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What is M-PESA? M-PESA is a fast, simple and affordable way to send money. It is like having cash in your hand and does not require a traditional bank account but simply uses a customer Cell phone number to store, send money and make mobile payments. |
What does the name M-PESA mean?
|
What services are available on M-PESA? A registered M-PESA customer can:
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What is the M-PESA number that I must dial to access the service? The number is *130*7372# Once you have dialled the number an M-PESA menu will be sent to the phone with further transaction options like withdrawal, send money and change PIN |
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What are the benefits of M-PESA? There is no need for a bank account There is no joining fee There are no monthly charges There is no minimum balance required It is fast and easy to use You do not have to have airtime to transact on M-PESA |
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Is South Africa the first country to implement M-PESA? No, South Africa is not the first country to implement the service. M-PESA was first launched in Kenya in 2007. Since then, it has been launched in many other countries in the world including Tanzania and Egypt |
|
How is this offering (M-PESA) different from other products on the market? M-PESA has various benefits:
|
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Do I need to have air time on my phone to transact on M-PESA? No |
Are there service charges on the M-PESA account?
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| Can I transfer from my existing Nedbank account directly to M-PESA? No, there currently is no link between the Nedbank or any other bank accounts and M-PESA. Future M-PESA developments will look at linking bank accounts to M-PESA. |
| Does M-PESA work across all mobile networks? Any customer from any mobile network can receive money sent to them via M-PESA, however only Vodacom subscribers (prepaid or contract) can open an M-PESA account |
| Can I top up an MTN, Cell C or Virgin mobile number? No, you will only be able to buy airtime for Vodacom numbers |
| Can I use my Vodacom airtime to buy M-PESA’s? No, the M-PESA account is completely separate from the Vodacom airtime. M-PESAs can only be bought with cash. |
| Can I buy airtime using M-PESA when I’m outside South Africa? No, If you are on roaming, you will not be to top up using M-PESA or access the M-PESA menu on your phone |
| What happens if I lose my Vodacom SIM? You must contact the Vodacom helpdesk to block your current SIM card and your M-PESA account; thereafter you will need to do a SIM swap at a Vodacom shop. |
| How do I reactivate my M-PESA account after a SIM swap (replacement)? You must call Vodacom customer care. An agent will take you through a verification process and start you up again. You will be required to change your PIN and will also receive a new “secret word” |
| Am I limited to transact at the M-PESA Outlet or Nedbank Branch where I registered? No, the you will be able to transact at any authorised M-PESA outlet or Nedbank branch |
| Can I send money to neighbouring countries using M-PESA? No, cross boarder transfers are not yet active we are looking at doing this in a future phase of the M-PESA project |
| Is the Bill payments functionality active yet? No, this functionality will be available shortly after launch • Looking ahead, other future services will include o Bill payments o Electronic payments into M-PESA accounts o Social grants into M-PESA accounts |
| How long does the transaction take? Most M-PESA transactions are completed within a few seconds of sending your request. However, when the network is very busy, transactions may take slightly longer. |
| Am I allowed to use my cell phone in the branch? In order for the M-PESA registration and transactions to take place you will have to access the M-PESA menu on your Cell phone. This means that you must be allowed to do M-PESA specific transactions when at the M-PESA teller in a branch |
| Once I have registered for M-PESA can I use other bank’s branches to transact? No, other banks branches have not been enabled as M-PESA outlets you can only use registered M-PESA outlets and Nedbank branches to transact |
| Who are the M-PESA Outlets? There are a wide range of outlets nationwide where customers can register for M-PESA, cash can be deposited into or withdrawn from M-PESA accounts. Example of outlets include Vodashop’s, petrol stations, supermarkets, retail outlets and Nedbank Branches |
| Can I become an M-PESA Outlet? Your business would need to apply to Vodacom to become an authorised outlet. Nedbank will then follow a stringent vetting process in order to ensure that the quality of outlets and customer service is maintained |
