MTN recycling contract numbers

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overandout

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Just subscribed to a new MTN contract and installed the SIM card that came with it into my phone.

When I switched the phone on for the first time, I immediately received a FNB-notification informing me a withdrawal has been made from my account. Luckily I am not banking with them, so I just ignored it.

When I activated the voicemail on this account, the computer informed me that 73 unheard messages has been deleted.

I am also now getting blasted with phone calls from some low-life who cannot understand English.

This obviously means that this number has been recycled.

Is there anything I can do do change the number to a new, unused one, so that I can get rid of this hassle?
 
overandout said:
Just subscribed to a new MTN contract and installed the SIM card that came with it into my phone.

When I switched the phone on for the first time, I immediately received a FNB-notification informing me a withdrawal has been made from my account. Luckily I am not banking with them, so I just ignored it.

When I activated the voicemail on this account, the computer informed me that 73 unheard messages has been deleted.

I am also now getting blasted with phone calls from some low-life who cannot understand English.

This obviously means that this number has been recycled.

Is there anything I can do do change the number to a new, unused one, so that I can get rid of this hassle?
Click to expand...

HEHE ... New Sim Card and already on keeping you busy :D
 
Tell me about it.i've had my number for 2 years on mtn.Its prepaid.it seems like a business man by the name of george ran into trouble with his finances and ditched this number.every month i still get 2 or 3 calls looking for Mr George.Heck,weird cos i thought this old numbers are put away for 6 months or something before being "recycled"
 
Complaint to ICASA

Here's an OFFICIAL e-mail sent to ICASA regarding the number Ranges in use in SA.


Good day,

I wish to raise a complaint against MTN & Vodacom's abuse of the numbering range allocated to them by ICASA.

I would like to bring to your attention the reason MTN & Vodacom consistently seek new number ranges from the Regulator.

Currently the following number ranges are in use :

Vodacom :

082 000 0000
072 000 0000
076 000 0000
077 000 0000
079 000 0000
071 000 0000

MTN :

083 000 0000
073 000 0000
078 000 0000

Cell-C:

084 000 0000
074 000 0000

Each Number range has the ability to carry almost 10 million numbers. With the current estimated active subscriber numbers being issued by the mobile phone networks,

Vodacom - 25 million
MTN - 15 million
Cell - C - 5 million

That would give us a total of around 45 million mobile phone users in this country. Why would we need almost more than double the number of numbers in circulation, 110 million numbers. Well I concluded that since MTN & Vodacom activate Voicemail by default on all their new sim packs this is a revenue generating service for the mobile phone networks. ICASA needs to stop issuing number ranges to either of the mobile phone networks and encourage the recyclying of numbers that are not active over their respective networks and also declare that all mobile phone sims sold be defaulted without Voicemail and Voicemail should be a service requested for. Under current market conditions if a call is made to a mobile number and the number is out of coverage or the mobile phone turned off, the calling party is billed for the full minute without reaching the person in question. While Voicemail is a handy service to have not many people actually return calls or actually listen to them. In most countries throughout the world Voicemail is a charged for Service, yet in South Africa it is supposedly for FREE. Ironically this is not free at all. The Calling party normally foots the bill for this service. The number range is a scarce resource and should be issued wisely and should not be issued for Revenue Generation. Assumingly Vodacom has about 10 million numbers issued and that are not in use and lets say for argument sake that one call is made per month to every numberand it diverts to Voicemail. 10 million calls mulitplied by R3 = R30 million Rands per month incoming revenue. This equates to R360 million per annum for FREE to the Network. This sort of practice must be stopped now. New Network operators that will be entering the market soon will be limited to number ranges and this will force ICASA to Create a whole new Band of numbers for no apparent reason. The blind eyed approach by ICASA to issue number ranges to the mobile phone operators needs to be stopped. The recycling of numbers needs to start now. ICASA needs to mandate that Voicemail to be a Requested for Service by the customer. The poor are being abused financially by the network operators sly business tactics.

DXL - Legal
 
Any responses yet? I'd like to get a new number, the previous 2 MTN sims I purchased, also had the same nonsense happening. Getting calls and messages from people /debtors / funeral services, you name it
 
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