Running out of mobile credit can be a major inconvenience, especially in urgent situations. This article guides you through the steps to manage such scenarios with ease.
It’s not difficult to imagine a situation where you have to make an urgent call only to hear an automated response that you’re out of credit. If you’re not keeping track of your spendings, it’s easy to forget that your mobile account balance is almost dried up, and this can backfire in the least expected moment imaginable. Maybe you made too many calls recently, or maybe you forgot to connect to a WiFi network and accidentally used up all your data.
It won’t be an issue for those who use contract plans, but prepaid offers can be cheaper and much more enticing, so it’s only natural to assume a lot of people are choosing it over contracts – and all these people are at risk of running out of credit.
It may happen to any of us at some point in the future, but thankfully, there’s a special service that can be of help in such scenarios, as well as some extra ways to prepare for this rare occurrence beforehand. Today we’ll be taking a closer look at the emergency top-up service and some tips that may come in handy if you’re in need.
Preparing for Emergency Situations
First and foremost, it would be best to prepare for emergency situations before they even get a chance to occur. The worst that could happen is being far away from home, as well as other people when you run out of credit.
So, no one to ask for help and no network to connect to, making it practically impossible to add some extra credits the usual way. No way to contact the bank or the carrier company, no way to google the answers you need; you’re basically cut off from the world.
To avoid getting into such dire situations, you can take a few extra precautionary measures. For example, it would be good to start checking your remaining credits regularly and make it a habit to get an idea of how many you’ve got left.
You could also try setting up a low balance alert to quickly catch surprise spendings, such as accidentally using up all your smartphone data. You should also consider getting a backup prepaid card – write down the key in your smartphone, so you can use it in the case of a dire situation.
You should also explore possibilities offered exclusively by your mobile network carrier – there can be some other solutions, such as emergency calls. It’s good to be aware of all the options you have.
Immediate Steps to Take
If you find yourself in an emergency situation, your options will vary, depending on if you’ve got access to the internet or not. If you do, and you have funds in your checking account, you can visit your bank website; it’s usually possible to top-up mobile credit through online banking services.
If you don’t have access to the internet, that would complicate things a bit, but there still could be ways to deal with the issue. For example, your mobile network carrier may allow you to make a special request, where you can send someone – likely a friend or a family member – a special kind of SMS, asking to top-up your account for you.
There could be also an option to take a small loan; however, you should explore these options on your own, as they may be different, depending on the chosen carrier and plan.
Choosing the Right Service
Prepaid offers come in all shapes and sizes. Before deciding which one to pick, you should consider a variety of factors, such as speed, reliability, and fees. Perhaps you’re using mobile networking more than anything else, so you could pick a plan with more data to use – this could help in preventing accidental data drainage and emptying your account balance, for example.
If you make a lot of calls instead, see if there are plans that make calls cheaper. There could be even some offers that will allow you to make free calls under certain circumstances – this could be a great way to deal with emergencies such as running out of credit, as it would allow you to contact someone to help you out.
How to Top-Up on the Go
The easiest and most convenient ways of adding mobile funds include using either a dedicated smartphone app or – if the internet is not available – special USSD codes.
Your mobile network carrier may have an app available, so make sure to check it out. If there is one, it most likely will allow you to top-up your account with just a few touchscreen taps. If the carrier does not have an app, there should still be a banking app available, where you could probably do the same.
Without the internet, you can still use USSD codes, although it’s most likely not possible to use them to top up. They’re usually used to activate or deactivate various services, some of which may be helpful when you run out of credit. You should explore available options on your own, as each mobile network carrier will have different services available.
The codes themselves will also be different – you should make a note of them and keep them stored in your smartphone for emergencies, as you never know when you’ll need them.
Managing Your Mobile Credit
You should always be mindful of your mobile credit. Checking your account frequently and setting a low credit alert will ensure that even if you accidentally run out of credit, you’ll be aware of the upcoming issue ahead of time, and thus mentally prepared to deal with the consequences.
Choosing the right plan for your needs will help you manage your mobile credit more effectively. Depending on your personal preferences, you may need a plan that makes calls cheaper or lowers the cost of networking. Some plans may also come with extra emergency mobile top-up services, so keep your eyes peeled.
Conclusion
Although it’s completely possible to find a way out if you run out of mobile credit, no matter how dire the situation may be presenting itself, being prepared is the key to managing emergency top-up situations effectively.
Take some precautionary measures to avoid getting into sudden situations in the first place. Better safe than sorry; by doing so, even if you do end up with an empty account, you’ll be better able to handle it quickly and with no unnecessary stress.