Mick Rich 78 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 A couple of questions for those of you who live here:- 1. Re: NHK tv licence fees. I was given a tv just over a year ago and being my first tv, never thought twice about licence fees until the weekend when someone told me that I should be paying something!! So my first question is, does everyone pay this? 2. Re: Japanese Credit Cards. After 4 and half years here, I'm thinking that it's about time I got a Japanese credit card but I've heard that it's not so easy as a foreigner. Question 2 is therefore what credit cards would you recommend and why? (actually that's 3 questions but you know what I mean!!) Thanks in advance! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 NHK guy gets told where to go Link to post Share on other sites
onehunga 26 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Re credit cards, work out were you would use it the most. Then see if where ever that is has it's own card. Lots of the big shops, telecos etc have their own branded cards which can get you a discount when using it in store. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I got my Japanese credit card through the Daie shop many many years ago when they were offering these cards. It was very easy, just fill in a form, well rather the person filled it in for me sent in the application, to see if I would be accepted or not and that was that. A couple of weeks later or so and I was the new owner of a credit card. I also got a American express credit card when I joined to Shinsei bank years ago. That was easy too. Don't know if it is as easy now or not, but I would expect if you went to one of these big shops or department store you could do the same. I am still using that same card, but gave up using the American express, didn't really have any need for it. My car is from Cedyna (used to be called OMC) Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 It's much easier to get a credit card now as a gaijin than back in the day. That said, I'd imagine there is still room for "oh yeah you'll get one" reassurances only for you to be rejected four weeks later. As onehunga says, get one with points you can use, and then use the card to pay your electricity bill, mobile bill, and anything else you can get away with. Note that you can't gamble online with a Japanese card. It's stopped me betting on the football. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Hey Mick, NHK guy gets the bird. No pleasantries about it. Credit cards are easy. I have three of them now and there was no extra drama for being a foreigner....that I can remember. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I reckon lots of people DO actually pay NHK. Just not lots of the gnarly folk on here. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Never paid NHK and never will. Mind you I dont have NHK anyway just Hikari. I just conmect my smartphone to my TV when I want to watch NHK on a big screen. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted April 1, 2014 Author Share Posted April 1, 2014 Thanks everyone for the replies! Re: the tv fee, don't NHK have any powers of enforcement for non-payment such as penalty fines, etc? Re: the credit card, I'm not too fussed about points (airmiles excepted), I'm just fed up of paying the extra fees involved in transferring money to pay off my British visa card!! Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 If you have bank account, credit card should be easy. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 NHK aren't allowed into your house without the cops, so don't let them in. Tell them that you don't have a TV or do as I do, tell them that I only watch DVD's on it and they usually bugger off Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 If Asahi-chan from News Watch 9 came round, I'd definitely invite her in. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Or the bobble head weather girl. Umm.....bobble ....!! Regarding the NHK guy Mick. Don't even lie or make up excuses.... just say no and goodbye.. Don't discount the credit card points. They add up and are significant whether you apply them to air miles or gift certificates or whatever. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 City bank is the easiest credit card to get in Japan. With other banks/credit card companies it can be really hit and miss. It's certainly easier now than in the past but I'll bet that most foreigners with a Japanese credit card were rejected a few times before getting one. Just tell the NHK guy to go away. Don't tell him you have a TV though. Technically there are penalties but it is almost never enforced. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted April 1, 2014 Author Share Posted April 1, 2014 Thanks guys for the info - much appreciated! Yes please! Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 what? Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 Has the sales tax deterred you from buying much needed stuff? There are dire predictions for Q2 spending, you can prove them wrong. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 Well, I was jolly well waiting for the 8% rate and have been spending as much as possible since. Link to post Share on other sites
oo 1 Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 If things are needed it's not going to have that much effect, surely it's more expensive and luxury things that will see the biggest hit. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 Aren't luxury things bought by people who have loads of money already? They probably don't care much about an extra 3% Link to post Share on other sites
Jerro 0 Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 I'm pretty sure that lots of people who have loads of money also probably prefer to pay less for the same thing than more. One of the reasons they have loads of money might be because they use it well. Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 Mega rich may not but 'normal' people who try to make the most of their money and wanted to buy more expensive items (house, car, electrics) will surely have tried if possible to buy before they became 3% more expensive. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts