Direct Carrier Billing South Africa

Last checked: 26 June 2026

Direct carrier billing South Africa is a payment method that lets some mobile users pay for digital content, app purchases, subscriptions, or partner services through their mobile account instead of a bank card. On prepaid or top-up accounts, the amount may come off airtime. On contract accounts, it may appear on the monthly bill. Vodacom describes its Add to Bill service as a way for Contract, Top Up, and Prepaid customers to pay for content services such as video, music, games, sport, and lifestyle services through their Vodacom mobile number. (Vodacom)

The quick answer is that there is no single universal direct carrier billing code for every South African network. You need to check the network that is billing the SIM, then use that network’s content-service, WASP, app, or self-service route. If airtime is disappearing, check direct carrier billing, WASP services, premium content, app-store subscriptions, and any mobile billing subscriptions linked to the number.

Quick Code/Menu Answer

Network or billing route	What it may cover	Verified code/menu status	Best next step
Vodacom	Add to Bill, WASP, V-Live, content services, mobile billing subscriptions	Dial `135997#`. Vodacom says option 1 can be used to view content services, option 2 to stop all content services, and option 3 to block future content-service purchases and subscriptions. (Vodacom)	Use Vodacom subscription cancellation code
MTN	MTN content services, WASP services, some app or partner billing	WASPA lists `155#` or `141*5#` for MTN users who want to unsubscribe from or block WASP services. (codes.waspa.org.za)	Check stop WASP subscriptions
Telkom	Telkom Direct Carrier Billing, content services, app-store or partner subscriptions	Telkom says users can manage subscriptions through the Telkom Mobile App or Self-Service portal by selecting the product, mobile number, subscription, then content services. (Telkom) WASPA also lists `180` or `1797867` for Telkom WASP unsubscribe or block routes. (codes.waspa.org.za)	Use Telkom subscription cancellation code
Cell C	WASP or content-service deductions	WASPA lists `1331#` for Cell C users who want to unsubscribe from or block WASP services. (codes.waspa.org.za)	Check the network route, then escalate if billing continues
Google Play mobile billing	Google Play purchases or subscriptions charged to a mobile account	Google lists MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom as participating mobile phone billing carriers in South Africa. (Google Help)	Use app subscriptions using airtime
Apple mobile phone billing	Apple Account purchases or subscriptions charged to a mobile account	Apple lists mobile phone billing in South Africa for MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom. (Apple Support)	Check Apple subscriptions and the billed network

Use the table above as a starting point. If the charge is clearly network content billing, start with the network code or app. If the charge is linked to an app store, streaming service, game, cloud storage, music service, or in-app purchase, check the app-store account as well.

Provider-by-Provider Options

Vodacom direct carrier billing and Add to Bill

Vodacom users should start with *135*997# when checking content services, Add to Bill, WASP, V-Live, or similar mobile billing subscriptions. Vodacom says users can view charged content services, cancel selected services, stop all content services, and block future content-service purchases or subscriptions. (Vodacom)

Use the Vodacom route if you see:

airtime deductions after recharging;
a recurring daily, weekly, or monthly content charge;
a video, music, game, sport, or lifestyle subscription;
a Vodacom Add to Bill service;
an app or service billed through your Vodacom number.

For the detailed network-specific flow, go to Vodacom subscription cancellation code.

MTN direct carrier billing and mobile billing subscriptions

MTN customers may see charges linked to partner subscriptions, app-store purchases, MTN content, or WASP services. MTN’s Add to Bill terms for Showmax say prepaid and top-up users must have enough prepaid airtime for the subscription, while MTN contract users can add it to their bill. (MTN)

For WASP or content-service checks, WASPA lists *155# or *141*5# for MTN users. (codes.waspa.org.za) Use the billed MTN SIM, follow the prompts, check active services, cancel anything you do not recognise, and use any blocking option shown by the menu.

Use the MTN route if you see:

MTN Play or premium-content wording;
a charge that appears after topping up airtime;
a recurring subscription you do not recognise;
Google Play or Apple mobile billing linked to an MTN number;
a service that continues billing after deleting an app.

If you are unsure whether the problem is direct carrier billing, WASP billing, or a broader subscription issue, start with stop WASP subscriptions or cancel subscription USSD code South Africa.

Telkom direct carrier billing

Telkom describes Direct Carrier Billing as an online mobile payment method that allows purchases to be charged to a mobile bill. Telkom lists partners such as Apple, Showmax, Google Play, Galaxy Store, and Spotify under its direct carrier billing information. (Telkom)

For Telkom, the official management route is the Telkom Mobile App or Self-Service portal. Telkom says users should log in, select the product, select the mobile number, select subscription, then select content services. (Telkom) WASPA also lists 180 or *179*7867 for Telkom users who want to unsubscribe from or block WASP services. (codes.waspa.org.za)

Use the Telkom route if the charge is linked to:

Telkom Direct Carrier Billing;
Apple, Google Play, Galaxy Store, Spotify, Showmax, or a similar partner;
a Telkom mobile number;
content services shown under the Telkom account;
recurring airtime or bill deductions that do not match normal usage.

