How to Cancel Auto Renewal on Airtel: The Best Method

Is Airtel deducting your airtime for data? Do you know what that means? If not, it’s known as data auto-renewal. Many people face this unwanted airtime deduction, and it can be even more frustrating if you’re on a weekly data plan, as another deduction will occur within seven days for automatic data subscription. But the good news is, today you’ll learn how to cancel auto renewal on Airtel using your mobile phone. Once you unsubscribe, there will be no more ‘ghost renewals’ on your line. From then on, any airtime you load will remain in your account, and no deductions will happen. As we continue, please be patient and read through every detail shared here to avoid future occurrences of auto-renewal.

What is Airtel Data Auto Renewal?

This is a feature available on the network that helps customers purchase data without manually activating the process. If you have activated the service on your SIM for a particular data plan, it becomes registered on the Airtel network. At the end of the validity period for your data bundle, auto-renewal will activate if there is enough balance to purchase the initial data plan. The equivalent airtime will then be deducted from your balance.

As a result, some Airtel subscribers are unaware that they have activated auto-renewal. Users may inadvertently enable the service when purchasing data. There is a stage during the data top-up process where you will be asked to choose between “One Time” and “Auto Renew.” Sometimes, you may unknowingly choose the auto-renewal option over the one-time subscription. When this happens, auto-renewal is activated and will trigger when your current data expires.

What is the Benefit of Auto-Renewal?

The importance cannot be overemphasized. If you have the capacity in terms of funds, there is no need to manually buy data every time. You can set up auto-renewal on your line to automatically renew your data subscription. This will also protect you from being cut off from internet service due to insufficient data. However, if you plan to opt for automatic data subscription, be sure to check your airtime balance regularly and top up when it is low to ensure you have enough credit for the renewal deduction.

Airtel Auto-Renewal Drawback

It’s not easy to bear when a sudden deduction occurs from your airtime. This is especially true for customers who are unaware that auto-renewal was set up. It can be painful because you might have important calls for which you budgeted your credit, or you may want to manage your talk time for a while before recharging again. Of course, with the tough economic situation in Nigeria, planning is key.

So, what is the solution if you are tired of sudden deductions from your talk time balance?

How to Cancel Auto Renewal on Airtel

Whether you knowingly or unknowingly subscribed to auto renewal on Airtel, you can undo it. The way forward is to cancel or deactivate the feature from your SIM using any of the methods explained below.

To turn-off auto-renewal using USSD:

1. Open your phone’s dialer.
2. Dial *312#.
3. Select “Data Plan.”
4. Choose any data plan. Since the goal is to stop the auto-renewal, you can select a daily plan and subscribe to the least data plan available.
5. During the subscription process, you will be asked whether you want to renew or make it a one-time subscription. Make sure to select the “one-time” option.
6. After subscribing, any pending auto-renewals on your line will be cancelled.

Note: Using the USSD method might leave you with some doubt about whether the auto-renewal has been canceled. Don’t worry; the process of canceling auto-renewal on Airtel can be complex. Some guides will tell you to dial various codes or send SMS to a particular number, but that is not accurate. I recently called Airtel customer care to verify the process for canceling auto-renewal. The method I explained above was recommended. While it works, it might seem a bit awkward because you’re asked to subscribe again in order to cancel the renewal.

For guaranteed cancellation, the best method is to contact Airtel customer care directly:

1. Dial 300.
2. Follow the automated voice prompts.
3. When asked, select option 1.
4. When prompted to speak with a customer care representative, select option 9. You will be connected to an agent within a minute.
5. Inform the agent that you want to cancel your data auto-renewal. They will ask you to provide the phone number for which you want the auto-renewal canceled.
6. The representative will cancel the auto-renewal and send you a confirmation message.

Conclusion:

I understand how frustrating it can be when auto-renewal depletes your leftover airtime, especially when it happens unexpectedly. This is a common issue for many people. With a sense of brotherly and sisterly love, the guide above explains how to stop Airtel’s data renewal on your line. Honestly, the USSD code can be a bit tricky, so I recommend calling customer care at 300. Within five minutes, you’ll no longer have to worry about unnecessary renewals when you recharge again.