With the problem of money disappearing from the account mobile phone Recently, almost every second subscriber has encountered cellular communication in Russia. As a rule, this occurs due to a “spontaneous” connection additional services, SMS subscriptions or entertainment services via short numbers. Today we will talk about one of the most effective ways protecting money on your personal phone account, connecting a second (separate) account to pay for content services.
Since May 2014, amendments to the Law “On Communications” came into force in Russia, in accordance with which, when providing content services, cellular operators are required to first inform the subscriber about their cost and obtain explicit consent to provide services. In addition, the subscriber was able to create a separate account to pay for content services. In this case, money can only be written off from this “additional account”. The main account will remain untouchable. If on an “additional account” zero balance, the content service simply will not be provided.
Subscribers who do not want to open a separate personal account to pay for content will continue to pay for these services in the usual manner - from their single account.
It must be said that the legislative initiative is very practical. It looks especially useful for users of the mobile Internet: USB modems, routers, tablets - when visiting a particular site automatically subscribes the subscriber to paid service. Another thing is that all these possibilities are not very advertised by operators. According to data received from all mobile operators operating in the Urals, only 70 thousand subscribers out of almost 20 million use an additional personal account (data as of January 1, 2015). This is 0.35% of the entire subscriber base.
Contacts to sales and service offices only confirm this thesis. Thus, in six out of ten salons, consultants were taken by surprise by our request to connect a second personal account. Only after 5-7 minutes they were ready to discuss the connection diagram in detail. According to them, there are very, very few people with similar requests.
Beeline
id="sub0">The connection of a second personal account has been implemented in Beeline since May 1, 2014. The service is activated free of charge either when the subscriber contacts the operator’s office, or through activation in personal account, or by calling 07226. There is no subscription fee.
Whenever you try to connect one or another paid service, Beeline sends the subscriber an SMS message about the cost of the service before activating it; requests additional confirmation of the service order; tells the subscriber about the content provider, indicating the cost and method of disconnection while using the service. In addition, the operator informs you monthly about what content provider services are connected to the number and how to disable them. After five months, the subscription must be renewed by explicit confirmation from the customer. If there is no confirmation, it turns off automatically.
Unlike other operators, Beeline has two types of personal accounts for content services. The first, with automatic replenishment of the balance - that is, if the subscriber runs out of money on the second account and needs to pay for some content service, the funds will be automatically transferred from your main account. In essence, this format devalues the entire scheme with an additional account. Be careful when connecting to the service. Choose the second account option - without automatic replenishment. In this case, if you run out of money on the second account and need to pay for some content service, the funds will need to be deposited manually from the main account. You can connect an account without auto-replenishment through your personal account, in your own Beeline office with the help of an office employee by calling a short number 07226 by sending a request to the number *110*5062# .
Principle of operation:
Payments for all services and subscriptions that do not relate to Beeline’s own content and payment for services are debited from the additional account. social networks. Beeline content and social networking services are paid from the main personal account.
Replenishing additional account same as the main number. Instead of the first digit of the number being “9”, the first digit of the number will be “6”. For example, 8-905-875-01-15 is the main personal account, 8-605-875-01-15 is an additional one.
It is also possible to transfer funds from the main personal account to the additional one and vice versa.
Combination for transfer from the main account to the additional one:
*220*amount in rubles# dial
Combination for transfer from additional to main account:
*222*amount in rubles# dial
Megaphone
id="sub1">Each MegaFon subscriber in the Urals can independently connect to a separate content account using the following methods: convenient ways: by typing the USSD command on your phone *393*4*1# call key or using request *393# go to the second page by pressing “4” and then 1. Create an account, go to the “Service Guide” self-service system and there, in the “Content Services” section, create an account for additional services in a matter of seconds. Corporate clients with any payment system - advance or credit - they can also connect to a content account by writing an application at any MegaFon office.
Principle of operation:
By sending a message to a short number or typing some USSD request for an entertainment service, the subscriber receives a message requesting confirmation of debits from the content account; after sending the confirmation, the availability of the required amount on the content account is checked; if the balance is insufficient, the subscriber will be denied the service, Accordingly, no write-offs will occur.
Cost of SMS, USSD requests for short numbers, partner subscriptions will be debited from the created content account. If the balance of this account is zero, activation of additional services and mobile subscriptions will not be available.
The operator’s own services are paid from the main personal account, including such content services as the MegaFon.TV Media Portal, Video Portal, Kaleidoscope. Other reference and entertainment services, which are related to content services provided with the involvement of MegaFon partners, are paid from the content account if the required amount is available on it.
