- What is Talk'n'Save? What is Cellcom?
Talk'n'Save is the leader in cell phone rentals for Israel. No matter how long your stay in Israel, Talk'n'Save has a plan for you! We're also the market innovator in different cellular products and services for your stay in Israel, such as our virtual number Keep'n'Touch and cellular modem Surf'n'Save services (often imitated, but never duplicated!).
All of Talk'n'Save's phone lines are carried through Cellcom, Israel's largest cellular provider. Since 1999, Talk'n'Save brings you Cellcom's great service and country-wide coverage combined with our English-speaking customer service, great rates, and flexible options.
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- What services does Talk'n'Save Israel offer?
Phone rentals – rent a phone to use for your stay in Israel. We have daily, monthly, yearly rentals, and even extended plans for olim. We specialize in great deals for students.
SIM rentals – if you already own a compatible phone, you can just rent a SIM card from Talk'n'Save for short or long term use. For a phone to be compatible with our service, it must be a GSM phone, unlocked, and working on 1800 megahertz bandwidth. (What is a SIM card?)
Phone for Life phone / SIM sales – if you travel to Israel more than once a year, our Phone for Life program is the best way to have a permanent number in Israel. Invaluable for business travelers and immeasurably convenient for families, stop renting phones and save the most.
Keep'n'Touch – started by Talk'n'Save in 2002, Keep'n'Touch is a straightforward idea: your cell phone in Israel has a local US number attached to it. Family & friends 'back home' dial a local number and reach you in Israel. Now, we've expanded the plan to include more minute packages, more countries with local numbers (currently the USA, Canada, UK, France, Belgium and France, with more options on the way!), and of course, great call quality and service. Service is available for all Talk'n'Save rentals, Phone for Lifers … and you can even attach a Keep'n'Touch number to a non-Talk'n'Save number in Israel too!
Surf'n'Save – rent a cellular modem for your laptop, giving you internet access anywhere in Israel. Avoid high hotel wifi fees, skip the internet café and unplug! Economical choices and great service – sounds like Talk'n'Save! More details below and here.
Affiliated services and discounts – Save money in stores and restaurants with our Talk'n'Save Club Card (included with every rental). Get discounts on hotels and car rentals through Talk'n'Save Travel. Get a discount on refurbished compatible phones with Econocell. More deals and programs are always in the works too – just ask!
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- Where is Talk'n'Save located?
Talk'n'Save has offices in Jerusalem, New York, Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, California, and London, all committed to giving you the best service possible. Additional locations are in the works!
Our flagship service office in Jerusalem, Israel has a large staff of native English-speaking customer service representatives to assure that when you need us, we're there for you! (We also visit our Talk'n'Save partner schools in Israel throughout the schoolf year.)
Contact us via email, phone, fax, or even regular mail, or drop by our Jerusalem office anytime! For full information and directions, please see our contact us section.
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- Where can I use my Talk'n'Save Israel phone and / or SIM card?
With Cellcom's fantastic nationwide service, you have excellent reception throughout the entire country of Israel. Talk'n'Save phones are set by default not to roam outside of Israel. Roaming rates are VERY expensive. If you would like to enable roaming for your phone, contact us, but we do not recommend the service. However, we DO recommend our Talk'n'Save World global cell phone rentals if you're traveling outside of Israel.
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- What do I do if my phone is lost or stolen?
First, immediately call Cellcom to have the line disconnected from making any outgoing calls. Ask the Cellcom representative to have the line temporarily disconnected. You are responsible for any calls made from the phone until it is disconnected, so this step is crucial. Cellcom can be reached at 052-999-0123 (or from outside of Israel, dial +972-52-999-0123). You can also call Cellcom for free from any Talk'n'Save or Cellcom phone by dialing *123
Your line will still be able to receive incoming calls for five days after disconnection. This gives you some time to try and track down the missing phone. When you are ready to replace your equipment, be in touch with Talk'n'Save to arrange for a new phone or SIM card. Please note that once you have filed an insurance claim on your equipment, it cannot be undone – even if you find the missing equipment.
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- Does the recent Nokia charger recall affect me?
- Which plan should I choose?
