MTN customers are now set on having a better and easier time paying for they will use as the telecommunication company has introduced token-based billing (TBB) in order to arrest all the issues that are coming along with the traditional method.

Customers have for a long time complained of being unconsciously billed for content services they have not subscribed for by unscrupulous Wireless Application Service Providers (WASPS).

WASPs  was using event-based billing (EBB) to bill MTN customers for purchases or subscription services without them knowing. It happened mostly when customers unknowingly clicked on a link or URL which automatically triggered an unsolicited subscription.

“This will shelter our customers from unscrupulous service providers who ruin the experience of our unsuspecting customers. We are confident that this service will help to clamp down on this malpractice and will give our valued customers the peace of mind of knowing that the integrity of their accounts is safeguarded,” says Kanagaratnam Lambotharan, chief enterprise business officer of MTN South Africa.

For activation or deactivation of any WASP subscriptions, MTN advices customers to dial*141*5#.

“We are giving our customers the freedom to manage their subscriptions without the need to call MTN Customer Services or the WASP providers directly to unsubscribe,” adds Lambotharan.

The new TBB system has additional controls and checks in order to protect customers and systems from abuse. This system will generate a token for customers to opt-in and approve their purchase or subscription to any WASP service before a customer will be billed.

Before approving a purchase or subscription, MTN users will now have access to the name of the WASP providing the service, the service or product being purchased, the frequency of the service, the amount to be charged per frequency once agreeing to purchase or subscribe and a disclaimer and/or Terms and Conditions, being agreed to in terms of authorizing the purchase or subscription.