Why do you want to control me?

[Galactica]

I called MTN customer care as I couldn't load a data bundle, they tell me that I am not allowed to load a data bundle until 22 April 2007 because I loaded one on 22 March 2007! My gripe is that if I have airtime why shouldn't I have the choice of loading bundles anytime I please? It's my airtime and I bought it with my own money. I was enjoying MTN data but it seems my relationship with them will be short-lived.

 

[diabolus]

My gripe is that if I have airtime why shouldn't I have the choice of loading bundles anytime I please? It's my airtime and I bought it with my own money.

Well that's because the rule works as follows:

1. You can only have 1 bundle at a time
2. A bundle is valid for 30 days
3. Even if your bundle is depleted before 30 days are over it is still considered "active" for the entire duration.
4. You loose any unused parts of your bundle if you don't use it up in 30 days.

5. If your bundle is used up before 30 days are over you have to go onto "out of bundle" rates. This depends on the bundle you had [i.e. R1.20 p/MB if you had a 1GB bundle] . THIS will go straight from your airtime.

6. The best technique is to have multiple prepaid simcards. If you use up bundle to quickly, load your airtime on the SECOND sim and load a bundle THERE.

 

[Pitbull]

6. The best technique is to have multiple prepaid simcards. If you use up bundle to quickly, load your airtime on the SECOND sim and load a bundle THERE.

Best way to utilize your $ if u run out of 1 bundle in the 30 day cycle. If you read thru the tread you'll c there was a discusion about it a while ago

 

[moklet]

6. The best technique is to have multiple prepaid simcards. If you use up bundle to quickly, load your airtime on the SECOND sim and load a bundle THERE.

But surely MTN should realise that people are doing that so why not just stop this bull**** of only loading one bundle per month, and why the bull that you have to use it up.

 

[Pitbull]

But surely MTN should realise that people are doing that so why not just stop this bull**** of only loading one bundle per month, and why the bull that you have to use it up.

 

[Haasbroek]

This happens most likely because the prepaid SIM uses the same technology than the contract SIM. With a contract SIM, you pay out of bundle rates if run out of your bundle. Since the prepaid SIM works the same, you can't load another data bundle on the prepaid SIM.

So, people just buy a handful of prepaid SIMS.

Painting an elephant pink doesn't make it a mouse!

 

[diabolus]

But surely MTN should realise that people are doing that so why not just stop this bull**** of only loading one bundle per month, and why the bull that you have to use it up.

I believe it's the same reason why Vodacom doesn't have Prepaid Bundles. It's a "system constraint" .

In Vodacom's case there miight be the possibility that they prefer sticking people onto 2yr contracts [constant and certain revenue] ,which makes this issue a "low priority" [and explains why it's taking so long] . I got the impression from quite a few people that Vodacoms Billing System basically sucks and they simply can not do PPDBs without redesigning the system.

In MTNs case, since the multi-sim loophole is relatively "easy" to use, i actually do think MTNs system suck also and the system just can't handle the concept of "Ad-hoc" value added services . Everything runs on a "subscription" based mechanism and MTN will need some redesign to change that. Unfortunately they probably also see this as a 'minor' issue...


Also unfortunately [for MTN], i think Vodacom has indeed spent the last 2 years redesigning their system , possibly taking into account ALL these "silly" issues we see at MTN.... So unless MTN is actually working on it also, when Vodacom launch they might actually be miles ahead.of MTN with PPDBs.....

 

[Insider]

It's not a system constraint. It's actually technically easier to run the bundles without the monthly expiry values and dates.

I think this is a business decision to improve MTN's financial indicators. Probably some convoluted accounting principles involved.

 

[rudirautenbach]

I did what was suggested ie purchase another PP SIM, load up with airtime, purchase a bundle and try to connect, using my E220. However, refuses to connect me, with an error related to the inability to connect to the remote computer. When I insert my other (first) PP SIM it connects fine (obviously at R2/Mb!).

Do I need to activate the SIM for data services or something? When I insert it into a phone and dial *141# it tells me I have 100 Mb available.

Help please.

 

[caspa]

you need to put it in a phone and *123#, phone set up....ect....you will be sent the mtn mms/gprs settings again, but your sim will be provisioned for data.

 

[internaut]

punch in *123*13# and send/OK/green button thingy.
If not immediately, your sim will be data provisioned the next day. That is all it takes.

 

[YelloFever]

punch in *123*13# and send/OK/green button thingy.
If not immediately, your sim will be data provisioned the next day. That is all it takes.

Yip, Yup

MTNDD