For the detailed route, use Telkom subscription cancellation code.

Cell C content-service checks

The official app-store sources checked for this page list MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom for Google Play and Apple mobile phone billing in South Africa, not Cell C. (Google Help) However, Cell C users can still experience WASP, content-service, premium-message, or subscription-related deductions.

For Cell C WASP checks, WASPA lists *133*1#. (codes.waspa.org.za) Use it from the Cell C SIM that is being billed. If the code does not work, contact Cell C through official support. Cell C lists 135 for Cell C customers and 084 135 for non-Cell C callers. (Cell C)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Check network/account status

Before cancelling or disputing anything, identify the billed number. This is important if you use dual SIM, eSIM, an old number, a child’s phone, a contract SIM, or a SIM that was previously linked to an app-store account.

Check:

which mobile number received the billing SMS;
whether the SIM is prepaid, top-up, or contract;
your airtime balance before and after the deduction;
the wording on the SMS or transaction line;
whether the message says “DCB”, “content service”, “WASP”, “Add to Bill”, “subscription”, or the name of a service;
whether the charge is once-off, daily, weekly, or monthly;
your Google Play, Apple, network-app, streaming, gaming, and music subscriptions.

Google says users may see an SMS starting with “DCB” or “DCB_Association” when mobile phone billing is enrolled for a Google Play account. (Google Help) That kind of message does not automatically mean fraud, but it does mean you should check whether your number has been linked to mobile billing.

Cancel active services first

Use the route for the billed network. Do not only delete the app from your phone. Deleting an app may remove the app from the device, but it may not cancel a network-billed subscription, app-store subscription, WASP service, or direct carrier billing arrangement.

For Vodacom, start with *135*997#. For MTN, check *155# or *141*5#. For Telkom, check the Telkom Mobile App or Self-Service portal, and also use the WASPA-listed Telkom routes where relevant. For Cell C, check *133*1#. (Vodacom)

After cancelling, wait for the confirmation SMS or in-app confirmation. Take a screenshot before closing the menu.

Block future content-service subscriptions where available

Cancellation and blocking are not always the same thing. Cancelling removes a current service. Blocking helps prevent new content-service subscriptions from being added later, where the network offers that function.

Vodacom says users can block future content-service purchases and subscriptions by dialling *135*997# and replying with option 3, and that an SMS confirmation should be sent after the block is activated. (Vodacom) WASPA also lists network routes for unsubscribing from or blocking WASP services across Cell C, MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom. (codes.waspa.org.za)

Keep the block confirmation. If a new charge appears after the block, that confirmation becomes useful evidence.

Check app-store subscriptions

If the charge appears to come from Google Play, Apple, Galaxy Store, Spotify, Showmax, or another app or entertainment service, check the app account directly. Google Play’s South African payment-method page says mobile phone billing is available with some mobile devices and service plans, and lists MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom as participating carriers. (Google Help) Apple also lists mobile phone billing in South Africa for MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom. (Apple Support)

This matters because the network code may not show every app-store subscription in a way that is easy to understand. A service may be billed to your mobile number but managed inside the app store or partner account.

Use app subscriptions using airtime if the charge looks like an app, game, streaming, music, cloud storage, or in-app purchase.

Keep evidence before escalating

Do not delete messages or receipts before the dispute is finished. Keep:

the date and time of each deduction;
the amount deducted;
the mobile number being billed;
screenshots of balance changes;
the service name shown in the SMS or app;
any short code, long code, or USSD string;
cancellation confirmation messages;
block confirmation messages;
app-store receipts;
support reference numbers.

WASPA provides a code lookup page that can identify certain WASP-linked short codes, long codes, and USSD strings. It also lists unsubscribe or block routes by network. (codes.waspa.org.za)

Escalation route

If the charge continues after cancellation, contact your network and ask for the service name, billing provider, activation date, cancellation status, and reference number. Be specific: say that you are disputing a direct carrier billing, WASP, premium content, or mobile billing subscription charge.

If the charge appears to be an unauthorised WASP service, use WASPA’s unwanted billing route. WASPA says that form is for users being charged for WASP services without permission, and that it will try to make sure the services being charged are cancelled. (WASPA) If the issue is spam or scam messaging rather than billing, WASPA says spam and scam reports should use the spam route, while unwanted charges should use the unwanted billing form. (WASPA)

Do not assume a refund is guaranteed. Treat a refund as a dispute outcome that depends on the network, billing provider, service records, and complaint process.

Common Problems and Fixes

The code does not work

A USSD code may fail because you are using the wrong network, the SIM is inactive, signal is poor, the menu has changed, the service is temporarily unavailable, or the subscription is managed through an app or self-service portal instead of USSD.

Retry safely:

Confirm that you are dialling from the SIM that is being billed.
Move to better signal.
Restart the phone.
Try the code once more.
If it still fails, use the network app, self-service portal, or official support route.

Do not keep buying airtime just to test a code if you do not recognise the service.

