If you want a WASP refund South Africa route because airtime was deducted for a content service you did not recognise, start by stopping the active billing first. There is no single verified USSD code that refunds WASP charges across Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom. The practical route is to check your active content services, cancel or block them, keep proof of the deductions, and then dispute the content service charges with your network or WASPA.
Last checked: 26 June 2026
Quick Code/Menu Answer
A WASP refund is not the same as cancelling a subscription. Cancelling or blocking stops future content-service billing; a refund or reversal normally needs a dispute, investigation or complaint.
| Need | Route to try first | What it helps with |
|---|---|---|
| Check what is billing you | Use your network’s content-services menu or app | Identifies whether the charge is a WASP, data, premium SMS or something else |
| Stop active WASP billing | Cancel the subscription through your network menu | Helps stop future deductions |
| Block future content services | Use the network block option where available | Helps prevent new content-service billing |
| Dispute content service charges | Contact your network and keep a reference number | Starts a billing investigation |
| Report unwanted WASP billing | Use WASPA’s unwanted billing process | WASPA says this is for WASP services charged without permission and that it will try to make sure those services are cancelled (WASPA) |
| Escalate a possible Code breach | Lodge a WASPA complaint | WASPA says the complaints form is for cases where a WASPA member may have breached the Code of Conduct (WASPA) |
WASPA advises users with disappearing airtime to first establish what is causing the problem, because deductions may come from data charges, WASP subscriptions, premium-rated SMS, airtime transfers or some USSD services rather than from one single cause (WASPA). This is why a refund request should be backed by evidence instead of only saying “my airtime disappeared”.
Provider-by-Provider Options
Use the option that matches the SIM where the airtime was deducted. Codes and menus can change, so check the latest network menu before publishing or retrying.
| Provider | Check, cancel or block option | Dispute route |
|---|---|---|
| Vodacom | Vodacom says users can dial *135*997# to view, block or cancel content services. Reply 1 to view current content services, reply 3 to block future content-services purchases and subscriptions, or reply 2 to stop all content services (Vodacom). | Ask Vodacom to review the content-service charge, confirm the provider name, confirm the subscription date, and give you a reference number. |
| MTN | WASPA lists *141*5# for checking or managing MTN content services and *155# for blocking premium-rated service charges or stopping third-party messages (WASPA). MTN’s own help result also says subscriptions can be viewed and cancelled by dialling *155# (MTN). | Ask MTN for the content provider name, shortcode, dates billed, total amount and opt-in record. |
| Cell C | WASPA lists *133*1# as the Cell C route to block existing and future content billing (WASPA). | Ask Cell C to confirm whether the charge is WASP billing, premium SMS, data, or another charge. |
| Telkom | Telkom says content services can be managed through the Telkom Mobile App or Self-Service portal by selecting the product, mobile number, subscription and content services (Telkom). WASPA also lists the Telkom app “Protect Your Mobile Number” route and says users can dial 180 and follow the prompts (WASPA). | Ask Telkom to confirm the subscription record and whether the billing can be investigated. |
| WASPA | Use the unwanted billing form if you believe you are being charged for WASP services without permission. WASPA says this route is for unwanted WASP billing, while spam and formal Code complaints use separate forms (WASPA). | Use WASPA when the issue appears to involve a WASPA member or when the network cannot resolve the unwanted WASP billing. |
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Check network/account status
Before disputing a WASP charge, check which SIM was billed and whether the deduction was actually a content-service charge. This matters because airtime can disappear for several reasons, including out-of-bundle data, app background data, premium-rated SMS, airtime transfers, recurring services or WASP subscriptions.
Keep these details:
- The affected mobile number.
- The network: Vodacom, MTN, Cell C or Telkom.
- Whether the SIM is prepaid, top-up or contract.
- The date and time of each deduction.
- The amount deducted.
- Screenshots of airtime before and after the deduction.
- Any SMS that says “welcome”, “reminder”, “subscription”, “content service”, “STOP”, “unsubscribe” or “billing”.
- The shortcode, sender name, content provider name or service name if shown.
