing over the nice phones MTN offer please click here.
Click to expand...

Bulldust.

You didn't list any reasonable coherant fact why MTN has better phones than Vodacom.

Again, even taking the silliest phone on the market, Vodacom expects massive pay in costs and their billing isn't as flawless as you think either. I've heard of quite a few billing errors on Vodacom in the last few months, so this isn't MTN specific.

Long story short. Most of you are throwing fits because you put pen to paper without doing your homework properly.

It's your own doing, not that of the service provider, any service provider. It's your account, so manage it.

If there is billing issues, ask for a detailed statement, even if it incurs a cost and contest it should errors be evident. But failing to lift a finger, but rather pointing fingers won't fix the issue at all.

I'm glad Vodacom have such sucky phone options, saved me more than R200 per month.
 
This is criminal behavior from MTN. It was quite clear from the beginning that you could use your money for anything. I will not be renewing my contract with this bunch of criminals. Got an SMS again this month that billing data will be late. In this regard they are as bad as most government departments.
 
crazy

I was on procall 220, avg bill was around R400 a month. then came anytime packages, and the phone I was looking at was the Samsung Omnia(I900). Sales guy at MTN said to me that I cannot go on the anytime 350 as it's below my avg spend and I had to go on anytime 500. Which was more than what my avg bill was. He assured me that I can spend it on anything from SMS, calls, Data, MMS as this is my total bill (R500) and all is included. I think back then I asked about 3 times(as I'm in IT) and not always sure if these sales people actually knows all the IT terms. He assured me. He never mentioned anything about limited Data or MMS's or SMS's. After trying to convince the guy that I want the 350 package and failing to do so, he even told me that if I want to use data then this is actually great, because now I have lots of Rand-value for that.


By the way, nice advert on TV tonight. MTN with fineprint at the bottom about the 20%, bit late now. If MTN wants to salvage their customers respect, I suggest free package change (including downgrade) and at least ignore this crazy 20% for the next 2 months.
 
teraside said:
Bulldust.

You didn't list any reasonable coherant fact why MTN has better phones than Vodacom.

Again, even taking the silliest phone on the market, Vodacom expects massive pay in costs and their billing isn't as flawless as you think either. I've heard of quite a few billing errors on Vodacom in the last few months, so this isn't MTN specific.

Long story short. Most of you are throwing fits because you put pen to paper without doing your homework properly.

It's your own doing, not that of the service provider, any service provider. It's your account, so manage it.

If there is billing issues, ask for a detailed statement, even if it incurs a cost and contest it should errors be evident. But failing to lift a finger, but rather pointing fingers won't fix the issue at all.

I'm glad Vodacom have such sucky phone options, saved me more than R200 per month.
Click to expand...

You believe what you want, that's your right. I did have an MTN contract previously concurrently with a Vodacom. So service wise I could make a good comparison.

Regarding billing issues with MTN, numerous people were complaining about being billed in excess of the agreed top up amount while they still had airtime, and now suddenly MTN pulls out this 20% BS.

As mentioned in my other thread, MTN may include transactions on your statement months after they actually occurred, so their itemised billing isn't worth the paper it is printed on let alone the ~ R20 IB fee they charge.

Also submitting a billing query has a waiting period of 7 days before you can re-inquire. My sister complained about being billed for data even though she still had airtime, and every time they just said they are investigating. No once did anyone mention this 20% rule.

MTN's billing system is definitely flawed, whether you choose to believe it or not. Also their billing cycle from 13 to 13 is almost enough to drive anyone insane.
 
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Someone at MTN called me this morning at 9:26am from a MTN cellphone No and tried to sell me a AnyTime Top Up 100 - 24month contract and I said that I am not intrested and ended the call and after that they smsed me the same promotion.

I got poor MTN signal in Robin Hills and great Vodacom signal and I am happy with my Vodacom contract and all my friends and family got my number

I use Iburst and Neotel for data and sometimes my vodacom contract also but only to surf websites on my cellphone
 
This really makes me angry. Before I signed up to MTN I asked them if I could use my R100 for data. They very certainly told me I could.

I found out the hard way this was a blatant lie when I received my first bill.

In true MTN style!
 
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