Japan's NaviDial (0570) Phone Service: How Legacy Numbers Charge Callers for Public Services
By
pwim
Hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, baked to perfection. Worth every minute at the bakery.
Summary
The article examines Japan's NaviDial (0570) phone service, which charges callers 33 yen per minute from mobile phones despite often being used for public services like human rights hotlines. This creates a significant financial burden, as the hourly cost exceeds Japan's minimum wage. The piece explores the history and controversy around this legacy service, provides practical advice for avoiding overcharges, and discusses the broader implications for public service accessibility in Japan.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledEven when used to access public services, 0570 numbers are not toll-free. When dialed from a mobile phone, they cost the caller 33 yen per minute.
That may not sound like much, but it adds up to 1980 yen per hour, which is significantly higher than Japan's average minimum wage of 1064 yen.
This means 0570 numbers can create a significant financial barrier for people trying to access important public services.
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