Transferring Internet Service

Q. How do I transfer my internet connection to someone else?

A. Neither Yahoo! BB nor NTT allow internet connection services to be transferred to a new user. The only way for a successor take over a connection is to leave it in the predecessor's name. However, that puts the predecessor's credit rating in jeopardy.

And it's not a good deal for the successor, either, who will miss out on significant new-user benefits (¥20,000 or more in discounts, in some cases) among other things.

Read on to learn more reasons why taking over an existing connection is considered to be A Bad Idea . . .

Taking over your predecessor's internet service has the advantage of providing immediate connection for the successor but that is the only good point and there are a number of bad points for both the predecessor and successor.

Concerns for the Predecessor

Credit Rating

For the predecessor, leaving the service in your name puts your credit rating at risk. If you're leaving Japan, that might not seem like a big risk but the future might surprise you. Every few months we get an application from someone who, having come back to Japan after being gone for some years, discovers that NTT or Yahoo! BB want them to clear an old balance due before getting connected. And while there might not be cross-border sharing of credit history now, who can say about the future?
Dividing Charges

How to divide the charges between the predecessor and successor is a thorny problem. The monthly bills for internet service do not reflect a single month's charges. The basic service charge is billed in the month following that service and any phone calls made during that month are billed in the second month following. Compounding the problem is the fact that detailed statements cost extra so most users don't receive detailed info such as the numbers called. Therefore it's almost impossible to intelligently divide the charges.

Disadvantages for the Successor

Dividing Charges

First of all, there is the billing problem mentioned above. Because service is billed up to two months after the service is used, there is a good chance that the successor will be paying for the predecessor's service.
Loss of New User Benefits

Most internet services provide attractive benefits for new users. For example, Yahoo! BB currently offers up to two months free service plus a ¥1,050/month discount for First-time Users* who apply by September 30th, 2008 and have moved residence, including from outside Japan, since May 1, 2008. This benefit cannot be claimed if the current service is continued.
Miss Out on Fiber Optic Service

NTT is has been expanding it's fiber optic services and they now cover all urban areas and have also reached many rural areas. There is a good chance that fiber optic service is now available in your area making much faster internet connections possible. And, if the service has been installed in the apartment building, as is the case in about 40% of the buildings we check, then the fiber optic connection will not only be faster but may well be less expensive than the current ADSL service.

Hope this helps!

Jimmie

*Note: A "First-time User" is defined as an applicant on a phone number that has not had Yahoo! BB internet service within the prior six months. If there has been service on the line, then all you have to do is change the phone number (cost: ¥2,600), and the benefits (value up to ¥20,000) will be allowed.

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