You can comfortably top up your content account or transfer money from an additional account to the main one using the “Service Guide” self-service system in the “Content Services” section, then “Top up your content services account.” You can also find out the balance of your content account and quickly top it up by requesting *393*2#.
MOTIVE
id="sub2">To connect an additional personal account to pay for content services, you just need to come to any office of the company with your passport and write an application. The account will be opened on the same day. There is no fee for opening and further use of a second personal account from the subscriber.
If a short number is used to order communication services, for example, to activate a package of minutes or SMS, the money is debited from the main account. If the short number is used to order any content services - ringtones, pictures, postcards, horoscopes, etc. - money is debited from an additional account, of course, if you have one. If there are not enough funds on the additional personal account to pay for a particular content, the service will not be provided.
Principle of operation:
When ordering any content service, MOTIV must notify the subscriber about the cost and validity period, after which it is automatically disabled, as well as double confirmation of the order.
“An additional personal account cannot 100% protect subscribers from the actions of mobile scammers, but it will help control the costs of paying for content services. For example, to avoid unplanned expenses, you can open an additional personal account for your child, maintain an almost zero balance on it and be sure that the little subscriber will not spend the monthly budget on ringtones and pictures,” stated the MOTIV press service.
MOTIV subscribers can top up an additional personal account at any office of the company or at a payment terminal that supports this functionality. IN this moment A service is being developed that allows you to transfer money from your main account to a secondary account. It is promised to be launched during the first half of 2015.
MTS
id="sub3">To open a separate personal account to pay for content services, the subscriber must personally contact the MTS store and fill out an application for the provision of services. Upon successful processing of the application, the subscriber will receive an SMS message about the activation of a separate account with the following text: “A separate personal account for the number +79ХХХХХХХХ has been successfully created, virtual number phone +71ХХХХХХХХ. Use it to top up your funds and request your balance.” The application processing period is 10 days from the date of application.
Principle of operation:
When connecting to the service, payment for all content services provided by third-party content providers (with the exception of services provided through a single portal of government and municipal services), will be made from the second personal account. If the subscriber has not opened a separate personal account, the cost of these services will be debited from the subscriber's main account.
In order for a subscriber to order content services when using a separate personal account, the balance of this personal account must be above zero. If there are no funds in the additional personal account, payment and provision of content services will not be made.
The subscriber can replenish an additional account through payment systems, through a bank, and also using bank card. In this case, you must indicate the virtual account number in the format +7-1XX-XXX-XX-XX or enter the number of a separate LAN directly. You can transfer funds from your main personal account to a secondary account in your personal account or using the command *112*[your virtual number]*[amount in rubles]. You can check the balance of your second personal account using the USSD command *100*103# or in the subscriber’s personal account.
Tele2 (Rostelecom)
id="sub4">To obtain a content personal account, a subscriber just needs to contact any Tele2 communication store with a passport and fill out a written application. The content account will be created within a few days, of which the subscriber will be notified via SMS.
Subscriber expenses for basic communication services (calls, SMS, Internet) will be debited from the main personal account, and expenses for content - from the content personal account. Content services include services provided by third parties (content providers) on short numbers, as well as operator services such as dating, one-time and subscription services issued on entertainment portals, etc. All popular Tele2 content services are collected on the operator’s website , where subscribers can independently and safely subscribe to content of interest.
If the balance is zero, funds are not debited from the account, i.e. the subscriber will not be able to use the service until there are insufficient funds in the account to provide it. Thus, Tele2 subscribers are protected from unwanted costs.
Principle of operation:
When requesting a new content service, the subscriber receives an SMS message indicating the service, its cost, and the name of the content provider that provides it. To activate the service, the subscriber must send a confirmation in response.
A subscriber can top up a content personal account by transferring funds from his main personal account using USSD commands. For the convenience of subscribers, commands have also been created to check the balance and return funds from the content personal account to the main one. All operations on opening, closing, content management personal account free.
*160# - certificate of content personal account balance
*160*SUM# - transfer of funds from the subscriber’s main personal account to his content account.
*160*AMOUNT*0# - return of funds from the subscriber’s content personal account to his main account.
How to connect a separate personal account for content services and mobile subscriptions?
id="sub5">Creating a separate personal account for content services on your SIM card is one of the most effective ways to protect against theft. However, it is impossible to talk about 100% protection against fraudulent charges, since branded services of operators are excluded from the scope of these rules.
However, subscribers who open a second account with a zero balance can be sure that they will not pay for air.
Lately, I very often come across the fact that my friends suffer because of paid subscriptions to Megafon.
