DO-NOT-DISTURB (DND) POLICY BY MTN
The new DO-NOT-DISTURB policy by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) was activated by MTN recently on there network.
The policy was meant to restrict GSM operators NOT to send unsolicited messages to subscribers due to high volume of unwanted and unsolicited messages been sent to subscribers by the operators. These messages were of different flavors, from request to download, to subscription to unwanted services and other messages to take part in competition or lottery.
Ordinarily the policy is harmless, but the way MTN implemented it has turned the whole idea into a nightmare to other service providers in the mobile communication industry.
The implementation of the DO-NOT-DISTURB policy is suppose to be simple and optional, subscribers are suppose to send USSD code to OPT IN to this policy before it is activated on their line, but MTN in their implementation automatically add subscribers who had at one time or the other registered a complaint with their customer service regarding unwanted messages. This action lead to many subscribers forced not to receive SMS messages even from where they have legitimately subscribed to receive messages including banking alerts and financial related messages.
We believe this is not fair, and in a way, MTN has deliberately turned this good policy by NCC into another money making opportunity where they charged the SMS operators for messages that were not delivered. Then also create alternative route that would allow messages to be delivered to subscribers irrespective of their DND status at a premium price that is highly exploitative and unreasonable.
Ideally, the choice to opt in should be made by subscribers, for instance, if a subscriber does not want to receive unwanted messages, the subscriber is expected to send ‘STOP’ to 2442 for MTN to activate the service and that subscriber will no longer receive messages that is not directly from other GSM operators, and whenever there is a change of mind for this subscriber, then it is simply to send ‘ALLOW’ to 2442 and messages would be delivered to them.
However, this instruction did not work for some subscribers that were already placed in the DND category. When these subscribers send ‘ALLOW’ to 2442 the response they usually get is that they are not subscribed to the DO-NOT-DISTURB service and yet they don’t receive messages. Repeated sent ‘ALLOW’ to 2442 will continue to get the same response because the restriction is network induced.
Any subscriber that is in this category of users need to reset the status and start all over to clear up the system, please follow the steps below;
How to resolve messed up DND service (MTN Subscribers ONLY).
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Step 1. Send ‘STOP’ to 2442, wait for the response from the GSM network, waiting for instruction is very important.
In this case you have activated the DO –NOT- DISTURB service on your phone line.
Step 2. Send ‘ALLOW’ to 2442 and wait for the response.
Once you get the second response, your MTN line is ready to receive messages.
There are other options available to streamline the DND operations as well, to restrict some particular types of messages and allow some types of messages, please follow the steps as described below;
How to activate DND
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A customer will be able to perform the following DND activities via SMS
• View Status
• Activate full blocking
• Activate partial blocking
• Opt out of DND
Simply text HELP to the short code 2442 to find out more
How to manage DND Oreferences
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The following SMS keywords can be used to set your DND preference.
STOP: To stop all SMS and IVR messages
ALLOW: To receive all SMS and IVR messages
SMS 1: To receive Banking / Insurance/ Financial Products SMS
SMS 2: To receive Real Estate SMS and IVR messages
SMS 3: To receive Education SMS and IVR messages
SMS 4: To receive Health SMS and IVR messages
SMS 5: To receive Consumer goods & Automobiles SMS and IVR messages
SMS6: To receive Communication/Broadcasting/Entertainment/IT SMS and IVR messages
SMS 7: To receive Tourism & Leisure SMS and IVR messages
SMS 8: To receive Sport SMS and IVR messages
SMS 9: To receive Religion SMS and IVR messages
STATUS: To check your DND status
How to Deactivate DND
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To opt out of the service, you will need to text the word “ALLOW” to the short code 2442. To opt-out is free.
How to check status
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To check status, you will need to text the key word STATUS to 2442
