A quick way to activate the Stop Content service on Megafon

Megafon subscribers are often annoyed by intrusive paid subscriptions or random calls to short numbers that are paid. Often these are scammers. Nobody wants to lose money from their balance just like that. To prevent this from happening, you need to use the Stop content Megafon service. In this article we will look at how to activate and disable this option, and also find out its features.

Description on Megafon

Using this option, Megafon subscribers will be able to block calls to short numbers. This function will completely protect you from making unnecessary expenses. All Megafon clients have the right to use it. It makes no difference which tariff plan you have connected to.

But you can use the service only when you are in your region. It is important to note that you can call short-format service numbers provided by Megafon; blocking does not apply to them. You can also send SMS to them at any time.

What's happened

Are the costs of using premium numbers a big concern? Are you worried that your child will accidentally use the services of content providers? Are you afraid that your elderly relatives will again become victims of another “divorce” via SMS? Then you definitely need to familiarize yourself with the mobile operator MegaFon.

How do we usually part with our money and send it to content providers?

• We send SMS to paid numbers;
• We send paid USSD requests;
• We use paid voice services.

The cost of such actions can reach several hundred rubles. In addition, minor subscribers often gain access to adult content, so access to paid numbers must be prevented - this will protect children and protect themselves from unnecessary expenses.

from MegaFon allows you to prevent accidental spending by blocking access to short numbers. By connecting it to a particular number, we will not be able to call a paid number, send a paid SMS or a paid USSD command. Thanks to this service, we will protect ourselves from such expenses.

By the way, access to short numbers belonging directly to the MegaFon operator is not blocked - we can continue to call toll-free service numbers and send service SMS intended for connecting and disabling various services and options, as well as for paying for paid parking services. Also, access to numbers 5051, 5052 and 0633 is not blocked.

Service management

Managing the Stop Content option is very simple. You can activate and deactivate it in several ways:

• By logging into your “Personal Account” on the Megafon website.
• Using the USSD command from your smartphone.
• By sending an SMS message.

It is important to know here that if you decide to contact the company’s office to activate “Stop Content”, you may be refused. This happens because the specialists' instructions indicate that they can only turn it off.

How to disable the option

You can disable this service using the same methods as when connecting:

1. USSD request *393#, in which you need to select the number corresponding to the service deactivation number.
2. Information and reference service, where you need to explain to employees that it is necessary to disconnect the service from the subscriber’s card.
3. When visiting a MegaFon center with a passport and SIM card, you will also need to inform the operator that you want to disable the option.

If there were still funds in the separate account at the time the function was deactivated, they will be transferred to the main balance. There is no commission for this.

Restrictions

The main limitation is that if you are a corporate client of Megafon, you will not be able to activate “Stop Content” in your “Personal Account”. To do this, the company's contact person needs to contact their own service manager and submit an application.

Service history

Many subscribers remember and often ask the MegaFon operator to connect them to STOP content or STOP content 2. These services were closed by the operator as early as 07/07/2014, but they remain in people’s memory.

STOP content has been closed, modernized and renamed to "Ban Paid Content Short Codes" which is currently provided.

allowed MegaFon subscribers to block various services of MegaLabs CJSC (a subsidiary of MegaFon):

• Video portal;
• Radar;
• WAP-CLICK;
• Mobile portal;
• Federal SIM Menu MegaFonPRO (Sim portal MegaFonPRO) and so on.

These are all entertainment services of Megafon itself. At the moment, there are no analogues of this service. MegaFon services are connected if there is any prohibition.

Connecting the service

You can connect the option in various ways of your choice. Let's talk about them in detail.

Personal Area

In order to activate the function in this way, you need to log into your “Personal Account”. After that, select the section called “Services”. Now you need to find the product you need and click on the “Connect” button.

USSD command

You can avoid wasting money by using the USSD combination on your smartphone. To activate this service, you need to dial *105*801#, and then press call. You will receive a message on your smartphone stating that the service has been activated.

SMS message

You can activate the function by sending an SMS. It must be sent to phone number 0500914. In the body of the letter you can write “Connect” or put the number 1.

Call support

It is also possible to deny access to unnecessary subscriptions by calling Megafon support service. To do this, you need to dial the hotline number 0500 and inform specialists about the decision made. The call is free. The line operates 24 hours a day

Deactivating the ban on paid subscriptions

If necessary, the subscriber can always disable the “Stop Content” function and start using additional features again for a fee. The following options will help you cope with the task:

1. Service Guide - it’s easy to disable the function, just follow the commands on the mobile screen.
2. Combination *526*0# - after pressing the call key, the ban on paid subscriptions will be disabled automatically. The subscriber will receive a confirmation SMS.
3. Call the operator - to complete the procedure, you will need to tell the call center employee your passport details or code word.
4. Employees of the nearest Megafon office - the subscriber just needs to contact a consultant and provide an identification document.
5. SMS message with the number “2” to the number 0500914#.

