How to Stop Unwanted Glo Premium / VAS Services
Your airtime drops by a small amount, again and again, and you cannot remember buying anything. Or your phone fills up with messages from short codes you never signed up for. Many Nigerians have been there, and the cause is usually a value added service, or VAS, that started when someone tapped a link, replied to a message or accepted a menu option by mistake.
The good news is that you can see what is active on your line and switch off what you do not want. The better news is that a few simple habits stop the problem from coming back.
This guide covers every practical route: the national service code, the Glo menus, the do-not-disturb setting, the Glo Café app and customer care. Where a detail may differ on your line, we say so, and you should trust what your own screen shows.
The routes at a glance
| Route | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| *305# | National code to view and switch off value added services on your line | Finding and stopping subscriptions |
| *301# | Glo self-service menu with service and account options | Checking Glo’s own service settings |
| SMS STOP to 2442 | Starts do-not-disturb for promotional messages | Cutting unwanted promo texts |
| Glo Café app | Shows balances, plans and activity | Spotting deductions |
| Call 121 | Customer care can look at your services | Stubborn or unclear cases |
What is a value added service?
A value added service is anything extra on top of calls, texts and data. Examples include caller tunes, daily alerts, jokes, horoscopes, music clubs, games and news. Some cost a small amount each day, some each week, and some come free at first and then start charging.
Premium services are the ones that charge you more than the normal rate for a message or a call. Some are legitimate and some are traps. Either way, you should only pay for what you chose.
Signs that a VAS is draining your airtime
- Small deductions with no call, no message and no data bundle.
- Text messages from short numbers that ask you to reply or confirm.
- Airtime that disappears faster after you clicked a link or an ad.
- A daily or weekly charge that matches a service name in a message.
- Messages that say you have subscribed to something you do not remember.
Step 1: Check what is active with *305#
Dial *305#. This is the national code that lets you see value added services on your line and deactivate the ones you do not want. Read the list that appears, note each service and pick the ones to switch off.
| 1 | Dial *305# and press call. |
| 2 | Read the options and open the one that shows your active services. |
| 3 | Select a service you do not want. |
| 4 | Choose the option to deactivate or unsubscribe. |
| 5 | Wait for the confirmation text and repeat for any other service. |
Menus can differ by network and line. If you see an error, move on to the Glo self-service menu or call 121. Do not keep dialling the same code over and over.
Dial *301# and look through the options for services, subscriptions or account settings. Read each option before you choose it. If you find anything you did not choose, note the name and the date it started. That information will help if you need to call customer care.
Step 3: Switch on do-not-disturb for promotional messages
Promotional messages and value added services are different, but both can clutter your phone. To stop most promotional texts, send the word STOP to 2442. The service also lets you choose which categories you still want to receive.
| Text this to 2442 | What it does |
|---|---|
| STOP | Blocks promotional messages |
| HELP | Lets you choose categories to keep or block |
| ALLOW | Turns do-not-disturb off |
| STATUS | Shows your current setting |
Do-not-disturb does not cancel subscriptions you already have. It only reduces unwanted promotional messages, so use it together with the steps above.
Step 4: Reply STOP the right way
Some services let you opt out by replying STOP to the number that sent the message. Do this only when the message clearly comes from a service you know about. If the sender looks suspicious, do not reply, because replying can confirm that your number is active.
Step 5: Use the Glo Café app
Log in with your Glo number and look at your recent activity. Deductions are easier to spot there than in a plain balance check. The app also lists your plans, so you can tell a data renewal from a service charge.
Step 6: Call customer care
Call 121 from your Glo line. Explain that you are being charged for a service you did not ask for. Give the dates and amounts, and ask the agent to list the services on your line and deactivate the unwanted ones. Ask for a reference number.
- Say that you want all unwanted value added services removed.
- Ask which services are active and what each one costs.
- Ask for deactivation of each service you did not choose.
- Ask whether any charges can be reversed.
- Write down the reference number and the agent’s name.
Caller tunes and flash messages
Caller tunes and flash messages are common sources of small charges. If you notice a tune you did not set, or flash messages appearing on your screen, check your services in the self-service menu and switch them off there. If you cannot find the option, ask customer care to remove them.
Services that start with free trials
Many services begin with a free week or a free day. When the trial ends, they start charging. Read every confirmation message carefully, and if it mentions a trial, note the date it ends. Cancel before that date if you do not want to pay.
How to avoid signing up by accident
- Do not click links in messages from unknown senders.
- Do not reply YES, OK or 1 unless you know what you are accepting.
- Close pop-up ads in apps and browsers without tapping them.
- Be careful on websites that ask for your phone number to unlock content.
- Read confirmation messages instead of deleting them.