Our most popular choice is the mid-level, 1000 minute package. However, each package has its benefits of course. Choose the package you think is best. If you need to make a change in a month or two, it's not a problem.
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- Will I be able to change packages later on?
Absolutely. You can always change to any other currently-available minute package, effective the next billing cycle. You can switch to a higher or a lower package. If you want to make a change for the current billing cycle, it's possible in most cases although there is a processing fee to do so. Changes to text messaging packages are also available.
Billing cycles begin the 21st of each month. More on that below in the 'billing' section.
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- How can I keep track of my minutes?
All students on long-term rental contracts can check how many minutes they've used at any given point in the billing cycle by calling 02-658-0028 from their Talk'n'Save Israel phone.
Please note that if your rental begins in the middle of a billing cycle, the count you hear when you call our system may include data from the previous renter of the phone!
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- Are my minutes prorated? Do unused minutes roll over?
If your dates include a partial billing cycle, your minute package will be prorated by the day. For example, if your rental begins two weeks into the billing month, you will be billed half the package fee and be allotted half the package minutes. Unused minutes do not roll over into the next month. Please note our billing cycles go from the 21st of the month, so our “October” billing cycle is from September 21 through October 20.
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- Which phone model should I choose? What about a SIM card?
We offer a range of Nokia and Motorola phones for every budget and taste, as well as SIM cards. When picking a phone, you need to decide what features are important to you (camera, Bluetooth, radio, size, battery life and so on) as well as your budget of course.
Most economical is renting a SIM card. If you already own a compatible phone, you can just rent a SIM card from Talk'n'Save for short or long term use. For a phone to be compatible with our service, it must be a GSM phone, unlocked, and working on 1800 megahertz bandwidth. (What is a SIM card?) We cannot guarantee compatibility of outside phones.
We also offer 'kosher' phones. Several communities in Israel (and several schools) are strict about only using these cell phones. Kosher phones have no text messaging ability (incoming or outgoing), no internet or media capabilities, and are part of a special number block. All of Talk'n'Save's kosher phones are certified by the Vaad Hatikshoret. If you're interested in a kosher phone and don't see the option on your sign up form, just ask – we'd be happy to honor your request whenever possible.
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- What is this 'Virtual US Number'?
With our Keep'n'Touch program, you can have a local US number that rings on your phone in Israel. Parents love this feature – there are no codes to remember, no PINs, no need to top off minutes. We're sure you're going to love it too! Not from the USA? No problem – we have lots of other country choices too.
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- What about all these optional services?
Talk'n'Save has a lot to offer – sometimes it's hard to fit it all in! Depending on your school and package choices, you may be offered one of several text messaging packages, an offer for additional minutes within your school, an expansion package which allows your minute package to cover many more international destinations, add-on equipment like a hand's free device or a Surf'n'Save modem, and more! If you have any questions, click the handy 'learn more' links, or contact us!
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- How do I get my phone or SIM card?
We have delivery options in the USA, UK and Israel (and we're working on other countries as well). Most schools have free delivery options at their orientation at the beginning of the school year. No matter where you choose delivery, you can usually get your phone number in advance of your rental start date. At the end of your rental, you will return your phone or SIM card in Israel before your departure (see our equipment return pages for the most updated information).
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- What do I do if my phone needs service during the school year?
If your phone is broken and you have insurance coverage (note: all long-term student rentals have FREE insurance coverage), you have the following options for fixing your phone:
- Go to Talk'n'Save's Jerusalem office for repair
- Go to one of Cellcom's service centers for a repair (call *123 to find the mercaz sheirut nearest to you)
- Arrange for a Cellcom courier service to pick up and drop off your phone. This can be arranged by calling Talk'n'Save, and is available in most areas for a small fee.
Please contact us to determine which option would work best for you.
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- Can I get internet / email on my phone? What about downloading ringtones, etc?
GPRS internet service is available for most customers (some schools we work with restrict their students' internet access). Packages are available or you can be charged per kilobyte. Contact us for updated package information and to sign up.
With Talk'n'Save's service, the only way to download ringtones is to activate GPRS service on your phone. When it is active, you can use the “Fun and Info” options in your phone menu.
