MTN Airtime

[MrG]

Hi

I have a question regarding the limits of airtime on an MTN Prepaid sim card?

If I were to load lets say R500 airtime on a prepaid sim.

Will it last forever?
Is there any inactive period where you lose the airtime?

Whats the rules etc etc? thanks!

 

[oronte]

I think it's 6 months of inactivity before you lose it, but I could be mistaken.

 

[MrG]

Okay, but if I even make 1 sms or phone call for 10 seconds every x months then it will never go away?

 

[Budza]

1 call > a minute in duration every six months, afaik.

 

[ajax]

It's actually 90 days. Not sure on the required call duration. I'd say make a short call and send an sms every 90 days, but make a note in your calendar, it's easy to forget and R500 is a lot of airtime!

 

[10i]

Even a call to 141 will do to keep the number going. You have to make at least one call every 90 days.

R30 , R60 , R90 , R180 do not expire. Although the smaller vouchers do expire in 20 days.

 

[Terencek]

And if you use your SIM only for data? My local MTN outlet insisted you still need to make a call per 90 days, or lose your airtime. Sounds an insane business model when applied to data-only SIMs!

 

[10i]

I had a deaf customer who's sim deactivated because he did not phone for 90 days.

Please people, make as many calls as possible

Seriously though, call 141 every month, that way you will always be safe.

 

[Terencek]

Can someone please confirm that calling 141 will do it? Last time I asked MTN I was told it had to be a 'revenue-generating' call. 141 is a freebie, isn't it? And therefore would not count?

 

[Keeper]

do you have to do this with vodacom as well if you're using it for data only, in your 3G modem?

 

[veethree]

do you have to do this with vodacom as well if you're using it for data only, in your 3G modem?

Not to my knowledge - I've been using a sim for data only purposes for about a year and have never made a call with it.

 

[Terencek]

No, AFAIK Voda SIMs remain valid as long as you are within their Airtime Window (which accumulates when you recharge with airtime); so they do still have a finite lifespan if not used, but nothing like MTN's 'at least one call per month or lose it' model. I have had a Voda SIM die after six months of inactivity -- but one important difference seems to be that Voda will (eventually) disconnect you if you don't recharge with airtime, while MTN does it (in a much shorter period) if you don't actually USE the account to make a call.

Anyone got an answer to my 'revenue-generating call only' validity question posed earlier, perchance?