Children and relatives who borrow your phone can sign up for services without realising. If you share a phone, check your balance and services regularly. A short chat about not tapping unknown links saves money.
How to confirm that a service is really off
Wait a day, then check your airtime with *310#. Note the figure, wait another day and check again. If the balance only changes when you use calls or data, the unwanted service is off. Keep the confirmation text in case a charge reappears.
If you are still charged
| 1 | Write down the date, time and amount of the charge. |
| 2 | Check *305# and *301# again for services you missed. |
| 3 | Call 121 and quote the charge and any confirmation text. |
| 4 | Ask for a reversal and a reference number. |
| 5 | If nothing happens, escalate through the telecom regulator’s consumer channels with your records. |
Common problems
The charge may come from a data renewal or a service that the code does not list. Check *323# and call 121.
Some services can be re-subscribed by replying to a message. Delete such messages and do not reply.
Give the date, the amount and the name from the message that mentioned it.
DND reduces promotional messages, but it may not block everything. Use the category option for finer control.
How to read a subscription message
Every legitimate subscription sends a message that tells you what you joined, how much it costs and how to leave. Read it slowly. Look for four things: the service name, the price, how often you are charged and the opt-out instruction. If any of the four is missing, treat the service with suspicion.
| Look for | Why it matters | If it is missing |
|---|---|---|
| Service name | Tells you what to search for in your services list | Ask customer care what the sender is |
| Price | Shows whether it will drain your airtime | Assume it costs money until proven otherwise |
| Billing period | Daily, weekly or monthly changes the real cost | Check your airtime over a few days |
| How to stop | Shows the legitimate way out | Use *305# or call 121 |
Real life example: the daily alert that cost more than a bundle
Chidi noticed his airtime dropping by a small amount each morning. He did not call, browse or buy data. After a week he dialled *305#, found a daily alert service he had joined by tapping a link, and switched it off. His airtime stopped falling, and the small daily charge, once added up, was more than a weekly data bundle.
Real life example: the borrowed phone
Amaka’s younger cousin played a game on her phone and tapped a prompt that said continue. A weekly game service started charging her. She found it in her services list, switched it off and asked customer care to look at the charges. Since then she checks her services once a month and keeps the phone locked.
Premium messages and calls versus subscriptions
A subscription charges you repeatedly. A premium message or call charges you each time you use it, often at a higher rate. If you replied to a competition or voted in a contest by text, you may have paid a premium rate for each message. Check your balance after replying to any short number so you know the cost.
What customer care can and cannot do
- They can list services on your line and deactivate them.
- They can review charges and reverse errors where they find them.
- They cannot always refund charges for services you agreed to.
- They cannot read your messages, so bring the dates and amounts yourself.
Teach your family the same habits
A service that drains one phone can drain every phone in the house. Show relatives how to read a confirmation message, how to dial *305# and why they should not tap unknown links. Ten minutes of explanation at home can prevent months of small, silent charges.
Your rights as a subscriber
You should not be charged for a service you never agreed to. Networks must tell you the cost and give you a way to leave. If you find a charge that breaks that rule, say so clearly when you complain, and keep every message that supports your case. Calm, factual complaints are taken more seriously than long angry ones.
When to change your habits and when to change your SIM
Most unwanted services stop once you clean them up and avoid unknown links. If the same problem keeps coming back after repeated cleanups, ask customer care to check the line for repeat subscriptions. Changing SIMs is rarely needed, and it creates its own paperwork, so treat it as a last resort.
- Ask the agent to put a note on your account about the repeated issue.
- Ask for a list of all services in one message you can save.
- Review your balance every day for a week after the cleanup.
- Keep screenshots of each cancellation.
A monthly clean-up routine
| 1 | Dial *305# and read the list of active services. |
| 2 | Switch off anything you do not recognise. |
| 3 | Open the Glo Café app and scan the recent activity. |
| 4 | Dial *310# and note your airtime. |
| 5 | Delete old promotional messages and keep any confirmation texts you may need. |
Money saving checklist
- Check your services once a month.
- Keep your balance check habit after every purchase.
- Delete suspicious messages without replying.
- Save 121 in your contacts.
- Turn on do-not-disturb and review it every few months.
Questions people ask
Menu codes are normally free, but read each screen in case a charge is shown.
Customer care can deactivate services on your line, but you may need to explain the dates and amounts.
Sometimes. It depends on what Glo finds. A clear record helps.
No. It only reduces promotional messages. You still need to deactivate subscriptions.
Report it as an unauthorised subscription and ask for a refund and a reference number.
Final word
Use *305# to see and stop services, check *301# and the Glo Café app for anything else, turn on do-not-disturb to quieten promotional texts, and call 121 if the charges continue. A few minutes of cleaning up can save you a surprising amount of airtime every month.
