NTC defers extended validity for unused load credits

MANILA, Philippines - Prepaid cellular phone service subscribers will have to wait a little longer before they can fully enjoy the benefits of new government rules that extend the validity period of load credits.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said it is suspending until further notice a portion of an earlier approved set of guidelines on prepaid loads, particularly the part which provided that “for each new load that is purchased, the amount of the unused loads earlier purchased that are still within the validity period shall be added to and accumulate to the new load.”

The suspended provision also states that “the new minimum validity or expiry period shall be based on the sum of the new load plus the unused load. For example, if a subscriber has an unused load of P2 and a P10 new load is purchased, the new validity or expiry period shall be 15 days.”

The new set of rules, which prescribes the validity or expiry periods of prepaid loads, was promulgated by the NTC in the wake of Senate investigations into so-called “missing loads.”

In justifying the suspension, the NTC explained that further consultation with the suppliers of software and intelligent network platform showed that there is a need for sufficient time for hardware acquisition, software development, testing and deployment.

Still in effect, however, are the other provisions of the circular, in particular those which provide for longer expiration or validity periods of prepaid loads.

Prepaid loads with higher value shall have longer expiration or validity period under the NTC circular. For loads of P10 or lower, the minimum expiry period is three days while loads of more than P10 but not exceeding P50 shall be valid for at least 15 days.

For loads of more than P50 to P100, the minimum validity period is 30 days while loads exceeding P100 to P150 shall be valid for at least 45 days. If the load is more than P150 but not more than P250, the period provided is not less than 60 days; for more than P250 to P300, 75 days; and for loads of more than P300, at least 120 days.

The NTC circular provided that the validity period of the prepaid load shall commence upon receipt of confirmation of the prepaid load purchased. However, public telecommunications entities or cellular mobile telephone service providers may offer longer validity or expiry period for prepaid loads.

Access to balance inquiry service through text messages shall likewise be free of charge.