5 common mistakes that cause Vietnamese people to be blacklisted due to network outages in Japan

It seems like a small thing, but network outbreak in Japan is the reason why many Vietnamese people are banned from using telecommunications services, even affecting their ability to get credit cards or rent houses in the future. If you are living, studying or working in Japan, please save this article quickly, because T-Connect will help you avoid 5 common mistakes that cause you to accidentally break the network in Japan, along with how to handle it if you have made a mistake.

What is a network outbreak in Japan?

Network overage in Japan is a term used to refer to when a user intentionally or unintentionally fails to fully pay the fees committed to the network operator when using telecommunications services (phone SIM, internet, mobile wifi, installment payments for equipment, etc.).

Typically, when you register for a phone SIM, wifi network or buy a phone in installments in Japan, you will have to sign a contract with a term (usually 1-2 years), along with a commitment to pay on time. If during the usage, you:

• No monthly fees
• Cancel the contract without paying the full amount owed
• Abandon SIM card, leave Japan without completing contract termination procedures

That behavior will be recorded as a breach of contract, listed on the "blacklist" - bad debt list, can be prosecuted and have long-term effects on your personal profile in Japan.

5 mistakes when using network services that can accidentally cause you to "break the network in Japan"

Below are 5 typical mistakes that cause many people to fall into the situation of internet explosion in Japan, even though they are not intentional:

Not reading the contract terms carefully when registering for the service

Many young people, especially international students, when they first arrive in Japan, are often quick to sign SIM/network contracts without really understanding the content. There are contracts that require a minimum of 24 months of use, and if you cancel before that, you will be charged a high contract cancellation fee (called 解約違約金 – kaiyaku iyakukin). If you don’t know and cancel suddenly, you will accidentally leave a large debt without knowing it.

Trusting brokers with "super cheap" or "no need to check" SIM cards

Some individuals or organizations advertise services such as “registering a SIM card without a credit card”, “network without a contract”, “registration on behalf of others”… These are often fraudulent models. You register the SIM card, they receive the SIM card or device and then disappear, leaving you with all the debt.

Thinking that leaving Japan means no more payments

Another common misconception is that “when you leave Japan, you don’t need to pay for your internet service anymore.” In fact, Japanese carriers will continue to charge you if you haven’t completed the proper cancellation procedures, and these fees will be added up every month.

Even if you leave Japan without paying your debt, the carrier can sell the debt to an international debt collection company, and you will be subject to collection in Vietnam at high interest rates.

Register for services on behalf of others

You can be considerate and friendly by signing up for a SIM card, phone, or wifi for your friend. But if the user actually fails to pay on time or skips payment altogether, you will be held responsible because you are the official person signing the contract.

I don't know if I still have equipment installments.

Many people sign up for a phone or wifi device on installments with a SIM contract. Then, when they cancel the SIM, they think everything is done, not knowing that there is still an unfinished installment for the device. This continues to be counted as debt if not paid in full.

What are the consequences of a network outage in Japan?

The outbreak in Japan is not just a "small matter" as many people think, but also causes many long-term consequences:

• Being blacklisted by credit centers (CIC, JICC) causes you to:
  • Cannot register new SIM/network with any carrier in Japan
  • Cannot make credit cards, pay for equipment in installments, or register for financial services
  • Being denied a rental or utility contract (many companies do a credit check before signing)
• Debt collection from international debt collection company
• Affected visa application, residency application or extension of residence status if bad debt persists
• In particular, you will be listed as an untrustworthy person, affecting your job opportunities, insurance contracts, and other legal procedures.

How to fix a network outage in Japan

If you happen to encounter a network outage in Japan, whether due to ignorance, trust, or an unexpected accident, there are ways to deal with it. The most important thing is to face the problem early, proactively pay, work with the network operator, and restore your credit as quickly as possible. Leaving it too long will only cause the debt to pile up, be charged interest, and easily fall into the international debt collection system. The steps to overcome a network outage in Japan are as follows:

Step 1: Contact your carrier or debt collector to check your contract status.

The first thing is to clearly verify who you owe, how much you owe, and what status you are in:

• Call the hotline or go directly to the carrier store (SoftBank, Docomo, au, Rakuten...) to ask for information.
• If you have returned to your home country, you can ask your relatives in Japan to call on your behalf, or send an email in Japanese/English to the network operator.
• In some cases, if the contract has been passed through an international debt collection agency, you will need to work directly with them to resolve it.

Step 2: Pay all outstanding debts in full

Once the debt is verified, make full payments, including:

• Unpaid usage fees
• Early cancellation fee (if applicable)
• Outstanding equipment installment payment
• Penalty fee (if violating terms)

You can make a bank transfer from abroad, or use some international payment services if your carrier supports it.

Step 3: Request a payment confirmation (完済証明書)

After you have paid in full, you should proactively contact the network operator to request a confirmation of payment completion, called 完済証明書 (Kansai Shoumeisho).

This document is extremely important if you:

• Want to register for new network service
• Open credit card
• Making a credit application in the future
• Want to make sure it's been removed from the blacklist?

Step 4: Use the My T-Connect app to avoid “accidentally” having your network out again

An effective way to prevent being blacklisted due to the outbreak in Japan is to use the My T-Connect application - a telecommunications platform that supports Vietnamese, designed specifically for the Vietnamese community in Japan.

With the My T-Connect app, you can:

• Clear fee management: track payment deadlines, receive monthly fee notifications.
• Automatically remind when payment is due, avoid forgetting to pay without knowing.
• Easy payment via app, no need to go to store or complicated lookup.
• Sign up for a package that fits your budget, don't be forced to use a package that's too expensive.
• Receive card recharge offers, points accumulation, and periodic promotions.
• Special: fully supported in Vietnamese, easy to use, friendly.

Internet outages in Japan are not just a minor breach of contract, but can have major consequences that directly affect your credit history, your life, and your future in Japan. Therefore, it is important that you understand how internet services in Japan work, be careful when signing contracts, and especially proactively manage your payments to avoid being blacklisted.

If you want to use the network in Japan without worrying about “network outages” or language problems, consider downloading the My T-Connect application – a telecommunications application exclusively for Vietnamese people in Japan. With a Vietnamese interface, automatic bill reminders, convenient payment and transparent contracts, T-Connect will help you use network services easily, clearly and without worrying about bad debt.