It’s important to keep track of how much you use your phone in today’s fast-moving digital world. Saudi Telecom Company (STC) is one of the biggest telecommunication companies in Saudi Arabia and they provide numerous services to their clients such as voice calls and internet packages. Whether you live in Saudi Arabia or just came for a visit with an STC SIM card on your device, it’s always prudent to know how to check your remaining airtime balance. This way, you will always have an idea of your airtime utilization thus helping to manage your budget efficiently while avoiding any unexpected disruptions in services. This article will explore various ways through which you can check your STC balance in 2024; be it through USSD codes which are considered as traditional or by simply using the STC app which is mostly preferred because of its convenience.
Contents
Why Checking Your STC Balance is Important
It’s essential to know why you need to keep checking your STC balance regularly before we get into the details.
- Avoiding Service Interruptions: When your credit is used up, it comes as a surprise and could prevent you from calling or receiving calls, sending messages, or using the Internet. So you need to frequently check your credit status just to minimize incidents.
- Budget Management: The remainder of balance tracking aids in adhering to your budget by preventing instances of overspending on data or call packages.
- Optimizing Usage: It is particularly useful for customers who are using prepaid plans, in monitoring users’ balances and adjusting their habits in accordance with how much credit or data allowance remains.
Considering these factors, we can now move on to exploring the actual methods that you might consider using in verifying your STC balance.
Method 1: Using USSD Codes
One of the simplest and most widely-used techniques for checking your STC balance is by using USSD codes. These are shortcodes that you can dial from your phone to retrieve information from your mobile service provider.
Step-by-Step Guide for Checking Balance with USSD:
- Open Your Phone’s Dialer: Start by opening the dialer app on your mobile phone.
- Enter the USSD Code: Type in the USSD code
*166#
and press the call button. This is the most commonly used code for checking your STC balance. - View Your Balance: Your screen will display how much you have left in just a few seconds. This is usually a sum of what is left in your data allowances minus any credit balance depending on what plan you are on.
- Take Note of the Balance: If necessary, take a screenshot or note down the balance for future reference.
USSD codes are very easy to use compared to the internet. For instance, when moving around or in places without strong internet network, USSD codes can be your best option.
Method 2: Using the STC App (MySTC)
The MySTC app is considered great for individuals who like managing their mobile accounts more visual and detailed way. It is available for both Android and iOS users, enabling its users to view their balances, buy a new plan, or even pay bills.
Step-by-Step Guide for Checking Balance via MySTC App:
- Download and Install the MySTC App: If you haven’t already, download the MySTC app from the Google Play Store (for Android users) or the App Store (for iPhone users).
- Open the App: After you have installed it, open the application and sign in with your STC account details. In case you are using the app for the first time, create an account using your STC phone number.
- Navigate to Account Information: Once logged in, navigate to the section labeled “Account” or “Balance” within the app. This section will display all relevant information regarding your account, including your remaining balance and data usage.
- Check Your Balance: You can view detailed information on your current balance including any amount due and available minutes: outstanding, data available, and minutes below. In addition, you may check on the validity period for your plan (monthly or otherwise) that way you can be sure of when next you need to recharge it.
The MySTC app is particularly useful for people who need to get greater visibility of their mobile consumption. Moreover, it includes other services like customer care, subscription package modification, and payment methods making it your one-stop shop for STC account management.
Method 3: SMS Inquiry
Another simple method of checking your balance is via sending an SMS to STC. Users who like a text-based option which has no extra functions find the method good.
Step-by-Step Guide for Checking Balance via SMS:
- Open Your Messaging App: Go to your phone’s messaging app.
- Compose a New Message: In the recipient field, enter the number
900
. - Send the SMS: Type
166
in the message body and press send. - Wait for a Response: Within a few moments, you will receive an SMS from STC that includes your remaining balance and data allowance.
This method is as simple as it gets and works on both smartphones and feature phones. Plus, it doesn’t require internet access, making it accessible to everyone.
Method 4: Online Account Access
For those who prefer accessing their account through a desktop or laptop, STC offers a web-based portal where you can manage your account and check your balance.
Step-by-Step Guide for Checking Balance Online:
- Visit the STC Website: Go to the official STC website (www.stc.com.sa).
- Log In to Your Account: Click on the “Login” button and enter your account credentials. If you don’t have an account yet, you can create one by registering with your STC phone number.
- Navigate to Account Information: Once logged in, find the section labeled “My Account” or “Balance” to view your remaining balance, data, and minutes.
- Check Your Balance: The website provides detailed information about your current balance, including any active packages and their expiration dates.
This method is perfect for users who prefer a larger screen or those who are at a computer and want to check their balance quickly.
Method 5: Contacting Customer Support
If, for any reason, the previous methods are not working for you, you can always contact STC customer support directly. STC’s customer service representatives can provide you with your balance and other account information.
Step-by-Step Guide for Checking Balance via Customer Support:
- Dial 900: Call STC’s customer service number at
900
. - Follow the Prompts: Follow the voice prompts to speak to a customer service representative.
- Request Balance Information: Once connected, ask the representative to provide you with your current balance.
Though this method is more time-consuming than the others, it guarantees that you’ll get the information you need directly from a customer support agent.