1.  Recharge issues:

• Beneficiary Reference (cell number & suffix):
  -“What will happen if I enter only my cell number as the Beneficiary Reference for my transaction to Vtime?”
  Your transaction will most likely fail and you will need to contact us via Vtime Support for assistance.  To ensure future successful transactions, please edit your Beneficiary Reference to reflect the cell number you want to recharge + the suffix that indicates your product choice: 0821234567AIR for airtime, 0821234567SDAT for Standard data or 0821234567ADAT for Advanced data.
  -”What will happen if I use the incorrect suffix in my Beneficiary Reference, for example 0821234567DAT instead of 0821234567SDAT?”
  Your transaction will fail and you will need to contact us via Vtime Support for assistance.
• EFT amount:
  -“I made an EFT for R110 and indicated via my Beneficiary Reference that I wanted Standard data (SDAT).  Why am I still waiting for my recharge?”
  Thank you for using the correct Beneficiary Reference.  However, your recharge failed, because R110 is not a valid Standard data bundle amount.  For future successful transactions, please EFT the specific amount of your chosen data bundle.  Follow this link to see the available data bundles:  http://www.Vtime.co.za/index.php/data-direct/about.  Please contact us via Vtime Support.  We can recharge your number with the nearest data bundle and you need to let us know whether you would like to have the airtime credit recharged to the same cell number, an alternative cell number or would you like us to refund the airtime credit?
• Data versus airtime:
  -“What if I wanted data and you recharged me with airtime?”
  If you used the correct Beneficiary Reference (0821234567SDAT or 0821234567ADAT) and you EFT’ed the specific amount of your chosen data bundle, Vtime will always recharge you with your chosen DATA bundle.  However, if you forgot to enter the suffix with your cell number and you recharged an amount that is not specific to a data bundle, our system will recharge you with airtime.  You will need to convert the airtime into data via conventional methods, otherwise your airtime will be used up at R2 per MB (out-of-bundle rate).
• Incorrect cell number:
  -“What will happen if I entered my cell number incorrectly by mistake when I registered Vtime as a beneficiary and then bought airtime from you?”
  Vtime will automatically attempt to recharge the cell number that you provided.  If this “incorrect” cell number actually exists and it is a Vodacom Prepaid number, some stranger will be happy and thankful for their mysterious recharge.  If the number could not be recharged (e.g. it was a Contract number or a number from another cellular network provider), Vtime will then be able to recharge your correct cell number once you contact us.
• Standard data versus Advanced data:
  -“In the past I have always recharged my modem SIM with Broadband Standard data bundles.  I see you also sell Broadband Advanced data bundles.  Can I switch over to Advanced data?”
  Yes and No.  If you are a Vodacom Prepaid client, you can recharge with Broadband Standard or Broadband Advanced data bundles, as it suits you.  However, if you have a Broadband Standard Top Up Contract, you will need to adapt your Top Up Contract with Vodacom to a Broadband Advanced Top Up Contract before you will be able to make the switch.  You can dial 155 (free of charge from a Vodacom phone) or visit you nearest Vodashop for more information in this regard.
  -”What is the difference between Standard and Advanced data?”
  Standard data is for general internet usage.  It has a slightly cheaper in-bundle rate, but the out-of-bundle rate for all Standard data packages is R2/MB.  Yet, at the moment Vodacom is running the Double-your-Prepaid-data promotion on the following Standard data bundles:  MyGig 1, MyGig 1.5, MyGig 2 and MyGig 2.5.  You can read more about Standard data at:  http://www.vtime.co.za/index.php/data-direct/broadband-standard
  Advanced data is for people who use the internet a lot.  It is faster data (if you are near the right tower and you have the right modem) and its biggest advantage is that the in- and out-of-bundle rates are the same.  Yet, the in-bundle rates are slightly more expensive than Standard data’s rates.  You can read more about Advanced data at:  http://www.vtime.co.za/index.php/data-direct/broadband-advanced
• Using airtime as data:
  -”I loaded R600 on my Prepaid modem and it was gone within three days!  What happened?”
  When you load money onto your Prepaid modem SIM, it is considered to be Rands or airtime.  When you start using data, you are using up your airtime with the Prepaid out-of-bundle rate, which is R2/MB!  No wonder your money disappeared!  You were only able to use 300MB of data before your airtime ran out. You need to buy a suitable data bundle in future.  The Prepaid in-bundle-rates are much cheaper, e.g. a MyGig 2.5 Standard bundle would have cost you only R429.

2.  Validity rules:

• Prepaid data:
  -“I have recharged my modem with a Vodacom Prepaid data bundle.  When will it expire?”
  The rule with regards to Prepaid data bundles is:  the bundle is valid from the day that you purchased it until the last day of the next month.  Several websites and articles promise the bundles to be valid for 60 days.  This is not true, unless you recharge on the first day of the month (then the bundle will be valid until the last day of the next month, i.e. for two full months).  Yet, if you buy your data bundle at the end of your current month, it will still only be valid until the last day of the next month, i.e. for just more than one month.
• SIM card:
  -“I use my laptop to access the internet from time to time. What is the window period between recharges before the SIM card in my modem will lapse?”
  Vodacom will notify you before they de-activate your SIM – probably with an SMS to that SIM.  The rule is to have some activity on your SIM before 215 days elapse.  This activity may include a phone call (i.e. taking the SIM out of the modem, putting it into a handset and making a call), sending an SMS (your modem software will allow you to send an SMS) or any internet activity – this includes any time you go online and also when you buy Prepaid data bundles directly and pinless from Vtime!  So, as long as your activity is not more than 215 days apart, your SIM will remain active.

3.  Balances:

• -“Where can I see how much data/airtime I have used and what my balance is?”
  There are various ways to check your balance and you can select the method that suits your lifestyle or needs best.  You can dial *111# from your handset, click on the “Check balance” icon on your Vodafone Mobile Connect software, register and log into the “My Account” section on www.vodacom.co.za or call Vodacom Customer Care (082 111) or Vodacom Broadband Support (082 155).

  To check your usage and balance (data or airtime) on www.vodacom.co.za, follow these steps:

  • Go to www.vodacom.co.za;
  • Click on “View monthly statement” (under the “My Account” heading);
  • If you have not registered for this service previously, click on “Register”;
  • If you were previously registered on vodacom4me, your login credentials would have carried over to the new Vodacom site.  If you were previously registered on Vodacom’s new site (beta.vodacom.co.za) before the launch, you will use your new login credentials.  Enter your SIM number and password;
  • See your balances and manage your account.

4.  Payment methods:

• “Can I recharge my prepaid airtime from my cellphone?”
  Yes.  If your cellphone is internet compatible, just register Vtime as a permanent beneficiary on your internet banking and recharge via EFT on the go!
• “Can I recharge my prepaid airtime via cellphone banking?”
  Yes.  But please keep in mind that some SA banks will not let you do the initial “beneficiary registration” from your cellphone banking.  If this is the case, make use of internet banking to register Vtime as a new beneficiary.  Then you can make use of cellphone banking to recharge with Vtime.  Keep in mind that cellphone banking might take a few minutes longer to reflect in Vtime’s account and therefore your recharge might also take a few minutes longer.
• “Does Vtime accept credit card payments to recharge prepaid airtime?”
  No.  However, you can make an EFT from your credit card or current or savings account to Vtime via your normal internet banking.
• “Does Vtime accept cash deposits to recharge prepaid airtime?”
  No, due to the transaction cost involved Vtime cannot accept a cash deposit.