Job Discussion Forums

[easyasabc]

Does anybody know how I can find names or numbers of agencies that buy NTT phone lines?

I'm leaving in about a month and rang the great NTT English help line to arrange to have my telephone service disconnected and while that was all cool they said don't buy lines and I'd just have to contact an agent that buys and sells phone lines. A Japanese friend today checked out the yellow pages and couldn't find anything.

If it's going to be too much hassle I just won't bother. Luckily the original 70,000 yen was well and truly covered by a moving allowance my employer paid at the time I moved here so I'm not too stressed about getting money back but if it's relatively easy I might as well get some back.

Any info would be much appreciated.

[Mike L.]

I bought my line from an agency that had an add in the "Hot Pepper" job magazine for the "arbito" crowd.

It was 26,000 yen 2 years ago so I doubt you'll get much for yours but hey something is better than nothing!

Other than that tell your GF to do a search in Japanese on the net! That should turn somthing up!

Good luck!!

[easyasabc]

Thanks Mike,

I had a feeling I'd get very little for it because I've heard that the system is changing in a couple of years anyway and people won't need to buy lines anymore. I'll see what I can find.

[JimDunlop2]

times have already changed. I never bought my land line. I lease it from NTT at a rate of about 800 yen a month or so.

I don't think you will have much trouble getting rid of your line, but only if you don't tell your victi... er.. I mean... buyer of the quick, cheap leasing option.

Hope that helps.

JD

[Joannda]

when you rent a phone line, can you still make international calls? I heard somewhere that you have to buy one if you want to ring overseas...? Not sure how correct that is?
And what about the internet, can you use a leased phone line for that as well?

[JimDunlop2]

Quick answer: yes & yes.

Amazing how much lack of info/misinfo circulating about regarding this... The entire reason why I got my line in the 1st place was to have ADSL (high speed) Internet, but no problems with calling on that line either. It's a regular NTT line. Period. Although, for international calling I still use my Brastel (prepaid) card... I don't bother with regular land-line long-distance... See, if I use Brastel from a land line (my home line) I get really good rates, eg. 9 yen/min to N. America or the U.K. And I don't really know of any cheaper land-line discount companies (NTT included) that can beat that. (IF you want, (shameless plug to follow) you can PM me and I'll get Brastel to mail you a card -- takes about 3 days -- and I can get 5 free minutes for signing up a friend...)

If you are considering getting a line, I seriously recommend a gal named Naomi. Check out this website -- it answers many of the most commonly asked questions, plus, if you send an e-mail, Naomi is one of the most professional people I've had the chance to deal with -- in Japan or otherwise.

The site is here: http://www.bricks.co.jp

She is an authorized NTT reseller -- so she gets paid by NTT -- not by you. But she will help you set up a phone line/ FLET'S ADSL line entirely in English and free of charge (from her end) -- signup fees from NTT may apply -- I don't remember anymore. It's been over a year. I don't know if she also does phone lines ONLY -- I only got a phone line for the main purpose of ADSL.

If you have anymore questions.... Please ask.

Cheers.

JD

P.S. If you are lazy, here are a couple of clips from the Naomi Bricks website regarding lines. What I have is called "Analog Lite"... (bold highlights=mine)

Type 1

Type 1 is a normal analog line. It can be used as phone and ADSL simultaneously. If you have an ISDN line, which is not ISDN Lite, you can convert back to analog. On ISDN line, if you have i-number, you will not be able to use the other number. Type 1 line is a subscription right line you or the owner have bought in the past which cost 75,600 yen from NTT. Or you can rent an Analog Phone line from NTT which we call Analog Lite. If you rent, you do not need to pay the 75,600 yen phone line right charge. Instead, you just pay a rental fee of 672 yen monthly. It may be better to rent so you do not need a big budget upfront. This will be a Type 1 line as well. A Type 1 line is a phone line which you can use for both phone service and Flets ADSL service.
Type 2

Type 2 is a line, which you can rent from NTT only for ADSL connections. No phone service though. Dedicated ADSL connection only. Does not require the 75,600 yen phone subscription.


Analog Lite is a service which you rent. You do not need to pay the 75,600 yen phone line right charge. Instead, you just pay a rental fee of 672 yen monthly. It may be better to rent so you do not need a big budget upfront. This will be a Type 1 line as well.