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There are two ways to buy a telephone line: buy a line directly
from NTT (costly) or buy a line privately (sometimes difficult).
NTT Information and Directory Assistance in English: 03-5295-1010
Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm (closed on National Holidays)
NTT Services (Japanese)
- 100 - operator-assisted domestic long-distance or price-required
calls
- 104 - directory assistance (60 yen or 150 yen depending on the
time)
- 106 - domestic call or credit charge call
- 110 - police emergencies, traffic accidents
- 113 - telephone line problems
- 114 - line in use - operator check
- 115 - domestic telegrams
- 116 - phone installation or transfer/change of address
- 117 - time check
- 119 - fire/ambulance
- 177 - weather information (dial the area code of the area you
want and then dial 177)
Toll free numbers begin with 0120-.
If the letters LCR are written anywhere on your telephone, your
phone should be able to pick the cheapest company for each individual
domestic call you make.
You can buy pre-paid phone cards at NTT, most train stations, convenience
stores, and many grocery stores.
Telephone charges consist of a basic monthly charge (whether you
use the phone or not) plus a per-call charge. International long-distance
charges are billed separately, depending on which long-distance
company you use. You can pay your domestic phone bills by automatic
transfer from your bank account, or by paying in person at NTT offices,
or at most convenience stores.
International and domestic FAX service is available at many NTT
branches.
International and domestic telegrams are available. Charges are
calculated by the word and vary from country to country. For domestic
telegrams, call 115. For international telegrams, call 03-3344-5151
(KDD).
There are two ways to call overseas. You can use one of the three
Japanese carriers:
- KDD (001), Tel: 0057
- ITJ (0041), Tel: 0120-75-0041
- IDC (0061), Tel: 052-973-3957
Or you can use one of several "callback" companies:
- AT&T, Tel: 03-5561-5750
- Global Call, Tel: 03-3784-1473, Fax: 03-3784-6642
- Global Tel, Tel: 03-5605-5892, Fax: 03-5411-9559
- Greenwich International, Tel/Fax: 03-5382-8799
- i-Tel, Tel: 0120-70-3003, Fax: 06-271-0204
- Summit Call, Tel: 0120-558-836, Fax: 03-3662-8106
- Telegroup (Global Access), Tel: 0120-11-5169, Fax: 03-3451-7224
- TeleMatrix, Tel: 03-3827-7399, Fax: 03-3827-7322
- WorldLink, Tel/Fax: 0792-53-0597
If you are trying to choose a company, I would suggest faxing at
least three or four of the above companies and comparing rates and
services. The rate is not necessarily the most important factor:
remember to check for monthly minimums (no minimum is best), method
of payment, and customer service. Also, if possible, ask other people
for their recommendations.
MY LINE & MY LINE PLUS
Since January 10th, 2001the various telephone
companies have been accepting registration for the new MY LINE
and MY LINE PLUS services. These services allow you to automatically
use a designated
phone company to make a given call. For example; international
calls using IDC now require a dialling code of 0061. Using My Line,
all
international calls can be dialled with 010. All you have to do
is choose the operator that is cheapest for the calls you want
to
make, or the system for the calls you want to make. Registration
and
changes each cost 800 yen.
If you register with KDDI for international calls but suddenly
want
to use NTT you can still do that by using the NTT access code 0033.
If you do not register for My Line you will automatically use NTT
East for local calls and NTT Communications for long distance calls.
Due to My Line, all the companies are offering discounts and special
services to entice you to sign up with them. It is well worth looking
around to see what discounts are available. My Line does not require
any changes to your telephone or your telephone line so beware
of
scams. Information is available in a wide range of languages from
the International Association; in Portugese, Spanish and English
on the My Line Freedial 0120-000-406; and in at the English My
Line
website www.jawoc.or.jp/index_e.htm
Crank Calls
Every once in a while, our special status as foreigners gets us
the kind of attention we don't want or need. Occasionally, that
attention will come in the form of a crank phone call. None of us
likes being woken up in the middle of the night or being scared
to answer the telephone. If you have received a crank phone call,
you have some options.
