How to Activate and Deactivate NTC Services (2026): Stop Unwanted Balance Deduction

Last updated: 27 September 2026 · Codes checked against Nepal Telecom's official Useful Short Codes page. Covers Namaste prepaid and postpaid mobile, plus landline and NT Fiber support.

Most people land on this page for one reason: money is leaving their NTC balance and they don't know why. Readers in the comments below have described the same pattern for years — a game or entertainment pack subscribed by one accidental tap, a caller tune from a festival offer, or data that kept running on pay-as-you-go after a pack ran out.

This guide is organised around fixing that. First, the causes of automatic balance deduction and how to check each one. Then every NTC service that can be switched on or off, with the activate and deactivate code side by side. If you only need a code for checking balance, recharging or transferring, our full NTC USSD codes list has all of them in one place.

Why Is My NTC Balance Deducting Automatically?

Nepal Telecom does not remove balance at random. Every deduction comes from something active on your line. These are the usual culprits, roughly in order of how often they cause the problem:

• Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) data. When a data pack runs out, mobile data used to continue at the standard per-MB rate straight from your main balance. This is the single biggest cause, and since April 2026 you can switch it off (next section).
• Third-party value-added services (VAS). Game, puzzle and entertainment packs such as Telenet Games renew daily or weekly until you cancel them.
• Caller Ring Back Tone (CRBT). A caller tune has a recurring subscription fee, separate from the song itself.
• Missed Call Alert (MCA). A small recurring charge that is easy to forget about.
• Namaste Credit repayment. If you borrowed balance, the loan and its fee are taken from your next recharge — which looks like missing money if you forgot you borrowed.
• Recurring data packs. Some packs renew automatically at the end of their validity. Check your active packs in the Nepal Telecom app, or ask 1498 to cancel the renewal.

How to Turn Off PAYG Data on NTC (New in 2026)

In April 2026, Nepal Telecom added an option to disable pay-as-you-go data. With PAYG off, your mobile data simply stops when a pack ends instead of drawing from your main balance.

1. Dial *444# from your NTC SIM.
2. Choose option 4 (PAYG).
3. Select Disable. You should receive a confirmation that PAYG data is disabled.

To turn it back on, repeat the same steps and choose Enable. NTC has also started sending a notification once you've used about 90% of a data pack, so keep an eye out for that message.

All NTC Services: Activate and Deactivate Codes

Every service you can switch on or off yourself, with both directions side by side. Official means the code is listed on Nepal Telecom's own short-code page. Reported means it is in use and covered by Nepali telecom news sites but not yet on that page. Unconfirmed means it comes from older guides and may have changed — if one fails, call 1498.

How to Deactivate Games, Caller Tunes and Other Paid Services

Telenet Games and other third-party packs

Game and entertainment packs are the services readers complain about most. They're usually triggered by tapping an ad or a pop-up, and they renew every week until cancelled. To cancel Telenet Games & Entertainment, send UNSUB GAMES to 1422.

Several readers have reported that this SMS returns an error or that they can't send SMS at all once the balance is drained. If that happens, don't keep retrying — call 1498 from the affected SIM, tell the agent the name of the service in the charge message, and ask them to remove it. You can also check subscribed services in the Nepal Telecom app.

Caller Ring Back Tone (CRBT)

Send UNSUB to 1455. This cancels the subscription itself, not just the current song, so the recurring fee stops.

Missed Call Alert

Dial *1400*2# or send UNSUB to 1400 to turn it off. Dial *1400*1# or send SUB to 1400 to turn it back on.

Namaste Credit

Dial *1477# and choose the deactivate option to switch off the loan service so it can't be taken by accident. Many guides also list sending STOP to 1477, but the USSD menu is the method Nepal Telecom currently lists. Any outstanding loan is still recovered from your next recharge. For eligibility and repayment details, see how to take a loan (sapati) on NTC.

Call Forwarding, Call Waiting and International Calling

These don't cost money by themselves, but a wrong setting can make your phone seem broken.

• Calls not reaching you? Dial *#21# to see whether forwarding is active, then ##002# to cancel every diversion at once.
• Call waiting lets a second call come through while you're on the first. Turn it on with *43# and off with #43#.
• International calling (ISD) uses the GSM barring convention, so the codes look reversed: #331*0000# removes the bar (calls allowed) and *331*0000# sets it (calls blocked). Blocking ISD is sensible on a SIM you lend to someone.

International Roaming, 4G and VoLTE

Prepaid users can activate roaming before leaving Nepal by dialling *1415*7# and choosing the roaming option, or through the Nepal Telecom app. Activation and deactivation are free, and Nepal Telecom recommends switching roaming off when you return. Postpaid roaming is arranged at an NTC office.

For 4G and VoLTE, dial *444#. If the menu says your SIM isn't 4G-capable, no code will fix it; you'll need a SIM swap at an NTC office, or you can consider an NTC eSIM.

Balance Still Deducting and You Can't Identify the Service?

1. Read the charge SMS. Most VAS providers send a message when they charge you. The service name and short code in that message tell you where to send UNSUB.
2. Open the Nepal Telecom app and check your subscribed services and recent usage.
3. Call 1498 from the NTC SIM. It's free, and the agent can list and remove active value-added services.
4. Visit an NTC service centre with your citizenship or ID if the charges continue after cancellation, and ask for a usage statement.

Landline and NT Fiber (FTTH) Help

Temporary disconnection or transfer of a landline or fiber connection isn't done by code. Call 198 or visit your nearest NTC office with the account number from your bill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related guides

• Complete NTC USSD codes list (2026)
• How to check your NTC data balance
• How to take a loan (sapati) on NTC
• Check SIM owner name in Nepal (NTC & Ncell)
• Activate and deactivate Ncell services
• Activate and deactivate Smart Cell services