Airtel and MTN must provide account holders with advice on how to reactivate their accounts one month before their accounts become inactive.
Since its inception, Mobile Money Accounts have been the foundation of the informal sector. They have assisted in bridging the gap between the banked and unbanked sectors in all of Sub-Saharan Africa, and their prospects continue to expand each year.
In this article, we explain what happens to inactive mobile money accounts. Where do the funds go, and how long does it take for a dormant account to become active again?
How long will your mobile money accounts remain inactive?
If an MTN mobile money account is inactive for nine months, it is considered dormant and you must visit the mobile money centre to reactivate the account. You can also get in touch with the customer care team and they will guide you through the account reactivation process.
Once an Airtel Money account has been inactive for one year, according to Airtel Money customer support, it is disconnected and you must visit one of their service centres to reinstate it.
Mobile money providers like Airtel and MTN must notify account holders one month before their accounts become inactive and provide them with advice on how to reactivate them.
After declaring a mobile money account inactive, the telecommunications company has six additional months to cancel the account, which provides a customer with a total of 15 months to terminate their mobile money accounts.
Remember that your mobile number can remain active even after 15 months of inactivity on your mobile money account.
Mobile money services are a separate entity from Calling, SMS, and data services.
According to the 2020 National Payments Systems Act, after 15 months of inactivity, telecoms are required to transfer money from inactive mobile money accounts to the central bank.
The central bank then holds the funds for seven years in anticipation of any claims from the mobile money account user. If no claims are made within seven years, the money is transferred to the government’s consolidated funds.
Inactive Mobile Money Accounts: Withdrawing Funds
There are two instances in which inactive mobile money accounts can be used to withdraw funds. You are either claiming money from your own account or from the account of a deceased or long-incarcerated family member.
Regarding your reason, here are the actions and paperwork required to continue with the process.
- Legal Documents, such as Letters of Administration, are required to validate your obligation if you are claiming funds on behalf of a deceased family member or relative. If you are claiming funds for yourself, you must provide your National Identification Number associated with the mobile money account.
- To claim the money, visit the nearest MTN or Airtel service facility. The support centre operators will offer you information regarding the next steps. They will contact you after your claims are authorised and inform you how long the approval process will take.
- In the event that the telecommunications company has not provided you with enough instructions or you feel that your matter has not been adequately resolved, you can petition the Bank of Uganda, to follow up.