Here is one example:
Well, after pressing the “open” button, money should be debited. True, this doesn’t happen to me, I unsubscribed from all this and closed access to payments to short numbers. But other people suffer. Even my wife suffered; about 1,000 rubles were written off from her. Eldar Murtazin wrote a lot about these situations, and for some time I watched such stories from the sidelines.
But what happened over the weekend forced me to write this post. The fact is that my loved one is in the hospital. And so that he wouldn’t be bored there, I decided to bring him a 4G modem. I arrived at the Megafon salon, transferred one of my SIM cards to the “Internet only” tariff and decided to block access to short numbers. But it turned out that everything is not so simple. The manager said that recently they have been unable to do this themselves. I need to write an SMS with my own hand to a special number, and then I won’t have these unpleasant situations. True, only three months. Then access will be unblocked and you will need to send exactly the same SMS again. The manager could not explain why the company did this. It's inconvenient to say the least. And at most, it resembles the lifestyle of Ostap Bender. In my case, such manipulations are extremely difficult, because SMS must be sent from a modem.
And today a friend of mine found himself in a similar situation.
To be honest, I have a very warm relationship with the Megafon company and I sent them a link to this material immediately after publication, I want to receive a competent answer.. It’s really not clear to me why they make life so difficult for their clients.
Do you encounter this in MTS and Bi?
Received a response from Megafon
All content providers that provide access to subscriptions to various services on the Internet must necessarily publish information about the terms of provision, the cost of services, and the connection must be made only after clicking the consent button to subscribe. After this action, an SMS message is received with information about connecting to the service.
For the convenience of clients who do not want to use content services, it is possible to create a separate personal account (the so-called content account). It will be used to pay for reference and entertainment services, which are related to content services provided with the involvement of MegaFon partners. If there is a zero balance on the account, no payment for content services will be made. The operator’s own services (calls, SMS, Internet) will be paid from the main personal account. To create a content account (CA), you need to contact a Megafon communication salon to write an application or dial the USSD request *393*4#call. You can also connect the CS using the Service Guide
For people who do not have the opportunity or desire to look for information on disabling intrusive content services, such as mobile subscriptions or paid SMS from the Megafon operator, I have compiled a reminder of SMS and USSD commands. The list includes all available commands that limit, disable, or include a ban on connecting paid content services of the operator mobile communications PJSC Megafon. The information is relevant to users mobile internet. Eliminate unexpected expenses now.
Creating a content account
Why do we create an account? Having created an additional content account, according to the communications law, all content services of Megafon partners will have to be paid from it. If you do not have this account, then expenses will be debited from the main account, so we create a content account and simply do not transfer money to it. Unfortunately, it does not apply to content services offered directly by the megaphone.Description of the content account service.
Quote from the Megafon website
A content account allows you to more flexibly manage costs for reference and entertainment services, which are related to content services provided with the involvement of MegaFon partners (hereinafter referred to as content services). By creating a Content Account, you will be able to more effectively control your expenses, which will increase your chances of not being left without communication at the most inopportune moment. After creating a Content account, funds to pay for content services will be debited only from this Content account. It is not possible to go negative on the Content account. At the same time, services provided without the involvement of MegaFon partners will continue to be paid using your main Personal Account. Funds will be debited from the Content Account only within the balance of this account and only for payment for content services, the list of which is indicated on the website www.megafon.ru. If you have created a Content account and when ordering a content service paid from the Content account, you do not have enough funds in your Content account, then such a service will not be provided.
For creating content account send USSD command *393*4*1#
, or dial *393#
and following the instructions, select the commands to create an account, the command for all Megafon branches.
We set a ban on mobile subscriptions from Megafon
Why establish a ban, because there is a content account? Unfortunately, only the services of third-party content providers (megaphone partners) are paid from the content account, however, services offered directly by the megaphone will be paid from the main personal account, which is why an additional ban is needed.First, let's check for previously connected subscriptions by typing the command *505# , if there are subscriptions, then the response will also contain a command to disable them. Next, to set a ban on the service mobile subscriptions send SMS with the team USTZAPRET1 to the number 5051 , for all Megafon branches. Unfortunately, the ban is valid for 3 months and this procedure will have to be carried out regularly. There is also a long-term solution to installing a ban by blocking sites that connect subscriptions, but this is a topic for a separate article.
Enable a ban on mobile payments
Why are we establishing a ban? I admit that the service may seem useful to you, for example, to pay for some services, but unfortunately Megafon went to the trick and connects mobile subscriptions using mobile payments, bypassing the content account. Therefore, we turn it off without regret; we can pay for what we need through any other payment system, For example qiwi or Sberbank.Description of the mobile payments service.
