Getting a Cellphone

You will want to get a cell phone, for sure. Not to worry - this has become a lot easier to do. The cell-phone companies have blown the doors off getting a new cell-phone & new number. Gone are the days where you need a co-signer & stiff deposit. If you want a new phone & new number, you can get them with little issue.

To get a new phone you'll need an address for the application, but after that, you'll get an e-bill. Pay at any convenience store or phone co. branch. If you are just starting out, you'll probably just want to go with a new phone & a new number. If you have a phone already, you could just add a number to your existing phone. For both, the decision is if you want to pay monthly or pay-as -you-go. The details are all below. And, here's a print out of the Chinese names & Logos of the companies. Once you decide what you want to do, you can use them to show folks where you want to go.

New Phone With New Number

Deposits still exist. By and large, Taiwan Cellular - usually called Taiwan Da Guh Dah / Taiwan Big Brother (really) - seems the most INflexible on deposits, FarEasTone is the most flexible. Basically, they'll sign you up to a monthly plan, and you'll be calling under those terms. Usually a combination of limited or unlimited minutes & voice mail, just like back home.

You can INSIST on going pay-as-you-go (using & buying time from convenince stores) with a new phone, but the way they work it is this: for new phones they'll sell you the latest models SUPER cheap in return for your agreeing to sign a contract, usually a year. If you are determined to do pay-as-you-go with a new phone they'll do it but... you'll pay full boat for the phone.

Used Phone With New Number

If you HAVE a phone already, and just want a new number, you’ll have a choice to make:

• Get a contract and pay monthly

or

• Pay-as-you-go, and add more time by buying it at the 7-11.

Which way should you go? Well, if you don’t make a lot of calls, then you MAY – MAY - want to go with pay-as-you-go. Why? Because in Taiwan, the person making the call pays. If your cell phone rings, it’s a toll-free call for you.

Thus, if you really just get a lot of calls & don’t make that many, you might save a bit by going pay-as-you-go. But, you’ll have that whole rigamarole of thinking… "I’m not going to make that call. I’ll wait." Or, cajoling people to call you back right away. Plus, on top of this less than aggravation-free phone existence, you probably won’t save that much in the long run anyway, because the phone companies have priced pay-as-you-go calling time 20% higher than the monthly plans. Some racket.

Whatever your situation - new phone paid monthly or pay-as-you-go; used phone new number paid monthly or pay-as-you-go - you’ll need to go to one of the service providers’ offices to get started. Convenience stores are now prohibited from being the starting point of service. The current requirements of the various providers are listed below.

Monthly Contracts

Far-Eastone   遠傳電信

Tel: 0800-058-885

Requires:

• No contract (they'll stop you to call out if you don't pay for the bill. If you still ignore it, you cannot get calls or dial out.)
  or
  1.5 year / 2 year contract w/ a cellphone.
• Two forms of identification (Duration: 6 months and up)
  Accepted: First ID ¡V Passport; Second ID - Work permit, ARC, Foreign ID or Foreign Driver License etc. In this case, the second ID should include a photo, foreign ID number that can be identified.
• Deposit, only NT$2,400(cash) Apply at any branch

Taiwan Cellular (Usually called Taiwan Da Guh Dah)

Tel: 0809-000-852

Requires:

• 1 Year Contract
• Two forms of identification (Duration: 3 months and up)
  Accepted: First ID ¡V Passport, ARC, Work permit; Second ID ¡V Health insurance card, Visa, Taiwan/International driver license
• A Guarantor (Taiwanese citizen 20 or older with two certificates.
  or
  Deposit NT$2,900 might be accepted, depending on each branch. (They may require both.)
  Apply at any branch

Chunghwa Telecom

Tel: 0800-080-090

Requires:

• No contract (they'll stop you to call out if you don't pay for the bill. If you still ignore it, you cannot get calls or dial out.)
  or
  15 month contract / 2 year contract w/ a cellphone.
• Passport + ARC (No contract - Duration: 6 months and up; Contract ¡V Duration: 1 year and up)
• Guarantor (Taiwanese citizen 20 or older with two certificates.
  or
  Deposit NT$2,900 (cash)
  Apply at any branch (some offices will insist on the deposit, others, not)

Pay-As-You-Go

Far-Eastone  

Purchase

1. NT$350 Gets call-out credit of NT$350.
2. NT$600 Gets call-out credit of NT$600.
3. NT$350 Eee Qwai Cah This is a special package for those who want to get discounts on sending messages to other Far East Tone users, NT$1 vs NT$3 to other system's numbers.

Set-up procedure: Bring two IDs and fill out a form at any branch. You are active within 24 hours.

You need to prepare two forms of identification: (Duration: 6 months and up)

1. Passport
2. Work permit, ARC, Foreign ID or Foreign Driver License

Changing System Interface to English

1. Dial 777, press send.
2. Once it answers dial 4

Changing the Voicemail to English: (NO CHARGE)
Dial *135*3#, press send. The change will be implemented within 1 hour and you'll get a message of informing.

Listening to the voicemail messages: NT$0.06/second

Recharging Card

Convenience stores: 300, 500 or 1000

1. Buy your desired amount
2. Dial 777, press send. When it answers, dial 1.
3. Put in the recharge card's serial number. The system will give your number that much calling credit.

ATMs: NT$300 → 5,000

1. Access the Transfer Funds Mode of the ATM
2. Enter Far Eastone's Bank Code: 805
3. enter "777" + your cell phone number
4. enter the amount you want to recharge
5. call 777 from your cell phone, dial "2" to confirm you have transferred the money successfully. If you transfer the money after 3:30pm, then it'll be recharged the next day.

Taiwan Cellular    (Usually called Taiwan Da Guh Dah)

Purchase

1. NT$345 Gets call-out credit of NT$345.
2. NT$600 Gets call-out credit of NT$600.

Set-up procedure: Bring two IDs and fill out a form at any branch. You are active within 24 hours.

You need to prepare two forms of identification: (Duration: 3 months and up)

1. Passport, ARC, Work permit
2. Health insurance card, Visa, Taiwan/International driver license

Changing Interface to English:

1. Dial 867, press send.
2. When it answers dial 3 then 2.

Changing the Voicemail to English: (NO CHARGE)
Dial 123 → 3 → 2 → 1

Listening to the voicemail messages: NT$0.06/second

Recharge Account

Convenience stores: 300, 600 or 1000

1. Buy your desired amount
2. Dial 867, press send. When it answers dial 2.
3. Put in the recharge card's serial number. The system will give your number that much calling credit.

ATM: NT$300 → 5,000 (unit: $100)

1. Access the Transfer Funds Mode of the ATM
2. enter Taiwan Cellular's Bank Code: 012
3. enter "88" + your phone number
4. enter the amount you want to transfer
5. the amount will be credited in two days.

Chunghwa Telecom

Purchase
No amount, so you need to buy recharge cards: $300 or $500 while you purchase.

You need to prepare two forms of identification: (Duration: 6 months and up)

1. Passport
2. Health insurance card, Visa, Foreign ID, Foreign driver license.

Changing the Voicemail to English: (NO CHARGE)

1. Dial 928 or 800 and ask the customer service representatives to help you.
2. Dial 777 → 4 → 1 → 2.

Listening to the voicemail messages: NT$0.06/second

Recharge Account

Convenience stores: 300, 500 (You might have another choice $1000 at 7-11)

1. Buy your desired amount
2. call 928, press send. When it answers, dial 2.
3. Put in the recharge card's serial number. The system will give your number that much calling credit.

Recharge Card:
Buying a recharge card is the only way to recharge.

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