| Can I register to become an M-PESA Outlet at a Nedbank branch? No, any business which is interested in registering for becoming an M-PESA Outlet needs to call the Vodacom customer care centre for information on Outlet registrations |
| What is the M-PESA outlet number and where is it used? A five or six digit number is allocated to all M-PESA outlets. Each one will have a unique number, as a registered M-PESA customer |
| Where can I register for M-PESA? You can register for M-PESA at an authorised M-PESA Outlet or Nedbank Branch |
| What documentation is required to register for M-PESA? • An M-PESA registration form • A copy of one of the following identification documents: o Green ID book, o Passport and Resident’s permit, o Asylum Permit, o Refugee ID |
| How much does it cost to register for M-PESA? Registering for M-PESA is FREE |
| Must I have a new Vodacom SIM Card before registering for M-PESA? No, if you are an existing Vodacom customer you can use your existing Vodacom SIM card, If you that have ported your number to Vodacom you can also register for M-PESA |
| Can I register for M-PESA if I have a SIM card from another mobile Network e.g. Cell C? Yes, however you would either have to get a Vodacom SIM card or Port your number to Vodacom. The existing porting process still applies. Remember that even if you have not registered for M-PESA you can still receive money sent to you by an M-PESA customer |
| Why do I need to present my ID to register for M-PESA? This is a regulatory requirement by the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) |
| What happens if I try and register someone else’s cell phone number for M-PESA? During the registration process the M-PESA system will send an SMS to the cell number provided on the application form to finalise and activate the service, the incorrect recipient will then not be able to proceed to this final step and will not registered |
| Can I register more than one Vodacom SIM card number for M-PESA? No, on registration the M-PESA system validates the new customer’s ID and cell number. The registration will be unsuccessful. You are only allowed to register for one M-PESA account even if you have two or more cell phone numbers |
| I have a cell phone contract with Vodacom can I register for M-PESA? Yes, both Vodacom contract and pre paid customers can register for M-PESA |
| Do all M-PESA customers have the same service? There are two customer tiers on M-PESA:
|
| What is the difference between the two customer tiers? The only difference is the amount that you are able to transact the standard customer has lower transaction limits than the premium customers |
| I have an asylum seeker ID; can I register for the premium tier? No, only the following Identification documents are eligible to register for the premium tier: o Green ID book o Passport and Resident’s permit |
| What is the difference between a registered M-PESA customer and an unregistered A registered M-PESA customer is a customer who has registered for the M-PESA service. This customer’s SIM-Card can access the full M-PESA menu. |
| Once I have been registered do I need to be activated? Yes, the activation process is in the M-PESA brochure. Activation is a simple process of following the sums prompts sent to you by the M-PESA system. You must remember that to switch your phone on to receive the activation message. |
| What is a Start PIN? It’s a 4-digit code that is received from M-PESA via SMS upon registration. Upon activation you will be prompted to change your start PIN to a 4-digit code that you will use when transacting on M-PESA. |
| Does the start PIN that I receive from Vodacom upon registration expire if not changed? Yes, the pin that you receive upon registration expires if you do not change it within 24 hours |
| What is the importance of the M-PESA SECRET word? The “Secret word” is given to a Vodacom agent to identify yourself when calling the Vodacom M-PESA customer service |
| What happens if I forget my M-PESA “Secret word” and I need to call the Vodacom customer care centre? The Vodacom call agent will still be able to identify you using your cell phone number and other verification information. The agent can also assist the you with getting a new “secret word” |
| What is the importance of the M-PESA PIN? The M-PESA PIN will be used to transact on M-PESA therefore you must keep your PIN a secret. You must not give your M-PESA PIN to anyone not even a Nedbank, outlet or Vodacom staff |
| What happens if I forget my M-PESA PIN? You must call the Vodacom customer care line for assistance. The Vodacom call agent will assist you with re-setting your PIN |
