What's up with forced Pulsa?

[Shadrach]

I went today to Mandiri to change my livin with Mandiri password, because when I tried to do it online, it said they would send an 8 digit OTP as an SMS to my tel. Number. I tried and tried again, and they never sent it. When I went to the bank, the woman at the desk said My tel. number was closed. I had no idea, because I've been using WiFi for 15 months and have been able to call everyone on What'sApp, and pay for BPJS every month. Via WiFi. This time I might have put in the wrong password, so Mandiri wouldn't help me get the password. The woman at the desk said my Telekomsel account was closed because I haven't been buying Pulsa. I didn't know because I don't call with Pulsa, I useWhatsApp. At Telekomsel a woman told me my number is deleted because I haven't bought Pulsa every month.
I thought this is a huge Scam from them because I don't use Pulsa. And feel it's not right, to being forced to buy it every month. I hope I expressed what I had to say here. How did it work for 15 months, and now not? Please comment.

 

[Shadrach]

Before I had a Smartphone, I was using an old style Nokia. I didn't know about the 1 month limit about having to buy Pulsa. I had bought 100,000Rp. And only used 20,000Rp. Within a month. So, I still had 80,000 Rp. Credit, so I thought. Well they cancelled the Number and Sim card, so I was forced to buy a New Sim card and Number. They kept my 80,000 Rp. Credit. Isn't this basically stealing my $?

 

[pantaiema]

Most network providers operate on this principle. If you don’t have a monthly contract with them, they need to recover costs in some way. They may deduct from your remaining balance or discontinue service. This is similar to other utility providers, where you pay a standing charge for water, electricity, or gas, regardless of usage.

A mobile number is not infinite. It costs providers money to maintain their network, pay employees, and support engineers. Once assigned, a number must be maintained and cannot be assigned to other people. If everyone simply obtained a number for contact to be able to be contacted using that number, without generating revenue for them, the system would become unsustainable.

 

[Nicho]

Before I had a Smartphone, I was using an old style Nokia. I didn't know about the 1 month limit about having to buy Pulsa. I had bought 100,000Rp. And only used 20,000Rp. Within a month. So, I still had 80,000 Rp. Credit, so I thought. Well they cancelled the Number and Sim card, so I was forced to buy a New Sim card and Number. They kept my 80,000 Rp. Credit. Isn't this basically stealing my $?

Still use and old style nokia . Was with telkomsel but got sick of loosing unused pulsa/credit if I didn't top up before the end of the month , so switched to Indo xl , credit carries over to the next month as long as it's over 10,000rp . Telkomsel are one of if not the worst I found . They also scammed me with there Home wifi . Advertised it as Home Fibre . After several months of problems I cancelled the service . After the new service with Queen Net was installed , "all fibre cable" , I watched the technician fuse and test all the cables and connections with a special machine , I removed the old Telkomsel cable only to find it was twin copper core with several joins in it , not fiber at all . And they were twice the price of Queen Net , both for installation and the monthly fee .

 

[merahputih]

I went today to Mandiri to change my livin with Mandiri password, because when I tried to do it online, it said they would send an 8 digit OTP as an SMS to my tel. Number. I tried and tried again, and they never sent it. When I went to the bank, the woman at the desk said My tel. number was closed. I had no idea, because I've been using WiFi for 15 months and have been able to call everyone on What'sApp, and pay for BPJS every month. Via WiFi. This time I might have put in the wrong password, so Mandiri wouldn't help me get the password. The woman at the desk said my Telekomsel account was closed because I haven't been buying Pulsa. I didn't know because I don't call with Pulsa, I useWhatsApp. At Telekomsel a woman told me my number is deleted because I haven't bought Pulsa every month.
I thought this is a huge Scam from them because I don't use Pulsa. And feel it's not right, to being forced to buy it every month. I hope I expressed what I had to say here. How did it work for 15 months, and now not? Please comment.

Telkomsel have "Halo", postpaid service and the rest are prepaid service. After you buy credit/pulsa your number is active around 30 days or more. If you don't refill your pulsa after this active period, your number enters grace period (masa tenggang) for another 30 days. If you don't use your pulsa to make a call, you can use that pulsa to buy "active period", max 360 days. My guess is, your pulsa had long active period, then it entered grace period 30 days, and then 3x30 days not active and finally declared not active anymore.

 

[Hawk256]

I went today to Mandiri to change my livin with Mandiri password, because when I tried to do it online, it said they would send an 8 digit OTP as an SMS to my tel. Number. I tried and tried again, and they never sent it. When I went to the bank, the woman at the desk said My tel. number was closed. I had no idea, because I've been using WiFi for 15 months and have been able to call everyone on What'sApp, and pay for BPJS every month. Via WiFi. This time I might have put in the wrong password, so Mandiri wouldn't help me get the password. The woman at the desk said my Telekomsel account was closed because I haven't been buying Pulsa. I didn't know because I don't call with Pulsa, I useWhatsApp. At Telekomsel a woman told me my number is deleted because I haven't bought Pulsa every month.
I thought this is a huge Scam from them because I don't use Pulsa. And feel it's not right, to being forced to buy it every month. I hope I expressed what I had to say here. How did it work for 15 months, and now not? Please comment.

