A recent Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASA) complaint took aim at MTN’s advertising promoting its “Anytime” contracts saying that it is misleading potential subscribers regarding data usage.<\/p>\n
According to Mr. Reddy the advertisement which states that “You can use this Airtime on MTN Products and Services like Voice Calls SMSs, MMSs, Internet Browsing, MTN Loaded Content, MTN Roaming, and lots more” is misleading since “there is no indication that the users are charged separately for data use that exceeds 20% of the airtime value”.<\/p>\n
Reddy further said that the terms and conditions on the MTN website do not indicate this condition and that this rule has been applied without informing customers. “It is contrary to the advertising which states that you can use the inclusive airtime for anything,” said Reddy.<\/p>\n
MTN hit back, saying that the business rule of allowing a maximum of 20% of the inclusive airtime value for data was officially communicated to all MTN outlets. “Customers should have been advised accordingly by the relevant stores when subscribing to these packages,” said MTN.<\/p>\n
“The website and the brochure clearly state that the Anytime packages ‘are not to be used primarily for data’ and that Data and SMS bundles can be loaded onto price plans. Any reasonable consumer should then assume that there should be some restriction on data usage.”<\/p>\n
MTN committed to updating the terms and conditions of the package to reflect the limitation. This satisfied the ASA, which has a long standing principle which holds that where an advertiser provides an unequivocal undertaking to withdraw or amend its advertising in a manner that addresses the concerns raised, that undertaking is accepted without considering the merits of the matter.<\/p>\n