MTN over charging on Pay per second 79c?

Ecco

Ecco

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So I am on MTN prepaid, and I am on the pay per second price plan (https://www.mtn.co.za/everyday_services/airtime/Pages/MTN79c.aspx)

On this price plan the rate per minute is 79c per minute.

I installed the myMTNza app, and according to the app I have made calls for a duration of 41 Minutes.
The cost according the App is R62.65.

So with a call rate of R0.79 per minute sure my airtime usage should be R32.39 (R0.79 x 41 minutes is R32.39)? Yet airtime almost double the airtime has been deducted (R62.65)?

According to how much I have been charged, the rate per minute is R1.52 (R62.65/41) and not R0.79?

Anybody else having a similar problem or picked up similar discrepancy?
 
Franna said:
Min call charge?
Click to expand...

There are no minimum call charges on per second billing plans. That's the whole point.

Ecco, have you taken mobile data usage into consideration? Do you have a data bundle loaded? You say you installed the myMTNza app, which means you have a smartphone, and smartphones are known to eat up quite a bit of data without doing much. What phone do you have? Most Android phones would be able to tell you how much mobile data (i.e. not WiFi) each app has used. It will be somewhere in your settings menu.
 
Saajid said:
There are no minimum call charges on per second billing plans. That's the whole point.

Ecco, have you taken mobile data usage into consideration? Do you have a data bundle loaded? You say you installed the myMTNza app, which means you have a smartphone, and smartphones are known to eat up quite a bit of data without doing much. What phone do you have? Most Android phones would be able to tell you how much mobile data (i.e. not WiFi) each app has used. It will be somewhere in your settings menu.
Click to expand...

I am using the Afrihost APN. I also loaded a R20 data bundle from MTN, in the event my phone when off the Afrihost APN. Not 1 cent of the R20 data bundle was used. The myMTNza app also confirms no data was used from MTN.
 
According to the app I'm paying less than 1c a second. Not sure what plan I'm currently on but *141*4# will check to see if you're on the best plan for your usage.
 
Best bet is to check for yourself. Make a call to your landline or another number but check airtime before and after and then just subtract them and see. Doubt you are being charged more. Maybe a error app side or something else was charged for like data or sms or maybe a premium rated number.

There has been some billing errors from MTN in the past with people using Afrihost apn option. Maybe the same happened to you just on prepaid?
 
Attached the usage as per the app Screenshot_2015-08-19-20-10-55.png
 
What frustrates me is that I am trying to call Mtn for some assistance. I dial 173, select the options for account information, option 2, then none of the options apply so I go back to main menu. Then I press 0 to speak to a "service champion" this options take you to an automated switch board. Where you are asked to enter and extension you wish to be connected to.
It really doesn't help.
 
I just called Mtn again, and the recorded message says their systems are offline and that you might have to wait longer for help. :(
 
Anybody know how to get something like an itemised bill for prepaid? Will make easy to sort out an issue like this.
 
So all my attempts at getting help from somebody at MTN have failed. I have tweeted them, to which they did respond asking me for my contact number.

I sent them my number and a detailed breakdown of the problem as above. After which they suggested I was making calls to non MTN numbers. Which shouldnt matter if they understood their own products, as this price plan is 79c regardless to which network you make a call too.

So I did some testing of my own this morning, and its charging correctly. Which then suggests the app is incorrect.

I double checked the app, and yes it is incorrect. In the screenshot I attached it lists "Total Calls" and under that "Units 42 minutes". This is where things are incorrect. The units are actually the number of calls made. It is not the number of minutes used.

I am trying to get to talk to somebody at MTN to let them know about the issue - but again, getting through to them on 173 is impossible. DM messages on twitter don't seem to work. They respond to tweets, but anything else falls on deaf ears. I know their rep on this forum is no existent too.

So anyways if you using the app, don't view the units as minutes.
 
whatwhat said:
PM Dr_Data, he will get them to fix the issue in the app.
Click to expand...

I have tried a few times and in a few different ways to let them know of the issue. There is only so much I can do, so I am leaving it at that. This thread is there if anybody else picks up the issue.
 
drData is your only hope.

Apart from him may as well give up on MTN.
 
Hi

Thanks for the heads up. I have asked the development team to investigate. I will let you know when I have some feedback.

Thanks.
 
Just had the same experience. A 15 minute call to Canada used to cost me 79c/99c per minute. I just made a 15 minute call and R30 has disappeared from my airtime?????

Will PM Dr data.

Just for the record, I still have 600 mb data available so no surfing or OOB charges involved.
 
Last edited:
Dr_Data said:
Hi

Thanks for the heads up. I have asked the development team to investigate. I will let you know when I have some feedback.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Hi

There will be an update to the APP in a few days, please can you download and test again.

Thanks
 
I am please to report that the new app was pushed down today,and the error on the app has been resolved.

Thank you Dr Data.

Screenshot_2015-09-08-20-44-12.jpg

It now correctly refers to calls and not minutes.
 
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