MTN Voicemail Diverts - Roaming Scam?

H

hislordship

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Hello

Just out of interest, how many MTN subscribers here have noticed that the voicemail diverts can't be cancelled? You enter the ##002# or ##62# (or other code) or use the phone menu to cancel the diverts, it comes up with a message that it was successfully done, and when you check the status of the divert, it's still active to voicemail (08314xxxxxxxxx).
Why is this an issue? Well, if you go roaming overseas, you can't deactivate your voicemail, so when you don't answer a call, you pay for a call to the foreign country and then one back to South Africa.
How many people know about this, and how much is MTN scamming out of people because of this?
ALL the other networks allow activating and deactivating of diverts as you choose, just not MTN.
And yes, I've tried it now on several numbers (even bought another prepaid one to test, plus on friends' phones).
I've brought this up with MTN, but not sure if they're going to do anything about it - they are investigating.

Does your phone do the same?
 
Mine did the same. I had to pm the MTN rep who gave me the functionality to enable/disable voicemails by USSD after making changes on their system.

I agree, this is really crappy from MTN for overseas travel. Happened to a colleague of mine. He thought ##002# disabled voicemail, when he got back from overseas he had a bill for tromboning.

The only other way of getting voicemails disabled on MTN is to call 808 and ask them to completely remove voicemail off your line. But then when you get back you have to ask to get in reinstated and then you have to setup from scratch...
 
I'm in the same boat.
I work in a building where there is no network reception and its all too easy for some one to leave a message saying "hey I couldn't get hold of you, so now xyz is your problem".

##002# does not work!
Codes from this page do NOT work:
http://www.mtn.co.za/MTNServices/CallingServices/Pages/CallDivert.aspx
Click to expand...

The more I explain to the 808 people, the more they say just put in the gsm codes.

I PM'ed Dr_Data (mtn rep that helped people in another thread), but it seems to me these "reps" stick there head in here once in a blue moon.

I will try the delete my voicemailbox angle tomorrow.
 
Dr Data has been helping on the forum for years. He might just be busy. Just give him time. He'll sort you out.
 
I've been trying to sort this out with Nashua Mobile (my service provider) and also brought this to MTN's attention via Twitter, and they're also investigating.
Good question is how this would come up against the new Consumer Protection Act, especially in terms of roaming.
I don't know exactly myself, but I'm sure there would be a problem, especially like with Ajax's colleague who believed he'd deactivated the diverts, yet they were still active.
Thanks for the replies guys - really appreciate it!
 
Trying to clear up some misconceptions.
When roaming, you pay extra when:
- You answer a call
- Send a sms
- Dial to listen to voicemail
- Use 3G/GPRS (ouch!)

But you dont pay extra when:
- Someone leaves you a voicemail
- Your phone ring but you dont answer
- You Receive a sms
- Your number is diverted to vm
 
Correction - International Roaming

Nope, no misconsceptions here - I think you best check your information source.

From this site it specifically says: (http://www.mtnsp.co.za/MTNServices/communication/Pages/VoiceMail.aspx)
When roaming abroad
When travelling overseas, all calls to your MTN VoiceMail box (+27 83 100 0000) will be billed as an international call. Missed calls that are diverted to your Voicemail box are billed as two international calls: one to your phone and the second for diverting to your VoiceMail box (always in South Africa). To reduce costs, you can use your VoiceMail box to answer your calls while you are on another call, or when you are not within an MTN coverage area.


Or here's from Cell C's site: http://www.cellc.co.za/services/international-roaming
You will be charged for messages left on your voicemail if you have activated Call Forwarding******** Conditiona********l (e.g. if not answered) and for retrieval of voicemail messages.


Nephew_ said:
Trying to clear up some misconceptions.
When roaming, you pay extra when:
- You answer a call
- Send a sms
- Dial to listen to voicemail
- Use 3G/GPRS (ouch!)

But you dont pay extra when:
- Someone leaves you a voicemail
- Your phone ring but you dont answer
- You Receive a sms
- Your number is diverted to vm
Click to expand...
 
Ok, I see now. But it can be tricky. The reason is that you pay for certain diverts (Conditional) and not for Unconditional.
You pay if the phone rings and then divert.
You don't pay if All calls are diverted.
You also don't pay if you have NO diverts and you don't answer the calls, or press the red button.
USSD is also free. (Well for Cell C)
 
Just called 808 as well after trying ##002# and ##61# and still having it divert to voicemail. The call center operator thought I was crazy because if MTN says it works... it works... ahem... I could keep you guys in stitches for HOURS regaling my recent farcical interactions with our beloved MTN!

Basically the answer is calling 808 and asking one of the rocket scientists to switch it off is the only way that I have found, except if the MTN rep could shed some light.
 
hermitcrab said:
Just called 808 as well after trying ##002# and ##61# and still having it divert to voicemail. The call center operator thought I was crazy because if MTN says it works... it works... ahem... I could keep you guys in stitches for HOURS regaling my recent farcical interactions with our beloved MTN!

Basically the answer is calling 808 and asking one of the rocket scientists to switch it off is the only way that I have found, except if the MTN rep could shed some light.
Click to expand...


The call center operator thought I was crazy when I am telling them that this thing is just not working coz even now, the ##002# and ##61# says diverts are cancelled successfully, but still they are not.
 
baiano said:
The call center operator thought I was crazy when I am telling them that this thing is just not working coz even now, the ##002# and ##61# says diverts are cancelled successfully, but still they are not.
Click to expand...

I've moved away from MTN to Vodacom and they don't have the same problem, neither does Cell C.
Has anyone thought of taking this up with ICASA in a formal complaint?
It's really time that MTN sorted this out, it's been like this since at least 1999 when I joined them with my first prepaid number.
 
MTN Unconditional divert whilst roaming

When I travel overseas, I get a overseas SIM card to save on roaming call/data costs.

Previously, I've tried to divert my MTN number using Unconditional divert **21*(number diverting to)#
https://www.mtn.co.za/everyday_services/calling_voicemail/Pages/Callholding.aspx
This does not seem to work whilst roaming.

Does anyone have an alternative method for MTN (eg web self service)?
 
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