Domestic Phone Lines

Domestic Phone Lines
Owning and purchasing a domestic phone is quite complicated. So if possible, get your supervisor to help you out with this. If your predecessor doesn't leave you their phone line it will take some work.

Most JETs have a domestic phone line provided by NTT. Until a few years ago a person had to buy a phone line for a considerable sum of cash. The original owner might have sold it to their successor and so on down the line to you. The ownership (distinct from merely possessing the physical line) may also have been transferred. If so, the line will be registered in your name and you are free to do with it as you like.

If the ownership wasn't transferred, however, you might just find yourself with the billing right. This might limit your options because while you may use the phone, you don't technically own the rights to it. In many cases you will need to know the name of the owner of the line when you want to get internet, etc, so try to clarify this as soon as you can.

If you predecessor had a phone, he or she can transfer it to you without a charge. However, if a previous JET had to pay the full amount for the line, successive JETs at that residence might be charging the next JET to help recoup some of the costs of buying the line from the original owner. If this is the situation you face we recommend that predecessors reduce the price of the line every year thereby reducing the financial burden on their successor. If you have any problems or queries ask you supervisor or another JET. If you feel you are not getting a good deal, there are frequently ways to get a better one.

If you already have a phone line you can skip the next section.

1) Phone line premiums
If you intend on setting up a phone line in your house, you will have to decide whether or not you wish to take out a ‘phone line premium' (denwa-kanyuken). Phone line premiums can be purchased at NTT offices for about 42,800 yen (tax included). Please bear in mind that a phone line premium is not a necessary requirement in order to connect a phone. However, non-holders of premiums will be required to pay a basic monthly line fee of 640 yen in addition to standard call charges. Hence it is important to consider the time frame you intend on staying in Japan when deciding whether or not to purchase a phone line premium (In general, it is more economical to purchase a premium if you living in Japan for 10 years or more).

2)Applying for a phone line premium
You can apply for a phone line premium at your nearest NTT office. Be sure to bring documents verifying your name and residential address (a person's foreigner's registration card and/or driver's license will suffice).

**Choosing to purchase a premium in addition to the premium fee of 72,800 yen, an installment fee (2,000 - 10,000 yen) will be required in order to establish your phone line.

**Choosing not to purchase a premium the installment fee (2,000 - 10,000 yen) will be the only charge required when establishing the initial phone connection. However, people having an ISDN line installed will be required to purchase a separate Terminal Adapter (TA) as well.

Once you have filled out the necessary application documents, you must next arrange a date for your phone line to be installed. In some cases, you are required to be present while the installation is taking place. Generally, installation fees are not paid for upfront, but instead are included in your first phone bill. Phones themselves can be purchased from either NTT or various retail outlets. Monthly phone bills are payable at NTT offices, participating banks, convenience stores or via automatic transfer services.

Transferring the phone line
You can apply to transfer your phone line to another location by either accessing the NTT service website or by dialing the toll free number ‘116' and running through the application process. You may also have to change your phone number depending on your new address. If this is the case, NTT will offer you a range of new phone numbers from which you can choose. Once you have changed phone numbers, a service informing dialers of your old number of your new details can also be arranged.

Resale of the phone line premiums
When a phone line premium is resold from one party to another, the owner's name stated on that premium must be changed. The personal seal and accompanying certificate of the transferor in addition to the transferee's personal seal and proof of identification are required for this to be processed. Either the transferor or the transferee can carry out this procedure, providing they have obtained the other's required identification documents and details. In the event that the transferor (previous holder of the premium) carries this out, their personal seal certificate will not be required as long as they have proof of identification.

When you no longer need your phone
A number of options for what to do with a phone line you no longer require are listed below:
(1) Transfer your phone line premium to a relative or friend.

(2)Resale. It is possible to sell your phone line premium to a company that purchases second hand lines. These companies (denwa torihiki-gyosha) can be found by searching either the Internet or asking your supervisor.

(3)Temporary suspension. It is possible to suspend your phone line and reserve it for later use. Please bear in mind however that you will be required to pay the basic monthly usage fee.

(4) Suspension of service. NTT can look after your phone line premium for a period of up to 5 years before you will be required to purchase a new one. If you eventually reconnect your phone service, you will most likely be issued with a new phone number. NTT does not buy back phone line premiums.

NTT Interpreting Centre
Languages offered include English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Hangul and French.
Toll free number: 0120-364-463
English directory service: 0120-019-116 (Weekdays 9:00am – 5:00pm)

International calls(kokusai denwa)
There are several domestic companies that provide international calls.
But just a note, if you have YahooBB , you also have YahooBB phone which has a cheap international call plan. Not only that, if you have internet ... there's always Skype.

But if you don't have internet, there are several companies that offer discount international services, most of whom you will have encountered at the stalls during the Tokyo orientation. Such programs offer significant savings on international calls 24 hours a day. Probably the most popular amongst JETs is World Link, which is charged to your credit card. They offer up to 80% off the price of KDDI and NTT.
You can also purchase international telephone cards from a lot of convenience stores. This is really useful if you haven't got your phone connected yet and need to call home. Ask for a KDDI Superworld Card or Brastel Smart Phonecard. These often can only be used in pay phones operated by the company which makes the telephone card.

To make an international call, simply dial the access number for one of these companies, then the country code, then the area code, and finally the phone number.

COMPANY ACCESS CODE
KDDI 001
Cable and Wireless ICDC 0061
Nippon Telecom 0041

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
phone trouble 113
apply collect calls 106 other person
police 110
fire and ambulance 119
Accidents (including sea accidents) 118
weather report 177
apply time service 117
apply telegram dispatch 115