It's almost like everything here is a scam just to get your money. Buy credit each month and you get to keep your number. Don't and they will cancel it. It really is that simple and everyone else gets it.

 

[Shadrach]

It's almost like everything here is a scam just to get your money. Buy credit each month and you get to keep your number. Don't and they will cancel it. It really is that simple and everyone else gets it.

Thank you, I did think that way, before I got a Smartphone. I am just confused how I was able to buy the Pulsa and not use it, because I always used WhatsApp, and the internet, then call everyone, and make my payments, for rent, even pay for BPJS, through my Mandiri account, for 15 months. Just a few days ago, I tried again and I might have put in the wrong password too many times, so Mandiri suspected fraud. They said change my password. When I tried, they sent me a 8 digit cde. But I thought it went to Gmail, so I didn't find it in messages. So I never could change my password. I went to the bank yesterday, and the Woman working told me my Telekomsel number was deactivated.
What I don't understand, is how did I get to use the Phone for 15 months and then just now have a problem with a deactivated number?
If I go today, and buy a new Sim card/ number, the bank lady said if it's a new number the bank won't put it in their system for a 1 month.
Am I supposed to pay monthly for Pulsa I don't use again?
I'm confused what to do?

 

[Shadrach]

I wonder how my Bali friends, never use Pulsa, but are able to keep using Google, Youtube, and WhatsApp, for talking to everyone? Do they not have a Telephone number? As I said before. i used my phone for 15 months without buying more Pulsa, and now the bank couldn't send me the OTP sms, because my number is shut down. But were able to before?
Are my Bali friends able to just use their phones without Pulsa? Then How does it work. I can still call them with WhatsApp? Sorry, I am having a hard time understanding what is going on?

 

[nd_eric_77]

I do occasionally use mobile data, but I was getting frustrated with having some plans that auto-renew and others that do not. The
paskabayar" never really appealed to me, so I chose the IndoSat plan that provides 180 GB over 6 months for 450k. The price is initially steep compared with other plans, but I never have to worry about my plan running out and then draining my pulsa. A couple of days before the renewal, I top up my pulsa, and then just let it auto-renew. Most of my data usage is over wifi, so I ended up with about 80 GB of unused data at the last re-up, but the peace of mind was worth it.

 

[gemima]

I went today to Mandiri to change my livin with Mandiri password, because when I tried to do it online, it said they would send an 8 digit OTP as an SMS to my tel. Number. I tried and tried again, and they never sent it. When I went to the bank, the woman at the desk said My tel. number was closed. I had no idea, because I've been using WiFi for 15 months and have been able to call everyone on What'sApp, and pay for BPJS every month. Via WiFi. This time I might have put in the wrong password, so Mandiri wouldn't help me get the password. The woman at the desk said my Telekomsel account was closed because I haven't been buying Pulsa. I didn't know because I don't call with Pulsa, I useWhatsApp. At Telekomsel a woman told me my number is deleted because I haven't bought Pulsa every month.
I thought this is a huge Scam from them because I don't use Pulsa. And feel it's not right, to being forced to buy it every month. I hope I expressed what I had to say here. How did it work for 15 months, and now not? Please comment.

This is normal in any country I have ever had a phone in. You need to top up at least every 6 months in Ireland (and they do send cut off texts). I'm not sure about Indonesia - it could be less. My boyfriend lives here part time but has had the same number for 5+ years - he tops up with about 5000 rp each month to keep the number active.

If the telephone companies don't do this they end up with millions of inactive numbers. Its normal practice.

You can top up quickly using gopay.

 

[Wisnu]

Prepaid Reactivation Selfcare for MyTelkomsel

How to reactivate expired prepaid numbers

www.telkomsel.com

and check the FAQ to get more info.


If you don't have a SIM card, blocked sim card, or no pulsa, you can still connect to Wi-Fi networks and access the internet. This allows you to use apps like Facebook, Twitter, or WhatsApp to communicate with your friends and family. You can also check your email or browse the web - but will not solve your problem with the bank or other services that required to have phone number.

 

[marcus]

I wonder how my Bali friends, never use Pulsa, but are able to keep using Google, Youtube, and WhatsApp, for talking to everyone? Do they not have a Telephone number?

Probably they have an Indonesian phone number but they buy only data quota for internet access on wireless 4G network .

As I said before. i used my phone for 15 months without buying more Pulsa, ...