| What must I do if I send money to the wrong number? You need to call the Vodacom customer care line for assistance. Vodacom will only be able to reverse the transaction if the recipient of the money has not cashed the money yet. You must be 100% sure that you enter in the recipients cell phone number correctly |
| What happens if I do not get an SMS from M-PESA confirming my transaction? On occasion there is a delay in receiving your SMS from M-PESA. For peace of mind you can call the Vodacom customer care line to confirm your transaction |
| What happens if the Vodacom network is down? As M-PESA relies on SMS messages, if the Vodacom SMS service is down, M-PESA will not function |
| How safe is my money? The service is safe. The PIN code ensures that no one can access your account unless you share your PIN code with other parties |
| Do I have to have a specific phone to have M-PESA? No, all cell phone from the most expensive to the cheapest can access M-PESA. As M-PESA works on USSD technology. |
| What is the Nedbank ATM Outlet Code for M-PESA? The ATM Outlet code is 777777 for all Nedbank ATMs countrywide and will be displayed on the ATM poster next to the ATM and in all M-PESA ATM brochures |
| Do I need to have an ATM card to withdraw money from my M-PESA account? No, you only needs your cell phone and you must be registered for M-PESA |
| How much can I withdraw in a Single Transaction from a Nedbank ATM? The minimum withdrawal amount at the ATM is R10.00 and the maximum is R5000.00. The amount dispensed will depend on the notes in the actual ATM for example you cannot receive R120 if there are only R50 notes in the ATM |
| What is the authorisation code? |
| What happens if I enter the wrong authorisation code at the Nedbank ATM? If you capture the incorrect number of digits for the authorisation code, the ATM will display a message that the authorisation code is incorrect and will request you to recapture the correct code. |
| How many times can I enter an authorisation code incorrectly before it becomes invalid? You have 3 times to enter the correct code. After that the code will be cancelled and you must obtain a new code from your M-PESA menu |
| What should I do should the ATM not dispense my cash as requested but debits my M-PESA account? If your transaction is successful and the ATM did not dispense your cash, you must call Vodacom customer care on 082 1082 to log your query. Nedbank and Vodacom will then work together to resolve the issue |
| How many times can I use the authorisation code? The authorisation code can only be used once |
| Once I have registered for M-PESA, can I use other bank’s ATM’s to withdraw cash? No, you can only use Nedbank ATM’s to withdraw cash |
| If the recipient of my M-PESA’s is not registered for M-PESA, where can they withdraw money I sent to them? Unregistered customers can only redeem the SMS vouchers sent to them by a registered customer at an authorised M-PESA outlet |
| How long is the SMS voucher valid for? |
| What happens if I lose my phone with a SMS voucher on it? SMS vouchers are like cash in your hand if your phone is lost with this SMS voucher on it then the voucher could be redeemed, it is therefore important that SMS vouchers are redeemed at an authorised outlet as soon as possible |
| Where you can go with queries about M-PESA? Contact Vodacom Client Care number on 082 1082 for any account queries this would include transactions at the Nedbank ATM or at a Nedbank Outlet Calling the Vodacom client care number is free of charge if dialled from the customer Vodacom cell phone |

|
What is M-PESA? M-PESA is a fast, simple and affordable way to send money. It is like having cash in your hand and does not require a traditional bank account but simply uses a customer Cell phone number to store, send money and make mobile payments. |
What does the name M-PESA mean?
|
What services are available on M-PESA? A registered M-PESA customer can:
|
|
What is the M-PESA number that I must dial to access the service? The number is *130*7372# Once you have dialled the number an M-PESA menu will be sent to the phone with further transaction options like withdrawal, send money and change PIN |
|
What are the benefits of M-PESA? There is no need for a bank account There is no joining fee There are no monthly charges There is no minimum balance required It is fast and easy to use You do not have to have airtime to transact on M-PESA |
|
Is South Africa the first country to implement M-PESA? No, South Africa is not the first country to implement the service. M-PESA was first launched in Kenya in 2007. Since then, it has been launched in many other countries in the world including Tanzania and Egypt |
|
How is this offering (M-PESA) different from other products on the market? M-PESA has various benefits:
|
|
Do I need to have air time on my phone to transact on M-PESA? No |
Are there service charges on the M-PESA account?
