Quick Answer
The Telkom please call me code is *140*RecipientNumber#. Open your phone’s dialer, type *140*, add the recipient’s 10-digit South African mobile number, finish with # and press call. A completed dial looks like *140*0812345678#. Telkom customers search for this as a please call me and as a call back: both names describe the same free USSD request, and the same Telkom call back code sends it.
Last Verified: July 2026 | Cost: R0.00 (Free) | Daily Limit: ~5 requests per SIM
What a Telkom Please Call Me Is and Who Can Send One
A please call me is a short SMS that Telkom delivers on your behalf, asking someone to phone you back. It costs nothing, it does not need airtime, and it does not need data. Because the message arrives as a callback request, people look it up under several names: please call me Telkom, callback Telkom, please call Telkom, and call back for Telkom all describe the same thing. Whichever phrase you used to get here, it points at one USSD feature offered to Telkom Mobile customers in South Africa, and one code sends it.
- Eligible Account Types: All active Telkom Mobile Prepaid, TopUp, and Hybrid/Postpaid SIM cards.
- Minimum Balance: R0.00. The request works even with zero airtime and zero data balance.
- Recipient Eligibility: Works across all South African mobile networks, including Telkom Mobile, Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, and local MVNOs.
- Exclusions: Telkom landlines, fixed-LTE home routers without voice/USSD dialer capability, and suspended or un-RICA’d SIM cards cannot send or receive these USSD requests.
How to Send a Please Call Me on Telkom
Before You Start
- On a dual-SIM handset, confirm the Telkom Mobile SIM sits in the slot your dialer uses by default.
- Check that you have GSM or LTE signal on the Telkom Mobile network. USSD will not run without it.
- Have the recipient’s full 10-digit mobile number ready, starting with
0, for example081...,072...or083....
Step by Step: How to Send a Call Back on Telkom
- Open the Phone App: Launch the standard dialer or keypad screen.
- Enter the String: Type
*140*, then the recipient’s cellphone number, then#, with no spaces anywhere in the string.- Example Format:
*140*0811234567#
- Example Format:
- Press Call: Tap the green Call or Send button, choosing the Telkom SIM on a dual-SIM device.
- View Response: Wait 1 to 3 seconds for the USSD pop-up to appear on screen.
What You Should See
- Screen Notice: A brief USSD prompt reading “Please Call Me sent to [Number]”.
- Recipient Notification: The other person receives an SMS reading “Please call me from [Your Telkom Mobile Number]”.
- Balance Display: No airtime is deducted and your balance is unchanged.
If what you actually need is airtime rather than a callback, the Telkom Airtime Advance USSD Code guide explains whether your line qualifies to borrow credit.
Fees, Limits, Eligibility, and Processing Times
| Parameter | Details |
| Service Fee | R0.00 (Free to send and free to receive) |
| Daily Allocation | ~5 free requests per 24-hour cycle (Resets at midnight) |
| Processing Time | Instant (USSD execution time: 1–5 seconds) |
| Recipient Compatibility | Telkom Mobile, Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, and SA MVNOs |
| Account Requirement | Active Telkom SIM registered via RICA |
Telkom Call Back Problems and How to Fix Them
Code, Session, SIM, or Account Errors
- “Limit Reached”: You have spent the day’s free callback requests. The counter resets at midnight.
- “Connection Problem or Invalid MMI Code”:
- Re-read the string for typos. Nothing may sit between
*140*and the cellphone number, including spaces. - Make sure you dialed
*140*and not a rival network’s prefix, such as MTN’s*121*or Cell C’s*111*.
- Re-read the string for typos. Nothing may sit between
- Dual-SIM Misroute: Confirm the handset is routing the USSD dial through the Telkom SIM rather than a second SIM.
- Unsure of your own Telkom number? Dial the USSD Code To Check Telkom Number (
*1#) before you ask anyone to call you back.
When the Service Has Changed or Is Unavailable
- Network Congestion: If the screen times out, switching Airplane Mode on and off re-registers the handset on the Telkom tower.
- Unregistered SIM: A line barred for outstanding RICA verification cannot execute USSD at all.
- Other Telkom Services: The hub for Mobile Network USSD Codes covers the rest of the range, and data access is configured through the Telkom Internet Settings USSD Code.
Official Alternatives
If the *140* shortcode will not run, these official Telkom channels do the same job:
- Telkom Master Menu (
*180#): Dial*180#for the main Telkom Mobile self-service menu. - MyTelkom App: Available from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Huawei AppGallery for balances and account management.
- WhatsApp Self-Service: Message Telkom customer care on
081 160 1700. - Telkom Customer Support: Call
081 180free from a Telkom line, or081 160 1820for mobile support. - Subscription Checks: If airtime keeps vanishing after a top-up, work through How To Check Subscriptions On Telkom Mobile USSD Code.
Safety and Privacy
- Never Share Credentials: Telkom will never ask for your SIM PIN, account password, banking PIN or a One-Time PIN to process a callback request.
- Treat Unexpected Requests With Care: A please call me from an unknown or international number, pushing you to dial a premium-rate line, is a common scam pattern.
- Lost or Stolen SIM: Phone Telkom support on
081 180straight away to block the SIM and protect the account.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Telkom please call me code?
The verified code is *140*RecipientNumber#, dialed straight from your phone’s keypad.
How do I do a call back on Telkom?
Dial *140*, the recipient’s number, then #, and press call. Telkom’s call back and please call me are the same service, so there is no separate Telkom callback code to remember.
How do I send a please call me from Telkom to another network?
Exactly the same way. Telkom delivers please call me requests to subscribers on Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom and South African MVNOs.
What number format should be entered?
The full 10-digit South African mobile number starting with 0, as in *140*0812345678#. Do not use spaces, the +27 country code, or dashes.
How many Telkom call back requests can I send per day?
Telkom Mobile allows roughly 5 free requests per SIM card in any 24-hour period, and the allowance resets at midnight.
What should I do if the Telkom USSD route does not work?
Check that you have signal and that the SIM is active, then try Telkom’s self-service menu on *180# or message customer care on WhatsApp at 081 160 1700.
