Stop Unauthorized Airtime Deductions in Nigeria: *305# & DND Guide

Last updated: 23rd August 2026

Have you ever checked your airtime balance and found money missing, without recharging, without making calls, and without knowing why? You are not alone. It is one of the most common complaints among Nigerian mobile users, and in most cases, the culprit is a Value-Added Service (VAS) subscription you never knowingly signed up for.

The good news is that Nigerian telecom regulation gives you two free tools to take back control: the *305# USSD code and the 2442 Do-Not-Disturb (DND) short code. This guide walks you through exactly how to use both.

Why Is My Network Deducting Airtime for Services I Didn't Subscribe To?

These deductions almost always come from Value-Added Services (VAS), non-core services beyond basic calls, SMS and data, such as ringback tunes, daily jokes, sports or horoscope alerts, trivia games, and "win cash" promos.

Subscriptions to these services can be triggered in several ways: a missed call to a promotional shortcode, clicking a pop-up ad while browsing, an SMS you replied to without realizing it counted as consent, or in some cases, being added without any clear action on your part. Many of these subscriptions also auto-renew daily or weekly, which is why small deductions can quietly add up over time.

How to Check and Deactivate VAS Subscriptions with *305#

*305# is the NCC's unified USSD code for managing Value-Added Services, and it works the same way across all four major networks.

Step-by-Step: Using *305#

1. Open your phone's dialer and dial *305#, then press call/send.
2. Select the option to view active subscriptions from the menu shown.
3. If your line has no active VAS, you will typically see a message such as "You have no active service."
4. If you see a subscription you don't recognize (games, horoscopes, trivia, ringback tunes, etc.), select the option to deactivate or unsubscribe.
5. You should receive an SMS confirming that you have successfully opted out.

It is worth dialing *305# every so often, even if you have not noticed a deduction, since some subscriptions are easy to miss on a busy line.

Blocking Future Subscriptions with DND (2442)

While *305# handles subscriptions already on your line, the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) service helps prevent new ones. DND is an NCC-mandated service that blocks unsolicited promotional messages, one of the main channels through which people get signed up for VAS in the first place.

Sending STOP to 2442 activates Full DND, which blocks unsolicited SMS and calls from service providers. If you would rather keep some categories of messages (for example banking or real estate alerts) while blocking others, texting HELP to 2442 shows you the partial DND options.

What to Do If a Deduction Continues or You Want a Refund

If *305# does not fully resolve a deduction, or you want to request a refund for airtime already lost to an unwanted subscription:

1. Contact your network's customer care on 300 and explain the specific deduction, including the date and amount if you have it.
2. Ask them to confirm the subscription has been removed and request a refund for the unauthorized charge.
3. If the issue is not resolved, you can escalate a formal complaint to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) through its toll-free consumer line, 622.

Why This Matters

Airtime and data are money, and small, repeated VAS deductions can quietly cost far more over a year than most people realize. Knowing *305# and the DND code 2442 puts that control back in your hands, at no cost, and without needing to visit anywhere.

And when you do need to top up what these deductions have taken, or simply want a straightforward, transparent way to buy airtime and data, Gosub.ng brings recharge, data, bill payments and airtime-to-cash together in one platform.

👉 Create your free Gosub account today and top up with full visibility over what you're paying for.

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