diff --git a/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/processor.py b/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/processor.py
index 864cd53f..b31564ca 100644
--- a/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/processor.py
+++ b/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/processor.py
@@ -270,7 +270,24 @@ def process_display_user_metadata(user: Account, display_key: str):
             products=products
         )
     else:
-        raise MetadataNotFoundError(f'Expected person metadata but found none in cache for key: {key}')
+        # TODO [Philip]: All these translations could be moved to translation files.
+        logg.warning(f'Expected person metadata but found none in cache for key: {key}')
+
+        absent = ''
+        if user.preferred_language == 'en':
+            absent = 'Not provided'
+        elif user.preferred_language == 'sw':
+            absent = 'Haijawekwa'
+
+        return translation_for(
+            key=display_key,
+            preferred_language=user.preferred_language,
+            full_name=absent,
+            gender=absent,
+            location=absent,
+            products=absent
+        )
+
 
 
 def process_account_statement(user: Account, display_key: str, ussd_session: dict):
diff --git a/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/state_machine/logic/transaction.py b/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/state_machine/logic/transaction.py
index 2c4bbf02..84c866ee 100644
--- a/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/state_machine/logic/transaction.py
+++ b/apps/cic-ussd/cic_ussd/state_machine/logic/transaction.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from cic_ussd.balance import BalanceManager, compute_operational_balance
 from cic_ussd.chain import Chain
 from cic_ussd.db.models.account import AccountStatus, Account
 from cic_ussd.operations import save_to_in_memory_ussd_session_data
-from cic_ussd.phone_number import get_user_by_phone_number
+from cic_ussd.phone_number import get_user_by_phone_number, process_phone_number
 from cic_ussd.processor import retrieve_token_symbol
 from cic_ussd.redis import create_cached_data_key, get_cached_data
 from cic_ussd.transactions import OutgoingTransactionProcessor
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def is_valid_recipient(state_machine_data: Tuple[str, dict, Account]) -> bool:
     """
     user_input, ussd_session, user = state_machine_data
     recipient = get_user_by_phone_number(phone_number=user_input)
-    is_not_initiator = user_input != user.phone_number
+    is_not_initiator = process_phone_number(user_input, 'KE') != user.phone_number
     has_active_account_status = user.get_account_status() == AccountStatus.ACTIVE.name
     return is_not_initiator and has_active_account_status and recipient is not None
 
diff --git a/apps/cic-ussd/transitions/signup_transitions.json b/apps/cic-ussd/transitions/signup_transitions.json
index 193ec132..731c8131 100644
--- a/apps/cic-ussd/transitions/signup_transitions.json
+++ b/apps/cic-ussd/transitions/signup_transitions.json
@@ -36,26 +36,12 @@
     "source": "initial_pin_entry",
     "dest": "exit_invalid_pin"
   },
-  {
-    "trigger": "scan_data",
-    "source": "initial_pin_confirmation",
-    "dest": "start",
-    "conditions": [
-      "cic_ussd.state_machine.logic.pin.pins_match",
-      "cic_ussd.state_machine.logic.validator.has_cached_user_metadata"
-    ],
-    "after": [
-      "cic_ussd.state_machine.logic.pin.complete_pin_change",
-      "cic_ussd.state_machine.logic.user.get_user_metadata",
-      "cic_ussd.state_machine.logic.user.update_account_status_to_active"
-    ]
-  },
   {
     "trigger": "scan_data",
     "source": "initial_pin_confirmation",
     "unless": "cic_ussd.state_machine.logic.validator.has_cached_user_metadata",
     "conditions": "cic_ussd.state_machine.logic.pin.pins_match",
-    "dest": "enter_given_name",
+    "dest": "start",
     "after": [
       "cic_ussd.state_machine.logic.pin.complete_pin_change",
       "cic_ussd.state_machine.logic.user.update_account_status_to_active"