Quote from the Megafon website
Using “Mobile Payments” you can pay for the Internet, utilities, TV, telephone, traffic police fines, loans from any banks, restaurant bills and much more, as well as make money transfers using funds from your mobile account.
In order to establish a ban on the service mobile payments enter *191*1# , or enter *191# and following the instructions of the system, we turn on the ban using response commands.
Let's stop ruining our mood
What kind of mood is it and how not to ruin it for yourself? According to the idea of the megaphone, every erroneous USSD command, SMS or call to most non-existent short numbers should lift our spirits, for the fact that 15 - 30 rubles are withdrawn from our account. Fortunately, we can disable this service.In order to stop spoiling yourself mood let's introduce USSD request *105*380*3#8 for the Caucasus branch of Megafon. For other branches, you will need to independently clarify information about the availability of this service and the command to disable it.
Connecting stop content
Why do we include stop content? This service should theoretically block paid voice calls, USSD commands and sending SMS messages to content provider numbers. Unfortunately, the blocking does not apply to most services and blocking of paid numbers; moreover, it does not work when roaming in Russia. But since the service is free, it still won’t hurt to connect it.Description of the stop content service.
Quote from the Megafon website
The Stop Content service allows subscribers to block voice calls, USSD requests, as well as sending SMS messages to content provider numbers. This service will help mobile phone owners protect themselves and their loved ones from unexpected costs associated with calls to paid short numbers.
Connect the service stop content we will be typing the team *105*381*3# for the Caucasus branch or *105*801# for Moscow and the region. For other Megafon branches, you will need to independently clarify information about the availability of this service and the team to connect it.
We set a ban on sending entertaining SMS
Why we set the ban: it is logical to ban the sending of paid SMS.
Quote from the Megafon website
The “Banning entertainment SMS sending” service allows you to disable the ability to send SMS messages to paid entertainment SMS services provided by content providers. Sending SMS messages to service numbers MegaFon network is preserved.
To enable the service ban on sending entertaining SMS let's fulfill the request *526*3# for the Caucasus branch of Megafon. For other Megafon branches, you will need to independently clarify information about the availability of this service and the team to connect it.
Replacing the toll beep with a standard one
What is this information for? By default, the dial tone replacement service is activated on new numbers, including on SIM cards used in modems, which no one calls, but after a few days the service becomes paid, so you need to know how to quickly disable it.Description of the service: prohibition of sending entertaining SMS.
Quote from the Megafon website
Do you want your friends to not get bored while waiting for you to pick up the phone? Turn on the “Replace the dial tone” service! Instead of standard beeps, install your favorite melodies or new super-hits, cute jokes or funny gags, and your friends will call you more often! Make your communication varied, show your imagination - and then, by answering incoming call, you will always hear only happy voices and ringing laughter!
To disable the service replace the horn let's introduce *770*12# for all Megafon branches.
Let's not give the megaphone the benefit of the doubt
Why shouldn't you trust a megaphone? But doesn’t the list of restrictions described above indicate that Megafon is happy to " will clean up"get your hands on our money by connecting paid content services, even on credit! If you think you won’t pay off the debt, then Megafon will write off the money from your other account, so we’d better turn off this service.Description of the credit of trust service.
Quote from the Megafon website
The “Credit of Trust” service allows MegaFon network subscribers to communicate on credit: even with a negative balance, you will be able to use mobile communications without restrictions! The credit limit is calculated based on the amount you spend on mobile communications per month and the service period in the MegaFon network. The higher these indicators, the larger the credit limit. The credit limit is recalculated monthly.
To disable the service credit of confidence enter a request *138*2# for all Megafon branches.
Disable auto payment
Why is it preferable to disable auto payment? Megafon is constantly improving in the business of “selling air” and you can trust this company with complete control over all accounts only at your own peril and risk. Just google and remember the story about the allegedly erroneous debiting of money from accounts of 25 thousand. subscribers.Description of the auto payment service from your phone. Quote from the Megafon website
Owners of several MegaFon SIM cards do not need to monitor the balance of each number and top up them separately. Connect to the “Autopayment from phone” service and set up automatic replenishment of all your accounts from one number. Select one main number and set a threshold balance value for SIM cards in a modem, navigator, tablet, or on the phone of a child or other loved one. Now you will only pay for one number, and all others will be automatically topped up when the set threshold is reached. Automatic payments from the main number are commission-free.
Disconnect previously connected auto payment from phone you can complete the request *773*0# , this command does not disable auto payment from a bank card.
