Vodacom's Please Call Me is officially branded CallMe. It is free, it needs no airtime, and — unlike most networks — you can change what the message says.
The code
Example: to reach 082 123 4567, dial *140*0821234567# and press the call button.
Confirmed on Vodacom's own official USSD listing.
Step by step
- Open the dialler on your Vodacom handset.
- Type *140*, then the recipient's number, then #.
- Press the call button. It is a USSD string, not a call, so no airtime is used.
- A confirmation appears on your screen.
- The recipient gets a free text asking them to call you, showing your number.
The bit most people miss: customise your CallMe
Dial *140# on its own and you get the CallMe menu, where you can personalise the message that gets sent — useful if you want it to say something more specific than the default. It is a small thing, but it is the difference between a callback and an ignored message.
Cost and limits
Vodacom's own material describes CallMe as free, and notes that a usage cap was introduced after the service was heavily over-used in its early days. Vodacom does not currently publish the exact daily number. You will be told when you have reached it.
For context, since it comes up often: Vodacom did at one point attempt to charge around 15c per Please Call Me before reverting. The service today is free.
The other half: Please Recharge Me
Less well known, and often more useful than a callback:
Sends a request asking that person to recharge your airtime.
When it does not work
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "Invalid MMI code" or "Connection problem" | Formatting, or the dialler treated it as a call | Retype with no spaces, keep the leading 0, finish with # |
| Limit reached message | Daily cap hit | Wait for the reset, or use a missed call |
| Recipient never gets it | Phone off or out of coverage | It usually delivers once they are back on the network |
| Fails on dual-SIM | Sent from the wrong SIM slot | Select the Vodacom SIM when prompted |
| Fails abroad | USSD generally does not work while roaming | Use WhatsApp over Wi-Fi |
Free alternatives
- A missed call. One ring, no cost, your number on their screen.
- WhatsApp on Wi-Fi. No airtime, no mobile data.
- Ask for airtime. Vodacom's Airtime Transfer runs on *135*072#.
- Airtime Advance. Check eligibility with *135*082# if you need airtime before payday.
Using it to find your own number
Because the CallMe message displays your number to the recipient, sending one to a friend is the quickest way to work out your own number. Worth knowing, because Vodacom's old check-your-number code no longer works — see how to check your Vodacom number.
Vodacom shortcodes that changed
If a guide tells you to dial 111, 100 or 121, it is out of date:
| Service | Old | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Customer care | 111 | 135 |
| Recharge / balance | 100 | 136 |
| Voicemail | 121 | 132 |