Buy airtime where ever, whenever

Vodacom customers can now buy airtime, data bundles and SMS bundles using their debit, cheque or credit cards via their mobile phones.

Customers who bank with Absa, Standard Bank and Nedbank will be able to use this service to buy Vodacom Prepaid or Top Up airtime for themselves or for other mobile phone users.

This service was developed in conjunction with Absa, which is the enabler and provider of the financial back end of the service, to ensure seamless and secure processing of the transactions.

The new Vodacom Express Recharge is a convenient and secure service which is verified by a bank card’s personal identification number (PIN). Customers do not need internet access in order to buy airtime using funds from their bank account. To access this service customers must simply dial *130*082# and follow the prompts.

“We’re taking convenience to the next level. Our customers can now recharge with ease whenever they want wherever they are. We’ve also added a new feature that allows customers to choose between purchasing voice airtime, SMS or data bundles, which means that our customers will not need to convert airtime to data bundles,” says Chris Ross, Managing Executive for Commercial Development at Vodacom.

“We are acutely aware that not all customers have access to internet and/or cellphone banking and thus cannot purchase airtime via our digital channels. Customers can now enjoy the convenience provided by the Vodacom Express Recharge service that uses the specific dial in code to facilitate the payment,” said Arrie Rautenbach, Absa’s Head of Retail Markets. 

“Initially, our mobile merchant service will be used with Vodacom Express Recharge for purchasing prepaid airtime, sms and data bundles.  Later, Absa plans to extend this ability to pay with card on mobile to other merchants, products and services,” adds Rautenbach. 

Vodacom Express Recharge is a free service that requires customers to simply register their debit, cheque or credit card the first time they dial *130*082#.  The service links a customer’s bank card to their cellphone so that they are able to perform the recharge.  The recharge purchased is then deducted from the user’s bank account. Bank card charges apply.

This is just another way Absa and Vodacom are innovating to make their customer’s lives easier - with a simple form of mobile payment service that securely stores card details, allowing users to transact on their mobile phones when they need to.

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