As you know, in addition to SMS and USSD commands, you can connect or disconnect services by contacting a specialist - by calling the toll-free contact number 0500 from a mobile phone or using the self-service system - a web interface by logging into the subscriber’s personal account. However, these methods have a significant drawback - the time spent both searching for the required key combination to connect with an operator and waiting for a long time, as well as searching the desired button in the subscriber’s personal account or service guide, so the collected list for entering commands from the device is a quick and simple solution.
I also recommend not keeping large amounts of money in your Megafon mobile account, as this way you will notice the loss faster. I will be happy to supplement the list with the options you know for limiting the connection of mobile content services from Megafon.
In addition to standard options and services offered to subscribers of any mobile operator, users have the opportunity to activate additional content services sold both directly by the operator and by partners of cellular companies.
And very often operators connect such services without the knowledge of subscribers: you press the “left” link on some site from your phone and hello, you have a subscription to all sorts of “weather forecasts,” “horoscopes,” or “anecdote of the day.” And money is debited from the account for unnecessary paid subscriptions daily.
How to fight? There is an answer and, most interestingly, the Russian government took care of the subscribers of all operators and on May 1, 2014, the Federal Law of July 23, 2013 No. 229-FZ “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Communications” came into force. In accordance with this law, payment for content services provided by mobile operators, at the request of the subscriber, can only be made from a separate personal account of the subscriber.
Why do you need a separate MegaFon Content account?
Simply put, this means that all Russian telecom operators must provide subscribers with the opportunity to open a separate account for paying for subscriptions, if the subscriber expresses such a desire. And only from this separate account should funds be debited to pay for subscriptions.
This service allows you to create an additional account for the subscriber, the funds in which will be used only to pay for content services.
Thus, by activating the option, you can protect yourself from the fact that active content services completely use up funds from the main balance, because such a nuisance inevitably leads to the inability to use communication services.
Therefore, if you open a “Content Account” and do not transfer funds to it, the balance will always be zero and you will not be afraid of any subscriptions. No money in the Content Account means no subscriptions.
Video instructions on how to get rid of paid subscriptions on MegaFon
Content in the broad sense of the word is any information material. Many operators provide this very content, and not for free. Many Megafon subscribers are interested in the question: access to content - what is it and what is it for?
Everything works on the principle that if a Megafon subscriber has gained access to content, he must pay a certain amount. Of course, this can be a convenient service for timely receipt of any news from Russia and the world or entertainment materials. But what if the user did not connect such a service at all or connected it unknowingly, as a result of which he simply loses a certain amount of money? In this case, paid content is of no use at all, and it would be better not to enable its use.
Not only the operator provides similar services throughout Russia, but also other users who can connect you to paid mailings using a short number. Adolescents are most at risk due to curiosity and older people due to their inexperience in using such devices. Some scammers in Russia also withdraw funds from accounts using short codes, which results in several hundred rubles missing from the account. A logical question arises about how to disable access to content, but Megafon gives a simple answer - use a specialized operator service that operates throughout Russia.
"Stop content" service
This service is considered a specialized way of the Megafon operator to block communications with paid numbers. This applies to all types of communication, including:
- SMS messages;
- USSD codes;
- regular outgoing voice calls.
As a result, this service is a protective barrier for the Megafon user from all kinds of scammers in Russia. Any tariff presented by the operator allows you to use the service in your home region for free.
Now we have figured out what a Megafon subscriber is dealing with, what access to content is and how to block it in order to avoid losing money from the account of a Russian resident subscriber.
Connecting and disconnecting the service
To activate the Stop Content service, just use one of the USSD codes:
- *526# and call;
- *105*801# and call.
After the activation procedure has been successfully completed, your smartphone should receive an SMS message stating that the service has been successfully activated and access to paid content is prohibited. This is the easiest way to disable content on Megafon using a function that, moreover, does not require any subscription fee from the user. The peculiarity of the service is that official Megafon services remain available for use, and it also remains possible to pay for parking throughout Russia using various specialized codes and SMS messages to short numbers.
Disabling the service is as simple as connecting it: just dial *526# again or immediately enter 0 in the code, which will look like *526*0#.
Results
For Megafon users, content from dubious paid numbers can be blocked using a convenient service that does not block official materials from the operator. This is convenient for Russian users, who, by connecting to the service, become maximally protected from the actions of scammers, as well as for Megafon itself, which leaves its own offers unblocked. As a result, it is still advisable for Megafon subscribers to limit access to content, since this function remains free and has an extremely positive effect on the use of mobile communications, as well as its security in general.
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