Job Discussion Forums

[Sweetpig7]

I've been in Istanbul for 3 years, but have always had Turkish roommates until now. I've just signed the lease on my first single apartment, and have to get gas, electricity, and internet hooked up on my own. Who's done it on here, and what's the easiest way? I'm in Sisli, Esentepe/Mecidiyekoy to be exact, and not sure where the offices I have to go to are located. Most of my co-workers and Turkish friends are away for the summer, which is why I'm not just asking any of them for help. Info online seems to be limited...

Anyway, I'd appreciate any help, especially in the form of an overview of the steps involved and the location of the closest office, if that's not asking for too much.

Thanks in advance!

[queenfrog]

I don�t live in Istanbul so I don�t know where the offices are in your city. I do know that you go to the mayor�s office to get water connected, find a Turk Telekom (sp?) office to get internet but the electricity might be the most difficult to do. You have to find and elektrik burosu office (once again my Turkish spelling is off) and tell them your address. Maybe you could ask a person in your building where the closest office is. I don�t think there is any particular order for doing this.

Once you get them set up you can take your account numbers to your bank (I use AK Bank) and pay your bills online if you like. An alternative is to pay at the PTT unless you want to go to each of these offices to pay separately.

[CECTPA]

I just did this in roughly the same part of town last year, so this info might actually be helpful.

You would go to IGDAS in Perpa for the gas, ISKI in Ferikoy for the water, and to the electric co. bureau in Caglayan, near the big new courthouse IIRC.

All the utilities will require a deposit of some kind, and they want copies of your rental agreement and preferably a local ID, e.g. ikamet. If everything is in order, you won't need a lot of Turkish to go stand on line and set that up. If there is an issue or question, however, you might.

I was so done after all that, that I couldn't be bothered with setting up Internet at home and just got a USB modem from Turkcell. I don't recommend this route however.

[coffeespoonman]

FYI, you don't have to go to the actually Turk Telekom main office to sign up for service. Sometimes there are little centers where you can pay your bill and do minor transactions. There are few if any people there. You can apply for internet at one of those (but not cancel it). It's very simple (the only simple one of the bunch). I don't know exactly where you live, but there's one in Sisli on Kurtulus Cad (which is 5 minutes walk from the main Sisli office on Telefoncular Sk). Unless you know of one closer to your flat, it may be in your best interests to go there.