After any of the above actions, a text message will be sent to the subscriber’s number with information about deactivating the service.

For the convenience of managing various functions, it is recommended to download the “My Megafon” mobile application. There you can monitor all transactions and track money write-offs on time.

Checking for subscriptions

If you still haven’t saved yourself and the money disappears from your account, then the first thing you need to do is check the availability of connected content services.

Do not trust online information that offers verification using a USSD command or similar methods. At the moment this is not relevant. The only way to check is through your personal account. First of all, you can order details there, where you can see what you are paying for. Secondly, in the services section you can see everything that is connected. There you can remove everything unnecessary. As an option, call the call center at 0500. This will be justified if you don’t have the Internet at hand.

Advantages and features of the option

The cost of use is free. Enabling the option will allow you to refuse not only from sending advertising from the operator’s system, but also from a similar product from Megafon’s partners.

We must immediately make a reservation that the activation of this ban will not affect the reception of various important messages (from the bank, from numbers of other services, etc.). The barrier will be established only for advertising of entertainment products.

This restricted service is available to all users of the company without exception, but it will operate within the boundaries of the home region. If you leave your region, the ban will lose force and advertising will begin to annoy you again.

It is impossible not to mention the distinctive features of this useful service:

1. The active state of this option will not interfere with the operation of payment systems; you will still be able to deposit money, say, into the account of your page on social networks. It will be possible to pay for some individual services for entertainment and leisure.
2. The service operates in all regions of the country.
3. Please note that in some areas of the Russian Federation it will not be possible to activate the service using a USSD request. It will be necessary to use an alternative method.

The question arises: is the service paid or not? There is no need to pay anything, and there is also no subscription fee.

Why do they write off money?

After a subscriber manages to detect a “leakage” of money from an account marked “Charge for content,” he has a completely logical question about why the subscription was activated if he did not give his consent to connect such services.
The situation is very controversial and occurs quite often. Complaints and angry reviews about unauthorized debiting of money for content can be found on thematic forums and communities on various social networks. Many people believe that the mobile operator Megafon automatically directs its customers to the resources of content providers. And in the event of a call to the technical support service, employees blame the inattention of the subscribers themselves. If we consider this situation from the point of view of benefits for the mobile operator, Megafon is really interested in having a huge network of websites with a paid subscription. As practice shows, most clients, by the time the “leakage” of money from the account becomes obvious, manage to lose from two to three hundred rubles. A popular opinion is also confirmed by the fact that it is not difficult for Megafon to block such resources, but the mobile operator is in no hurry to crack down on content providers. The only steps taken by Megafon towards its customers are to provide a complete list of paid sites.

The technical support service reports that situations with “Charge for content” are most often observed in the following cases:

1. The subscriber, in search of entertainment content, goes to the resource and personally activates the paid subscription.
2. The subscriber unintentionally clicks on one of the pop-up advertising banners, thus activating the service.
3. The account was hacked by attackers who activated a paid subscription.
4. The phone is infected with Trojan-type viruses that have performed the steps of connecting to one of the web portals from the content provider category.

As a result, the following situation arises: the operator responds to massive complaints from subscribers only with a request to be extremely attentive while surfing the Internet. According to Megafon's press service, minor subscribers due to their own curiosity and pensioners due to lack of experience are most exposed to this risk.

Where does the subscription come from?

The first reaction when we find out that money is being debited from our account for some paid services is indignation! We can’t understand how it is that we suddenly have a subscription that we don’t even know about.

People write angry reviews saying that they didn’t sign up for anything. There is a feeling that Megafon is deliberately resorting to fraudulent schemes. Representatives of the company blame users for simply being very inattentive.

Here is an example of a site where a subscription to paid services occurs unnoticed by the user.

To avoid becoming a victim of this kind of fraud, try to follow these tips:

• do not go to sites that warn in small or large print that you may be charged for visiting them;
• try to avoid accidentally clicking on pop-up alerts and banners, so as not to activate a service that you do not agree to;
• do not download pirated content and do not visit dubious sites so that attackers cannot hack your personal account in Megafon and do not activate the subscription themselves;
• install an antivirus program and regularly scan your device for Trojans and other malicious applications;

Content personal account

A very unpopular service. Only 6% of subscribers use it . The operator does not promote it, and information on it is not easy to find on the Internet. Its introduction is associated with amendments to the law on communications, according to which the operator is required to provide a content-based personal account.

Its essence is that entertainment services and subscriptions are paid from it. If there is no money there, the service will not be activated. There is no negative balance.

You can connect a content personal account only upon application at the operator’s office. There is no single method of self-service. There is no charge for this.

Below is a list of control commands:

• View balance - *393*1#;
• Transfer funds between accounts *393*2#;
• Find out the number for replenishment *393*3#.

This method is suitable for those who use short numbers, but want to keep the write-offs under control.