Skip to main content

How Kenyan mobile users are "accidentally" charged for services they didn't buy

Texts showing unsusbcription
from RoamTech's 2254 and
refund of deducted airtime.
RoamTech has subscribed
StartTimes clients to other
billable services.
Last time, I told you guys about how some fishy company was deducting my Safaricom airtime, silently.

Well, I found the chaps, and found that I wasn't the only one affected by this scam. If you ever owned a StarTimes decoder, and used the *850# , well, guess what, your airtime might be disappearing to some company known as RoamTech. To be clear, StarTimes here might have nothing to do with this, since RoamTech was just their supplier, providing them with the *850# service. The use of the numbers using the service for other purposes might not have been passed through them.

Located at the 1st floor of Mayfair Business Centre, just behind Mayfair Restaurant and Casino in WestLands. I then demanded an explanation as to why the chaps have been deducting robbing me of deducting my airtime.

Well, the company was migrating to a new system, and in the process, conveniently mixed up their databases, and ended up having the wrong subscribers on the database which is charged KSh. 30 to receive ringtones and other stuff.

They duly refunded the KSh. 120 that they had robbed deducted from my account.

Now, in the last episode of the saga, Safaricom customer care staff had informed me that all they could do is unsubscribe me from the 22554 content - to get a refund, I had to contact the PRSP, who were not picking up calls.

Some caring person from Safaricom later explained that Safaricom, and the rest - Orange, Airtel and Yu -  are required by the Communications Commission of Kenya (Serikali) to charge subscribers on behalf of PRSPs, who have a legal contract to take your money.

Customer care and other Safaricom staff had also told me that I must have subscribed to the PRSPs services, one way or another - maybe by clicking some advert on the Internet and giving my number.

Nope - as I came to find out later, those short codes, *somenumber# are provided by some PRSPs. PRSPs are also notorious for "mixing up their databases" , much in the same way a bartender would mix cocktails, with the result being that people who were using some service end up being  billed for a new service.

Eg, You may have taken part in "Shinda Smart 6969", with your taking part coming to an end when the competition closed. However, the guy running the competition will "accidentally" subscribe to some ringtone service, which all these guys have.

PRSPs exploit Safaricom's new system 

 Now, there's something that Safaricom don't want to say.
Cheeky Safaricom won't admit someone
took them for a ride

The company came up with a new system, to which they migrated all those on some PRSP service to. To do this, they asked PRSPs to forward the phone numbers they were billing for some services.

PRSPs then did some mixology and forwarded all phone numbers they had, including those not being billed for any services. The migration was done in phases over the last three months to June. That explains why a number of people started receiving Spam SMS out of the blue, say, asking them to buy some ringtone or MP3.

Those receiving the services were being billed. Investigation reveal that Safaricom came to discover later that the PRSPs had played some nice trick on them when suddenly, there were many people complaining. I gather they noticed this after my complaint, and that now clients are being told that investigations and reversals will be done, without them asking them to contact the company like in my case. Not sure of that though.

That explains how Roamtech started billing me, and many others.

Checking if subscribed and what to do

You can check if you are subscribed to any such services by dialling *100*7*1# on Safaricom.

Safaricom Director of Legal Affairs, Nzioka Waita, says that the firm has blacklisted a good number of PRSPs who have been misbehaving.

We can only hope that CCK will come up with guidelines to stop PRSPs "accidentally" mixing up stuff.

Oh, and by the way, you can report any communication provider you feel is not living up to their bargain to CCK on the below contacts


Tel: +254-20-4242555 / 4455555

Mobile: +254-703-042555 / 714-444555

Email: chukuahatua@cck.go.ke

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Best mid-budget tyres in Kenya 2025

It is often said that tyres are the only thing keeping you in contact with the ground, and therefore safety is essential here. If we all could afford, we could purchase the best set of Michelin that money can buy and there would be no need to discuss options.  But wishes are simply that.
Post a Comment
Read more

Beers in Kenya: A sober opinion

Note: This is a dated post and has since been mostly passed by events. SAB Miller beers including Castle and Peroni are no longer widely available in Kenya after their exist. Sirville Brewery was bought out by Brew Bistro before being permanently shut in a tax dispute. Kenya is a land of milk, honey, beaches and taxes. I have penned, or is typed, a newer post here .  Peroni - One of the best beers in Kenya. Did a taste of canned and bottled Italian, and bottled Tanzanian I like the tangy flavour and body in Tanzanian Peroni. The can is close. Heineken drinkers will like the Italian one.  I have had a short beer swigging stint in my life. It has however been long enough for me to share my opinion of Kenyan beer. Interestingly, over the course of sharing such opinions with other drunkards connoisseurs,  I have found that we all have different views as to what beer is the best, which one makes you too drunk, or which one gives one free, extra hangover for every ha...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Make Your Own Sparkling Water

Buying your own kit means you need to carbonate it in a fridge or freezer since Carbon Dioxide best dissolves at temperatures around zero.  I have been making my own sparkling water for about a month now.  It started with a love for carbonated water, but being appalled by the price - about KSh. 80 per 700 ml recyclable glass bottle. Sparkling water is sold as a premium drink.  This got me researching into what it really takes to make your own sparkling water. 
Post a Comment
Read more

Kenyan Beers and Craft Beer Reviews for 2025

It's 2025, and you asked for yet another Kenyan beer review. Let's cut straight to the chase - we keep the many stories for once we are drunk. Right? This year we categorize the beers according to breweries.  Bila Shaka / Bateleur  Flagship is Bila Shaka which is a rich flavoured but bitter IPA with 6% volume.  They focus more on quality and experimenting.  Home to many pleasantly (sweet per 2 people. I agree) favoured beers like Dire Straits, and for the ladies who love it a lot on the sweeter side, there's Honey Badger. These come in at about 5% or so. Jua Kali isn't as sweet as the above and is a mixed rice and barley beer, for some reason popular in the hot coast. Capitan is their bar beer and is a light-ish, pleasant beer at 4% volume and a good time passer when you're there for a long and good night and have things to do the next day. My favourite local brewer and highly recommended, especially Dire Straits. It's a medium beer, don...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Drive from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda to Namibia (or South Africa)

  What You Need COMESA Yellow Sticker (Tanzania and Zambia third party insurance. Botswana may require local bond. Namibia doesn’t require insurance) Logbook Processing with KRA Copies of your logbook for temporary import permits in other countries Passport Yellow fever vaccination proof. COVID vaccination proof may be required Warning triangles and 1 litre fire extinguisher Border Crossing Checklist Key: Required items are indicated in brackets next to each country's title  YS – COMESA Yellow Sticker, P – Passport TIPi – Temporary Import Permit entry TIPo – Temporary Import Permit exit LB – Log book LBc – Log book copy Recommended Extras  1 extra full size spare, 2 if your tyres are more than 75% worn Tow strap Tyre Pressure gauge and pressure pump. Enough rest every day. It’s a perseverance marathon, not an exhaustion sprint What you need to know  Seasons - Tanzania largely has same seasons as Kenya besides the cold July-August season....
Post a Comment
Read more