Telecom
携帯電話 請求書: Japan Mobile Phone Bill / Unpaid Notice Explained
This document is a monthly 携帯電話 (mobile phone) bill from your carrier or SIM provider, or a notice that you have not paid — either way, payment is required. The charge can include the base plan, call and data usage, device instalment payments, and options. ⛔ If you ignore non-payment, service is first suspended; continued non-payment leads to contract cancellation and a lump-sum demand for the device balance, and a record of the late payment can be registered with a credit bureau (信用情報, such as CIC). A damaged credit record can affect future phone instalment purchases, credit cards and loan screening. Always check the amount and due date printed on your own bill.
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The account holder of the phone contract receives this from their carrier. It may come as a paper bill or as an email, SMS, app or online-account notice. If you bought your device on instalments, that instalment is included in the monthly charge. Nationality does not matter if you hold a contract. ⛔ Beware, though, of phishing that impersonates a carrier and uses an SMS or email link claiming 'unpaid charges' to get payment or personal data — don't open the link; check via the official app or site yourself.
What to do
- 1Check the amount and due date printed on the bill or notice, and confirm the sender really is the carrier you contract with.
- 2Check the payment method (direct debit, credit card, convenience-store or invoice payment) and pay by the due date.
- 3If a direct debit or card payment failed (e.g. insufficient funds), pay by the enclosed payment slip (convenience-store slip) by the date on it.
- 4To avoid forgetting each month, set up direct debit or credit-card payment via the carrier's official app or online account.
- 5If paying is difficult or you doubt the amount, don't ignore it — contact the carrier's counter listed on the official site or your contract yourself.
About the deadline
The due date is printed on the bill or payment slip. ⛔ If non-payment continues past it, service is first suspended (no calls or data); continued non-payment leads to contract cancellation and a lump-sum demand for the device instalment balance. Further, if the late payment is registered with a credit bureau (such as CIC), the record stays for a set period and can affect future phone instalment purchases, credit cards and loan screening. If paying is difficult, contact the carrier before the due date.
Common misunderstandings
- If I forget to pay, will my phone stop working right away?
- It doesn't stop the instant the due date passes, but if non-payment continues, service is suspended and you can't call or use data. Restoring it requires paying the arrears and can take time. Pay promptly once a reminder arrives.
- I still have a device instalment. What happens if I cancel?
- If you bought the device on instalments, the obligation to pay the remaining balance stays even after cancelling, and depending on the contract it may become a lump-sum demand. Before cancelling, check with the carrier how much device balance remains and how it will be billed.
- Is it true that ignoring non-payment shows up on my credit record?
- Yes. Device instalments are a form of instalment sale, and a long-delayed payment can be registered as a delinquency with a credit bureau (such as CIC). The record stays for a set period and can affect future instalment purchases, credit cards and loans, so don't ignore it.
- I got an SMS saying 'you have unpaid mobile charges'. Is it real?
- It may be phishing impersonating a carrier. Don't pay or enter personal data through the SMS or email link; open the official app or site yourself to check whether there really are unpaid charges. If unsure, contact the official counter.
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This page is general information. For your own case, confirm with the office that issued the document, or with a qualified professional.