|
| Can I transfer from my existing Nedbank account directly to M-PESA? No, there currently is no link between the Nedbank or any other bank accounts and M-PESA. Future M-PESA developments will look at linking bank accounts to M-PESA. |
| Does M-PESA work across all mobile networks? Any customer from any mobile network can receive money sent to them via M-PESA, however only Vodacom subscribers (prepaid or contract) can open an M-PESA account |
| Can I top up an MTN, Cell C or Virgin mobile number? No, you will only be able to buy airtime for Vodacom numbers |
| Can I use my Vodacom airtime to buy M-PESA’s? No, the M-PESA account is completely separate from the Vodacom airtime. M-PESAs can only be bought with cash. |
| Can I buy airtime using M-PESA when I’m outside South Africa? No, If you are on roaming, you will not be to top up using M-PESA or access the M-PESA menu on your phone |
| What happens if I lose my Vodacom SIM? You must contact the Vodacom helpdesk to block your current SIM card and your M-PESA account; thereafter you will need to do a SIM swap at a Vodacom shop. |
| How do I reactivate my M-PESA account after a SIM swap (replacement)? You must call Vodacom customer care. An agent will take you through a verification process and start you up again. You will be required to change your PIN and will also receive a new “secret word” |
| Am I limited to transact at the M-PESA Outlet or Nedbank Branch where I registered? No, the you will be able to transact at any authorised M-PESA outlet or Nedbank branch |
| Can I send money to neighbouring countries using M-PESA? No, cross boarder transfers are not yet active we are looking at doing this in a future phase of the M-PESA project |
| Is the Bill payments functionality active yet? No, this functionality will be available shortly after launch • Looking ahead, other future services will include o Bill payments o Electronic payments into M-PESA accounts o Social grants into M-PESA accounts |
| How long does the transaction take? Most M-PESA transactions are completed within a few seconds of sending your request. However, when the network is very busy, transactions may take slightly longer. |
| Am I allowed to use my cell phone in the branch? In order for the M-PESA registration and transactions to take place you will have to access the M-PESA menu on your Cell phone. This means that you must be allowed to do M-PESA specific transactions when at the M-PESA teller in a branch |
| Once I have registered for M-PESA can I use other bank’s branches to transact? No, other banks branches have not been enabled as M-PESA outlets you can only use registered M-PESA outlets and Nedbank branches to transact |
| Who are the M-PESA Outlets? There are a wide range of outlets nationwide where customers can register for M-PESA, cash can be deposited into or withdrawn from M-PESA accounts. Example of outlets include Vodashop’s, petrol stations, supermarkets, retail outlets and Nedbank Branches |
| Can I become an M-PESA Outlet? Your business would need to apply to Vodacom to become an authorised outlet. Nedbank will then follow a stringent vetting process in order to ensure that the quality of outlets and customer service is maintained |
| Can I register to become an M-PESA Outlet at a Nedbank branch? No, any business which is interested in registering for becoming an M-PESA Outlet needs to call the Vodacom customer care centre for information on Outlet registrations |
| What is the M-PESA outlet number and where is it used? A five or six digit number is allocated to all M-PESA outlets. Each one will have a unique number, as a registered M-PESA customer |
| Where can I register for M-PESA? You can register for M-PESA at an authorised M-PESA Outlet or Nedbank Branch |
| What documentation is required to register for M-PESA? • An M-PESA registration form • A copy of one of the following identification documents: o Green ID book, o Passport and Resident’s permit, o Asylum Permit, o Refugee ID |
| How much does it cost to register for M-PESA? Registering for M-PESA is FREE |
| Must I have a new Vodacom SIM Card before registering for M-PESA? No, if you are an existing Vodacom customer you can use your existing Vodacom SIM card, If you that have ported your number to Vodacom you can also register for M-PESA |
| Can I register for M-PESA if I have a SIM card from another mobile Network e.g. Cell C? Yes, however you would either have to get a Vodacom SIM card or Port your number to Vodacom. The existing porting process still applies. Remember that even if you have not registered for M-PESA you can still receive money sent to you by an M-PESA customer |
| Why do I need to present my ID to register for M-PESA? This is a regulatory requirement by the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) |
| What happens if I try and register someone else’s cell phone number for M-PESA? During the registration process the M-PESA system will send an SMS to the cell number provided on the application form to finalise and activate the service, the incorrect recipient will then not be able to proceed to this final step and will not registered |
| Can I register more than one Vodacom SIM card number for M-PESA? No, on registration the M-PESA system validates the new customer’s ID and cell number. The registration will be unsuccessful. You are only allowed to register for one M-PESA account even if you have two or more cell phone numbers |
| I have a cell phone contract with Vodacom can I register for M-PESA? Yes, both Vodacom contract and pre paid customers can register for M-PESA |
| Do all M-PESA customers have the same service? There are two customer tiers on M-PESA:
|