- Any cancellation SMS or reference number.
WASPA specifically tells users to check SMS history for welcome or reminder messages and to ask the mobile operator what services are being charged, whether they are WASP services, and whether the operator can cancel the subscription services (WASPA).
2. Cancel the active content service
Do not wait for the refund investigation before stopping the billing. Cancel the service first, then dispute the charges.
On Vodacom, dial *135*997#, view current content services, cancel the listed service or use the stop-all option. Vodacom says users receive SMS confirmation after selected services are cancelled and no longer billed (Vodacom).
On MTN, use the content-services or premium-rated-services menu listed by WASPA. Start with *141*5# to check or manage content services, and use *155# where you need to block premium-rated service charges or stop third-party messages (WASPA).
On Cell C, WASPA lists *133*1# for blocking existing and future content billing (WASPA).
On Telkom, use the Telkom Mobile App or Self-Service portal to manage subscriptions and content services, or use the Telkom app route listed by WASPA to protect your mobile number (Telkom).
3. Block future content-service subscriptions
After cancelling the active service, use the block option if your network provides one. Blocking helps reduce the chance of another content service being added later.
For Vodacom, the block option is built into *135*997#; Vodacom says users can reply 3 to block the number from future content-services purchases and subscriptions (Vodacom). For MTN, Cell C and Telkom, use the relevant options listed in the provider table above and confirm the block message before assuming the account is protected.
4. Dispute content service charges
Once you have cancelled and blocked where possible, contact the network and say:
“I want to dispute content service charges on this number. Please confirm the service name, provider, shortcode, date subscribed, billing dates, total amount charged, cancellation status, and whether a refund review can be opened.”
Ask for:
- A complaint or case reference number.
- The provider or WASP name.
- The opt-in or subscription record.
- The total amount billed.
- The date and time the subscription started.
- The date and time it was cancelled.
- Written confirmation of the outcome.
Do not accept a vague answer such as “it was a third-party subscription” without asking for the provider name and the billing record. If the network cannot identify the charge, keep that response as evidence.
5. Use the WASPA unwanted billing route
Use WASPA’s unwanted billing route if you believe you are being charged for WASP services without permission. WASPA says the unwanted billing form is for unwanted WASP billing and that it can only assist with charges from services offered by WASPA members; more general billing issues must be taken up with the service provider (WASPA).
Use the formal WASPA complaints route if you believe a WASPA member breached the Code of Conduct. WASPA explains that complaints can go through informal resolution or formal review, and that serious or wider-impact matters may be assessed by an independent adjudicator (WASPA).
Common Problems and Fixes
The code does not work
Check the SIM network first. A Vodacom code will not work on an MTN, Cell C or Telkom SIM. If you use a dual-SIM phone, make sure the USSD request is sent from the SIM where the airtime was deducted.
If the code still fails, try the network app or official support route. USSD menus can change, and some account types may not show the same menu options.
The menu says there are no active services
This can happen if the charge was not a WASP subscription. It may be data usage, premium SMS, a once-off content purchase, a bundle renewal, an airtime advance repayment, roaming, or another service. WASPA’s disappearing-airtime guidance specifically lists several possible causes, not only WASP subscriptions (WASPA).
Use why is my airtime disappearing if the deduction continues after checking WASP services.
Airtime is still disappearing after cancellation
Cancel again only if the menu still shows an active service. If the service is no longer listed, check data, bundle renewals, premium SMS, app-store billing and other recurring charges. Keep screenshots of the “no active subscriptions” result because it helps separate WASP billing from other airtime loss.
The network says the subscription was valid
Ask for proof of opt-in. The WASPA Code says a customer must not be subscribed to a subscription or notification service without completing a confirmation step, and the confirmation step must require an explicit response from the customer (WASPA).
Also ask for the welcome message, reminder message, pricing information, customer support details and termination instructions. The Code requires subscription services to keep records of service initiation and subsequent interactions and make those records available to the customer on request (WASPA).
