In today’s digital age, staying connected is essential, and data has become a valuable commodity. MTN is one of the leading telecommunications companies in many African countries, offering a wide range of services to its customers. One of the services that MTN provides is the ability to borrow data when you run out of your data bundle before the end of the month.
This can be a lifesaver for many customers who rely on their data for work, school, and communication. In this article, I will explain how to borrow data from MTN and the steps you need to follow to ensure a smooth borrowing process.
Eligibility Criteria for Borrowing Data from mtn
To be eligible for borrowing data from MTN Nigeria through XtraByte, you must meet the following criteria:
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You must be an MTN Prepaid customer.
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Your phone number must be registered with MTN.
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You must have been on the MTN network for at least 3 months.
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You must have spent a minimum of N200 monthly for the past 3 months on the MTN network.
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Your main account balance must be between N0 and N75.
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You should have no outstanding XtraByte loan requests.
Read: MTN Share: How to transfer Airtime to another mtn line
How to Borrow Data on MTN
MTN Nigeria offers a service called XtraByte that allows you to borrow data when your balance is low. Here are the steps on how to borrow data on MTN:
Method 1: Using USSD Code
- Dial *303# on your phone.
- Select the “XtraByte” option from the menu.
- Choose your preferred data bundle from the list of available options.
- Confirm the transaction.
- You will receive a confirmation message once the data has been credited to your account.
Method 2: Using IVR
- Dial 303 on your phone.
- Follow the voice prompts to select your preferred language.
- Choose the option for “XtraByte.”
- Select your preferred data bundle from the available options.
- Confirm the transaction.
- You will receive a confirmation message once the data has been credited to your account.
Read: MTN Data Share & Gifting:How to transfer data to another line
How can I check if am eligible for MTN Borrowed me data service?
You can check your eligibility for MTN XtraByte (Borrowed Data) service using any of the following methods:
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USSD Code:
- Dial *303# on your phone.
- Select “My Account.”
- Choose “Check eligibility.”
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SMS:
- Send “STATUS” to 303. You will receive a message indicating whether you are eligible or not.
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IVR:
- Dial 303 and follow the voice prompts to check your eligibility.
If you are eligible, you will receive a message confirming your eligibility and the available data bundles you can borrow. If not, you will receive a message stating the reason for your ineligibility.
What are the interest rates fees or charges for borrowing data with XtraByte?
The interest rate or service fee for borrowing data with MTN XtraByte is 15.36% (including VAT). This fee is applied to the cost of the data bundle you borrow.
How the Fee is Calculated:
- The service charge is added to the original price of the data bundle you choose.
- Your main account will be debited with the total amount (data bundle cost + service fee).
- You’ll need to repay this total amount on your next recharge.
Example:
If you borrow a 25MB data bundle that typically costs N50, here’s how the fee will be calculated:
- Data bundle cost: N50
- Service fee (15.36% of N50): N7.68
- Total amount debited from your account: N57.68
- It’s important to remember that this service fee is charged on every XtraByte loan you take, regardless of the data bundle size.
Read: How to share and transfer data to another Glo line
MTN Repayment Methods and Timelines
MTN Nigeria’s XtraByte service, which allows you to borrow data, requires repayment of the borrowed amount plus the service fee. Here’s how repayment works:
Repayment Method:
The borrowed amount and service fee are automatically deducted from your airtime balance upon your next recharge.
Repayment Timeline:
There’s no specific timeline for repayment. You can recharge whenever you want, but the outstanding amount will be deducted immediately as soon as you have sufficient funds in your airtime balance.
Partial Repayment:
If your recharge amount is less than the total amount owed (data bundle cost + service fee), the entire recharge amount will be used towards repayment. The remaining balance will be deducted from your next recharge.
Consequences of Non-Repayment:
- You will not be able to borrow data again until your outstanding loan is fully repaid.
- In some cases, MTN may restrict your access to other services until the debt is cleared.
How to Check MTN Data Balance
There are a few ways to check your MTN XtraByte balance:
1. USSD Code:
- Dial *323# and follow the prompts. You will receive a message showing your outstanding XtraByte balance.
2. MyMTN App:
- Download the MyMTN app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Log in to your account.
- Go to the “Data” or “Balance” section to view your outstanding XtraByte balance.
3. MTN Website:
- Log in to your account on the MTN website.
- Go to the “Data” or “Balance” section to view your outstanding XtraByte balance.
How to borrow data from Airtel
Airtel Nigeria offers a “Credit Loan Service” that allows eligible customers to borrow data on credit and pay back on their next recharge. Here’s how to borrow data from Airtel:
- Dial *303# on your Airtel line.
- Select “Borrow Data.”
- Choose the data bundle you want to borrow from the available options.
- Confirm the transaction.
- You will receive a confirmation message and the data will be credited to your account.
How to borrow data from MTN
MTN Nigeria offers a service called XtraByte that allows you to borrow data when your balance is low. Here are the two ways to borrow data from MTN:
- *Dial 303# on your MTN phone.
- Choose the XtraByte option from the menu.
- Select your preferred data bundle from the available options.
- Confirm the transaction by following the on-screen prompts.
- You will receive a confirmation message once the data has been credited to your account.
How to borrow data from 9mobile
9mobile offers two main methods for borrowing data:
- Dial *303# on your 9mobile line.
- Select “Borrow Data” from the menu options.
- Choose the data plan that suits your needs from the available options.
- Confirm your request, and the data will be credited to your account.
How to borrow data from Glo
Glo Nigeria offers a “Borrow Me Data” service that allows you to borrow data when you run out. Here’s how you can borrow data from Glo:
- Dial *303# on your Glo line.
- Choose the option to borrow data.
- Select the data plan you want to borrow from the available options.
- Confirm your request, and the data will be credited to your account.
Can I borrow data if I have an existing loan or debt with MTN?
Yes, you can borrow another data even if you have an existing data loan to pay back if you are still within your credit limit.
Is there a limit on the number of times I can borrow data?
You can borrow data multiple times as long as you are still within your credit limit.
Can I exceed my credit limit in a month?
No, you cannot exceed your credit limit in a month. Note: Your credit limit in a month can either increase or decrease but this is based on your recharge activities in the previous months.
Can I increase my credit limit?
Yes, you can increase your credit limit by increasing your spend from month to month.
How Can I view my mtn transaction history?
Yes, you will be able to view your transaction history by dialling *303#, click on ‘My Account’ and select transaction history.
What are the activities that I will be able to perform on 303 IVR and *303# menu?
You will be able to perform the following:
- Request Airtime (XtraTime)
- Request Data (Xtrabyte)
- Check Balance
- Preferred Language option (Available on 303 IVR ONLY)
Will I be able to use the voice minutes to call all networks in Nigeria?
Yes, you will be able to call all numbers in Nigeria with the voice minutes you get from the Xtrabyte purchase.
Note: You will not be able to call international numbers and Nigeria from the voice bundle while roaming. You will also not be able to call international numbers with the voice bundle.
Meet Ogbeide Frank, also known as Perere, a blogger passionate about writing on finance and technology. He studied Business Administration at Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma and Mobile Communication at Orange College in Malaysia. Frank has experience working as a banker and consultant for various agencies in Nigeria.