| What is the difference between the two customer tiers? The only difference is the amount that you are able to transact the standard customer has lower transaction limits than the premium customers |
| I have an asylum seeker ID; can I register for the premium tier? No, only the following Identification documents are eligible to register for the premium tier: o Green ID book o Passport and Resident’s permit |
| What is the difference between a registered M-PESA customer and an unregistered A registered M-PESA customer is a customer who has registered for the M-PESA service. This customer’s SIM-Card can access the full M-PESA menu. |
| Once I have been registered do I need to be activated? Yes, the activation process is in the M-PESA brochure. Activation is a simple process of following the sums prompts sent to you by the M-PESA system. You must remember that to switch your phone on to receive the activation message. |
| What is a Start PIN? It’s a 4-digit code that is received from M-PESA via SMS upon registration. Upon activation you will be prompted to change your start PIN to a 4-digit code that you will use when transacting on M-PESA. |
| Does the start PIN that I receive from Vodacom upon registration expire if not changed? Yes, the pin that you receive upon registration expires if you do not change it within 24 hours |
| What is the importance of the M-PESA SECRET word? The “Secret word” is given to a Vodacom agent to identify yourself when calling the Vodacom M-PESA customer service |
| What happens if I forget my M-PESA “Secret word” and I need to call the Vodacom customer care centre? The Vodacom call agent will still be able to identify you using your cell phone number and other verification information. The agent can also assist the you with getting a new “secret word” |
| What is the importance of the M-PESA PIN? The M-PESA PIN will be used to transact on M-PESA therefore you must keep your PIN a secret. You must not give your M-PESA PIN to anyone not even a Nedbank, outlet or Vodacom staff |
| What happens if I forget my M-PESA PIN? You must call the Vodacom customer care line for assistance. The Vodacom call agent will assist you with re-setting your PIN |
| What must I do if I send money to the wrong number? You need to call the Vodacom customer care line for assistance. Vodacom will only be able to reverse the transaction if the recipient of the money has not cashed the money yet. You must be 100% sure that you enter in the recipients cell phone number correctly |
| What happens if I do not get an SMS from M-PESA confirming my transaction? On occasion there is a delay in receiving your SMS from M-PESA. For peace of mind you can call the Vodacom customer care line to confirm your transaction |
| What happens if the Vodacom network is down? As M-PESA relies on SMS messages, if the Vodacom SMS service is down, M-PESA will not function |
| How safe is my money? The service is safe. The PIN code ensures that no one can access your account unless you share your PIN code with other parties |
| Do I have to have a specific phone to have M-PESA? No, all cell phone from the most expensive to the cheapest can access M-PESA. As M-PESA works on USSD technology. |
| What is the Nedbank ATM Outlet Code for M-PESA? The ATM Outlet code is 777777 for all Nedbank ATMs countrywide and will be displayed on the ATM poster next to the ATM and in all M-PESA ATM brochures |
| Do I need to have an ATM card to withdraw money from my M-PESA account? No, you only needs your cell phone and you must be registered for M-PESA |
| How much can I withdraw in a Single Transaction from a Nedbank ATM? The minimum withdrawal amount at the ATM is R10.00 and the maximum is R5000.00. The amount dispensed will depend on the notes in the actual ATM for example you cannot receive R120 if there are only R50 notes in the ATM |
| What is the authorisation code? |
| What happens if I enter the wrong authorisation code at the Nedbank ATM? If you capture the incorrect number of digits for the authorisation code, the ATM will display a message that the authorisation code is incorrect and will request you to recapture the correct code. |
| How many times can I enter an authorisation code incorrectly before it becomes invalid? You have 3 times to enter the correct code. After that the code will be cancelled and you must obtain a new code from your M-PESA menu |
| What should I do should the ATM not dispense my cash as requested but debits my M-PESA account? If your transaction is successful and the ATM did not dispense your cash, you must call Vodacom customer care on 082 1082 to log your query. Nedbank and Vodacom will then work together to resolve the issue |
| How many times can I use the authorisation code? The authorisation code can only be used once |
| Once I have registered for M-PESA, can I use other bank’s ATM’s to withdraw cash? No, you can only use Nedbank ATM’s to withdraw cash |
| If the recipient of my M-PESA’s is not registered for M-PESA, where can they withdraw money I sent to them? Unregistered customers can only redeem the SMS vouchers sent to them by a registered customer at an authorised M-PESA outlet |
| How long is the SMS voucher valid for? |
| What happens if I lose my phone with a SMS voucher on it? SMS vouchers are like cash in your hand if your phone is lost with this SMS voucher on it then the voucher could be redeemed, it is therefore important that SMS vouchers are redeemed at an authorised outlet as soon as possible |
| Where you can go with queries about M-PESA? Contact Vodacom Client Care number on 082 1082 for any account queries this would include transactions at the Nedbank ATM or at a Nedbank Outlet Calling the Vodacom client care number is free of charge if dialled from the customer Vodacom cell phone |
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