When the social media tax, now popularly known as OTT tax, was introduced in July 2018, MTN customers would use the USSD Code, *165*2*5#, to find the different denominations of the tax (daily, weekly, monthly etc.)
But this has changed.
In November 2018, MTN introduced a new set of bundles which allow you to buy OTT tax and internet bundles in the same package.
For instance, when you pay Shs750 to MTN, you are given 50MB that is valid for 24 hours and its inclusive of the OTT tax for that day.
While this is a good initiative i.e. it saves one the time of having to subscribe for data and OTT separately, it has also led to changes in the arrangement of options for paying for MTN services.
New way to buy OTT tax on MTN
In the new changes, the option for buying only OTT Tax has been moved.
If you want to buy OTT tax on MTN without going through all the steps, you will dial *150*3#.
Or you will dial *155*2#, then select option 6 (Pay OTT tax).
Confusion
In the new menu for buying MTN services, the package of Internet bundles with OTT appears as number 4. So, with the option of paying for only OTT Tax appearing on the next page, some people thought MTN had removed the ‘Pay OTT Tax’ only option.
One of the MTN customers recently took his discontent with the new MTN arrangement to social media, calling for UCC’s intervention.
All this is to distract you from the fact that MTN is bundling OTT to their data bundle offers with no option for people paying for OTT without buying the forced bundles .
By copy; @UCC_Official @FrankTumwebazek— Chaos Theory (@Samwyri) February 9, 2019
I am meant to understand that is not shown on the main menu for MM payments.
— Chaos Theory (@Samwyri) February 9, 2019
Hi Sam there are options just in case you want to pay your OTT separately. pic.twitter.com/ZvzMY6PUWH
— Mark Keith Muhumuza (@mumakeith) February 9, 2019
We were not able to independently confirm why MTN made the changes in the Menu, but the most viable reason appears to be wanting to promote the OTT data packs.
However, for those using the MTN application, the process hasn’t changed.
When you open the app, go to MySelfService and then choose pay ott tax & it'll take you to the payment option…. pic.twitter.com/C6D1nZZt4d
— Dennis R. Tusiime (@drwatooro) February 9, 2019
Related:
Minister Tumwebaze: We’re going to assess impact of social media tax
Tumwebaze: Government won’t police social media