The service was cancelled but no refund was given
Cancellation is not a refund guarantee. It usually stops future billing. A refund depends on the facts of the dispute, the provider’s records and whether the charge breached the applicable rules.
A refund may be ordered where a WASPA complaint succeeds. WASPA’s Code lists possible sanctions for a member found in breach, including requiring the member to remedy the breach, including ordering a refund (WASPA). The Code also says that if a member becomes aware that customers were billed or joined to a service as a result of fraudulent activity, the member must remove affected customers and refund resulting charges (WASPA).
You sent STOP but billing continued
Keep the STOP message and the time you sent it. WASPA’s Code says a working termination facility must be available, termination instructions must be clear, and automated termination requests submitted by SMS, USSD or the WASPA API must be honoured within 24 hours (WASPA).
The Code also says that if technically feasible, a customer should be able to terminate a subscription or notification service by replying “STOP” to an SMS or RCS message about the service, including welcome and reminder messages (WASPA).
You received a suspicious subscription SMS
Do not click unknown links or share private information. Never send your banking PIN, OTP, app password, card details, ID document, SIM-swap information or account login details to a sender you do not trust.
If the issue is unwanted billing, use the unwanted billing route. If it is spam or a scam-like message, WASPA says spam/scam reporting is a separate route and unwanted WASP charges should instead use the unwanted billing form (WASPA).
The network cannot help
If the problem is content services billing, SMS spamming or wireless application services, ICASA says those complaints should be directed to WASPA (ICASA). For ordinary telecoms-provider complaints, ICASA says users must first complain to the provider, get a reference number and allow 14 working days before referring an unresolved complaint to ICASA (ICASA).
Related Airtime and Data Guides
Use these guides next if your problem is not solved by cancelling and disputing the WASP charge:
- Report WASP subscription — use this when you need to report an active or suspicious WASP subscription.
- Why is my airtime disappearing — use this when airtime keeps dropping after you have cancelled content services.
- Stop WASP subscriptions — use this when your main goal is to cancel or block future content-service billing.
FAQ
What is the code for WASP refund South Africa?
There is no single verified code for a WASP refund South Africa. Use your network’s content-service menu to cancel or block the service first, then dispute the charges with the network or WASPA. Vodacom lists *135*997# for viewing, blocking and cancelling content services, while WASPA lists separate MTN, Cell C and Telkom routes for managing or blocking content billing (Vodacom).
How can users check whether WASP refund South Africa is active?
Use your dispute reference number. A cancellation SMS only confirms that billing should stop; it does not confirm that a refund has been approved. Ask your network or WASPA for the status of the investigation, the total disputed amount and the expected outcome route.
Does this USSD code need airtime or data?
USSD does not normally use mobile data, but do not assume every action is free on every SIM. The WASPA Code says a member may not charge a fee for receiving a subscription or notification service termination request, but network fees may still apply (WASPA).
What should users do if the code does not work?
Check that the code matches the SIM network. Then try the official network app, customer-care route or WASPA unwanted billing route. Save screenshots of failed menu attempts, because unsuccessful cancellation attempts can help support a dispute.
What should users do if airtime is still disappearing after cancellation?
Check whether another content service is active, whether future content billing is blocked, and whether the deduction is actually from data, premium SMS, recurring bundles, app billing, roaming or another charge. Use why is my airtime disappearing for the wider troubleshooting path.
Can users block future content-service subscriptions?
Yes, the major networks provide ways to manage or block content-service billing. Vodacom lists a block option through *135*997#, and WASPA lists network routes for MTN, Cell C and Telkom content-service management or blocking (Vodacom).
Can users get a refund for unwanted subscription charges?
A refund may be possible, but it is not automatic. WASPA’s Code allows an adjudicator to require a member to remedy a breach, including ordering a refund, and it also requires refunds where customers were billed or joined to a service because of fraudulent activity (WASPA).
Where should users report suspicious subscription messages?
Report unwanted WASP billing through the unwanted billing route. Report spam or scam-like commercial messages through the spam/scam route. Do not share PINs, OTPs, passwords, ID documents, card details or SIM-swap information with an unknown sender.