Please note that downloading ringtones is NOT free of charge.
We are also proud to offer Surf'n'Save, our USB broadband modem rentals, for use with your laptop, available for both long-term and short-term rentals.
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- Do I need insurance coverage on my phone rental?
Insurance on your rental phone covers all repairs as long as the phone is reparable. If the phone is damaged beyond repair, lost or stolen, then the insurance coverage provides for replacement of the handset by payment of a deductible (the deductible is generally about 25%-50% of the full replacement value of the phone). We strongly recommend insurance coverage for all of our customers. Insurance cannot be added in the middle of the rental period.
SIM cards do not require insurance coverage. Replacement of a lost SIM card is $10.00.
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How do I get my phone or SIM card? How do I return it?
We have delivery options in the USA, UK and Israel (and we're working on other countries as well), including several convenient local agents in various parts of North America. No matter where you choose delivery, you can usually get your phone number in advance of your rental start date. At the end of your rental, you will return your phone or SIM card in the same country you received it. See our equipment return pages for the most updated information.
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What if my phone needs service while I'm in Israel?
We know your time is precious while you're visiting Israel, so if you have a problem, we'll do our best to get you a working phone as soon as possible. We have our full-service office in Jerusalem where you can walk in, walk out with a working phone in minutes. We also have courier options available around the country. Give us a call!
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- Can I get internet / email on my phone?
GPRS internet service is available with our service. Packages are available or you can be charged per kilobyte. Contact us for updated package information and to sign up.
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- I'm coming to Israel with a whole group. Can we get a discount?
We're happy to accommodate tour groups, large family trips, missions and so on. Don't hesitate to contact our Groups Department for a custom solution just for your needs! Email groups@talknsave.net now, or call our Groups Manager at 1-877-246-7143.
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- When will I get my bill for my Israeli rental? When and how will I be charged?
Our billing cycles close the 20th of the month (more on that in the next question). About 7-12 days later, you will receive your fully itemized statement via email. Billing is occasionally delayed slightly due to chagim.
Shortly thereafter your credit card will be processed. If you need to change your billing information, just let us know. If you'd like to pay by cash or check, there is a processing fee for doing so – speak to one of our representatives for the most updated information. In all cases Talk'n'Save must have a valid credit card on file.
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- What are your billing cycles? When does the 'month' start? Also, I don't understand the dates on my bill!
Talk'n'Save Israel billing cycles run from the 21st through the 20th of the month. For example, The July bill covers June 21st through July 20th, and you should receive your fully itemized statement by email during the first week of August.
Therefore, our billing months begin on the 21st of the month. If you are paying for a monthly service, like a package of minutes, it will restart on the 21st.
Please note: If you rent a phone over more than one billing period, you will receive more than one bill, each a month apart. For example, a rental from August 15-25 will have two bills; one for August 15-20, one for August 21-25.
(You will also receive a separate bill for Keep'n'Touch. That billing cycle is by calendar month, and the bills are published more quickly. For example, the July bill covers July 1st through 31st and should arrive during the first week of August.)
The itemization on your bill has dates in the European format, which is used in Israel, too. Therefore, 05/10/2010 is October 05, 2010 – not May 10, 2010!
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- I'm on a student minute package. Are my minutes prorated? How do I make changes?
If your dates include a partial billing cycle, your minute package will be prorated by the day. For example, if your rental begins two weeks into the billing month, you will be billed half the package fee and be allotted half the package minutes. Unused minutes do not roll over into the next month. Please note our billing cycles go from the 21st of the month, so our “October” billing cycle is from September 21 through October 20.
To make a change effective the next cycle, just be in touch. To make a change effective the current cycle (i.e. retroactive to the 21st that just passed), you will need to pay a processing fee. Contact our representatives for help.
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- Is there a deposit on my account? When is it charged, and when is it returned?
Most rentals have a deposit, regardless of which type of equipment is being rented. That deposit is charged when your rental is created, and returned only after your equipment has been returned and after your last bill has been processed. The return comes through as a credit on your credit card. You will see it on your itemized statement.
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- How can I change my billing details?