The more you buy pulsa/credit each time , the more active time you get (as you said before , you bought Rp100k , so you got a long active time - anytime you can ask until when your number is active) .

... I can still call them with WhatsApp?...

I don't know , but searching in Google , an AI there says : "No, you can't use WhatsApp if your phone number is canceled.."

 

[marcus]

An alternative for buying a small credit/pulsa every month is to buy a long "extension of the card's active period" / " PERPANJANGAN / TAMBAH MASA AKTIF KARTU" .
For example , at https://shopee.co.id/TRI-PERPANJANG...18&xptdk=de98432c-5833-45f5-8edf-32ec376b6718 , you buy 360 active days for a Tri number for just Rp15k .
Unfortunately it is a lot more expensive for Indosat and Telkomsel phone numbers .

For the ones who use very little internet outside home , Tri offers the "AON/Always On" card which , for example , you buy 40GB internet quota for Rp115k valid for 365 days (Note : Numbers that have not yet reached the grace period : it extends 1 year starting from the date of this purchase) .

 

[AhhSamboi]

I use Smartfren prepaid. I just top up 100k every couple months. And I'm good for like 4-5 months. If I don't need the paket the money just stays there until I need it. There is an option for a year activation as well if I'm not mistaken

In Malaysia on Umobile you need to top up Rm1 for each day of activation and the activation period is based on how much you topped up and when. If you top up again midway through your previous activation period, it cancels out. So instead of the 100 days you originally had it could go down to 10 because you added Rm10 to buy the speed booster or something.

 

[pantaiema]

My boyfriend lives here part time but has had the same number for 5+ years - he tops up with about 5000 rp each month to keep the number active.
You can top up quickly using gopay.

Is topping up around Rp5k each month the only requirement to keep the number active, or are there additional conditions, such as a standing charge for a contract? This seems like a great deal!

If you don’t mind and just in case you know it, could you share which network it is and what package he purchased?

 

[Shadrach]

I went back to Ubud today, first to Telkomsel to buy a new Sim card. I told the woman this was all for changing my password at Mandiri bank. So she sold me a sim card with 25GB of data. And 0 credits. Then I went Mandiri, and they told me I had to have Pulsa to open my livin with Mandiri account. They said go back to Telkomsel to buy Pulsa! Yikes! I went back to Telkomsel, and the next woman to help me was much smarter, and understood my situation, so she fixed the problem with getting the code from Mandiri to change my password.
But by this time the Bank had closed, so I came home, opened Livin with Mandiri, and put in all the information they wanted, and the screen came up with, they were having technical problems, so try again later!
I will try again in the morning. If the screen says they are having tech difficulties, I should contact Mandiri customer service?
I feel like a Hamster, in it's Wheel, Going around and around and getting No Where.
I'm starting to understand why some people snap and commit, Murder!

 

[AhhSamboi]

I have to check again, but for my line I don't think I pay for incoming OTPs and messages. Like I get a lot of sms ads daily and my pulsa amount doesn't go down. The only time it's gone down without me buying a packet is when I call to another network.

Is topping up around Rp5k each month the only requirement to keep the number active, or are there additional conditions, such as a standing charge for a contract? This seems like a great deal!

If you don’t mind and just in case you know it, could you share which network it is and what package he purchased?

My wife has the same thing with XL where she tops up rp5k every couple months, but she can't receive calls outside of Indonesia

 

[marcus]

I went back to Ubud today, first to Telkomsel to buy a new Sim card ...

You can buy a new number/SIM card (kartu perdana) in a lot of places/street kiosks or online .

They said go back to Telkomsel to buy Pulsa! ...

Again , you can buy phone credit/pulsa in the many nearby places .

 

[marcus]

Is topping up around Rp5k each month the only requirement to keep the number active, ...

At least for my Indosat number it is all I do (just buy a small credit/pulsa) . If am not mistaken , for Rp5k credit/pulsa I got around 7 days of active number + around 1 month "grace period" (my friend told me the number changed , but I used to call *123# and Indosat would send me information of until when my number is active , how much remaining credit I have ,..) . And this because I don't buy any internet quota from Indosat (as I use Tri AON for internet) .

Another thing that may help in similar cases (using a number only for receiving sms) is to use the SIM card in a "dumb" phone (2G or 3G , like the old Nokia) , as the credit seems to last longer (at least the battery for sure lasts longer) .

 

[gemima]

Is topping up around Rp5k each month the only requirement to keep the number active, or are there additional conditions, such as a standing charge for a contract? This seems like a great deal!

If you don’t mind and just in case you know it, could you share which network it is and what package he purchased?

Its Xl - he has had the number since 2018 and has managed to keep it active even without remembering to top up for a few months at a time. He doesn't even have the sim in his phone that much.
Its a pre-pay XL sim. I have an XL prioritas account but he didnt want the standing charges of having a post pay account.