The menu says there are no subscriptions

If no WASP or content service is listed but airtime still disappears, check other causes. The deduction may be:

app-store mobile billing;
an out-of-bundle data charge;
a premium-rated SMS or short code;
a linked subscription on another SIM;
a recurring bundle;
roaming;
a contract value-added service;
a once-off purchase rather than a subscription.

Use cancel subscription USSD code South Africa if you need to compare cancellation routes, or app subscriptions using airtime if the charge looks app-related.

Mobile billing is not available as a payment option

Google’s troubleshooting notes say mobile phone billing may depend on the device, service plan, carrier support, account standing, dual-SIM setup, rooted-device status, and whether the carrier supports the type of purchase. (Google Help)

If mobile billing does not appear as an option, check:

whether your carrier supports mobile billing for that app store;
whether your account is in good standing;
whether the correct SIM is active;
whether your device is dual SIM;
whether spend limits or premium-service blocks are active;
whether the purchase type is allowed on mobile billing.

Airtime is still disappearing after cancellation

If charges continue after cancellation, do not start from scratch. Use your evidence trail. Check whether a different subscription is active, whether the service is managed through an app store, and whether the original cancellation actually produced a confirmation SMS.

Then contact the network and ask for a reference number. If the issue is a WASP charge without permission, use WASPA’s unwanted billing form. (WASPA)

A suspicious SMS says you must click a link

Do not click unknown links to “cancel” a subscription. Do not share PINs, OTPs, banking passwords, card details, ID documents, or app-store passwords through a link, WhatsApp chat, SMS reply, or call from someone claiming they need those details to stop billing.

Use the network’s official code, app, self-service portal, or support channel. If it is a suspicious WASP-related message, check the short code or report the issue through WASPA’s consumer help routes. (codes.waspa.org.za)

If the problem is not solved on this page, use the most relevant next guide:

stop WASP subscriptions — use this if airtime is disappearing and you suspect content-service or WASP billing.
Telkom subscription cancellation code — use this for Telkom Direct Carrier Billing, WASP, and content-service checks.
Vodacom subscription cancellation code — use this for Vodacom Add to Bill, V-Live, WASP, and content-service cancellation.
cancel subscription USSD code South Africa — use this for a broader network-by-network cancellation path.
app subscriptions using airtime — use this if the charge is linked to Google Play, Apple, Galaxy Store, Spotify, Showmax, games, streaming, or other app subscriptions.

FAQ

What is direct carrier billing South Africa?

Direct carrier billing South Africa is a mobile payment method where digital purchases or subscriptions are charged to a mobile number instead of a bank card. Depending on the account type, the charge may come off prepaid airtime, top-up airtime, or a contract bill. Telkom describes direct carrier billing as an online mobile payment method that lets purchases be charged to a mobile bill. (Telkom)

What is the code for direct carrier billing South Africa?

There is no single direct carrier billing South Africa code for every provider. Vodacom users can start with *135*997# for content services. MTN users can check *155# or *141*5# for WASP unsubscribe or block routes. Telkom users can use the Telkom Mobile App or Self-Service portal for content services, and WASPA lists 180 or *179*7867 for Telkom WASP checks. Cell C users can check *133*1#. (Vodacom)

How can users check whether direct carrier billing South Africa is active?

Check the billed SIM, the network content-service menu, the network app, and any app-store payment methods linked to the number. Also check Google Play, Apple, streaming, music, gaming, and cloud-storage subscriptions if the deduction looks like an app or digital-service charge.

Does this USSD code need airtime or data?

USSD is usually accessed from the phone dialler, not through mobile data, but do not assume that every code is free, active, or available on every SIM. Use the code from the SIM that is being billed. If the USSD route fails, use the provider app, self-service portal, or official support route.

What should users do if the code does not work?

Confirm that you are using the correct SIM and network, move to better signal, restart the phone, and retry once. If it still fails, do not keep retrying blindly. Use the network’s app, self-service portal, or official support route, then keep any reference number or confirmation message.

What should users do if airtime is still disappearing after cancellation?

Keep the cancellation confirmation, record each new deduction, check app-store subscriptions, check whether another service is active, and contact the network for the billing provider and service name. If the charge is an unauthorised WASP service, report it through WASPA’s unwanted billing route. (WASPA)

Can users block future content-service subscriptions?

Yes, where the network provides a blocking route. Vodacom says users can block future content-service purchases and subscriptions by dialling *135*997# and choosing the block option. WASPA also lists unsubscribe or block routes for Cell C, MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom users. (Vodacom)

Can users get a refund for unwanted subscription charges?

A refund is not guaranteed. First cancel or block the service, then collect evidence and dispute the charge through the network or billing provider. If it is a WASP charge that you did not authorise, use WASPA’s unwanted billing route. Avoid wording the dispute as a guaranteed refund request; ask for investigation, cancellation confirmation, and reversal consideration based on the billing records.

Where should users report suspicious subscription messages?

Report suspicious WASP spam or scam messages through the relevant WASPA route, and use the unwanted billing route if you are being charged. Never share PINs, OTPs, passwords, card details, ID documents, or banking login details through a link, SMS reply, WhatsApp message, or call from someone claiming they can cancel the subscription for you.