Top up your wallet

Your Shereko wallet pays for the invitations and messages you send. You top it up once, and every WhatsApp or SMS send draws from the balance. Creating an account and events is free, and new accounts get a few free WhatsApp sends to try things out.

How credits are used

• Each WhatsApp message and each SMS part costs a small amount from your balance. The current rates are on the pricing section and in Settings → Credits.
• Settings → Credits shows your Current balance and roughly how many WhatsApp sends it covers.
• The sidebar shows your balance on every dashboard page, with a Top up → link.

Top up with mobile money

1. Open Settings, choose the Credits tab and tap Add credits. You can also tap Top up → in the sidebar.
2. Under Pay with, choose Mobile Money (TZS).
3. Pick an amount under Select amount, or type your own in Custom amount. The minimum is Sh 1,000.
4. Under Select provider, choose your network: M-Pesa, Airtel Money, HaloPesa or Mixx by Yas (the list shows the networks available right now).
5. Enter the Phone number that will pay.
6. Check the fee line: it shows how much will be added after the provider's fee, for example "Sh 9,800 will be added after the Sh 200 provider fee".
7. Tap Pay and confirm the prompt on your phone with your PIN.

The window shows Waiting for payment confirmation… while you approve. When the operator confirms, you will see Payment received! and your balance updates straight away.

Top up with a card

1. In the top-up window, choose Card / Stripe (USD).
2. Pick or enter an amount in US dollars (minimum $1).
3. Tap Pay. You are redirected to Stripe's secure page to enter your card.
4. When payment finishes you are brought back to Settings and your USD balance shows in the sidebar.

Stripe's card fee is deducted from the amount added to your balance.

Top up while sending

If your balance is too low when you send invitations, the send screen tells you how much is missing. You can:

• tap Top up wallet to add credits first, or
• use Pay & Send: enter your mobile money number, approve the prompt, and Shereko sends your cards automatically once the payment lands.

You can also top up from the Shereko WhatsApp bot by typing JAZA. See The Shereko WhatsApp bot.

Fees

• Mobile money: the network's deposit fee is deducted from the top-up. The window shows the exact amount you will receive before you pay.
• Card: Stripe's card fee is deducted from the amount added.
• Message prices can change. Check the pricing section rather than relying on old screenshots.

Troubleshooting

I didn't get the payment prompt

• Check the number and network you entered. The number must be registered for mobile money on that network.
• Make sure your phone has signal and the SIM is active, then tap Try again.
• Some networks time out after about three minutes. If the window says Payment expired — no response received, start again.

The payment failed

Common reasons are a wrong PIN, not enough mobile money balance, or the prompt being cancelled. Nothing is deducted from your mobile money account for a failed payment. Fix the cause and tap Try again.

Money left my phone but the balance did not change

Do not pay again yet. Wait a few minutes and refresh Settings → Credits. If you saw Payment is awaiting review, the top-up is being checked and will be added once confirmed. If it still has not arrived after 15 minutes, contact support with the transaction reference from your SMS.

FAQ

Is there a minimum top-up?

Yes: Sh 1,000 for mobile money and $1 for card.

Can I get a refund of unused credits?

Credits stay in your wallet and carry over to your next events. For special cases, contact support.

Is my wallet the same as my contributions money?

No. The wallet is for paying for sends. Money guests contribute through michango is tracked separately per event. See Michango (contributions).

Do credits expire?

No. Your balance stays in your account until you use it.