Nuisance/Obscene/Crank Calls
For example:
- When you answer the phone, the caller says nothing.
- When you answer the phone, the caller hangs up and keeps calling
back.
- When you answer the phone, an unknown person talks to you about
strange things, incluing, but not limited to, your choice in
undergarments.
- Someone calls during the day, only when you are alone.
- Someone calls at night repetitively.
Your options:
- Screen your calls through an answering machine, saying that
you will call people back only if they leave a message.
- Screen your calls through an answering machine and only answer
calls from people who identify themselves or whose voice you recognize.
Set your answering machine to answer calls before the phone rings
during sleeping hours.
- Disconnect the phone before going to bed and reconnect it upon
waking.
- Make a system between your friends for identifying callers.
For example, the caller will let the phone ring twice then hang
up and call right back. The receiver then knows that the call
is from a friend who knows the "code".
- Sign up for the "Denwaban" service from NTT. When
people call your number, they will hear one of three messages
that you are not available to answer the phone. The phone will
not ring. You can switch this service on and off. (Monthly charge:
500 yen, Installation fee: 0 yen)
- Sign up for the "Refuse Nuisance Calls" Service from
NTT. When you get a nuisance call, you dial a certain code. The
next time a call comes from that telephone number, the person
will automatically be directed to a message that states that you
are not receiving calls. (Monthly charge: 600 yen, Installation
fee: 2000 yen)
- Sign up for the "Nijuu Bangou" service from NTT. You
will have a second phone number that you can use (for example
during the night). (Monthly charge: 700 yen, Installation fee:
0 yen)
- Sign up for the "Caller ID Display" service from
NTT. You will be able to see the caller's telephone number. (Monthly
charge: 400 yen, Installation fee: 2000 yen) If the person blocks
their number
from being displayed, you can add "Anonymous Call Rejection"
which will not let people call unless they take off the blocking.
(Monthly charge: 200 yen, Installation fee: 2000 yen [reduced
to 1000 yen if installed at the same time as "Caller ID
Display"])
- Sign up for the "Caller ID Announcement" service from
NTT. By dialing 136, you will be able to hear an announcement
of the last caller's number, regardless of whether you answered
the call or not. (Monthly charge: 300 yen, Installation fee: 2000
yen)
- If nothing seems to help, you can change your phone number and
make it unlisted (so it will not appear in the phone book and
will not be given out by directory assistance). (Installation
fee: 2500 yen)
Wrong Number
For example:
- Receiving calls for the person who used to have your number
- Receiving calls from people who have mistaken your number for
a local business number
Your options:
- If the calls are for the person who used to have your number,
wait for a while since the number of calls will usually decrease
after a short time.
- Ask the person who they are trying to reach. Figure out the
phone number that they are trying to call and give it to them.
- If all else fails, change your phone number (around 2500 yen).
Persistent Telemarketing Calls
For example:
- The call starts with "You have been chosen for..."
or "You have won..." and you are directed to buy something
over the phone.
- A salesperson persists in calling you, even calling at your
place of work.
Your options:
- Don't be vague. If you are not interested, say so directly and
forcefully.
- If the problem persists, contact the Shouhin Seikatsu Centre
(the Japanese equivalent of the Better Business Bureau).
Wrong Fax Number
For example:
- When you answer the phone, you hear the "fax transmission
sound" (high pitched beeps), but you don't have a fax machine.
This kind of call comes persistently during the day.
- Fax advertisements are sent when you didn't request them.
Your options:
- Usually the person will realize that they have sent the fax
to the wrong number. Please wait for a few days and see if the
situation improves.
- If the problem persists, contact NTT.
Calls from many people all of a sudden
For example:
- The person says "I got your number from 'dengon dial'",
but you did not use the dengon dial service.
Your options:
- Ask the person for their contact number and PIN number (secret
personal ID) and call NTT immediately.
Most of this information was taken from the NTT
phone book "Hello Page".
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