When I was living in Japan (until May 2023), I used KDDI mobile services for many years without any issues. When I was transferred internally to Dubai, I decided to keep my Japanese number active, as I still needed it for banking, online services, and occasional verification.
Before relocating, I switched to povo 2.0, the low-cost mobile plan offered by the KDDI Group. The monthly charge was just 550 yen per phone, and I maintained two connections—one for myself and one for my wife. From May 2023 until August 2025, the charges were automatically deducted from my SMBC cash card, and everything worked smoothly.
After relocating to Dubai, my SMBC cash card expired on April 1, 2025. Since I no longer had a registered address in Japan, I was unable to renew the card. Around the same time, my bank account status changed from a residential account to a non-residential account. As a result, the automatic payments to povo stopped.
povo’s support system is heavily app-based and Japanese-language oriented. From overseas—without a Japanese phone number or address—contacting customer support felt nearly impossible.
The Lawyer’s Email
Yesterday, I received an email in Japanese from a law office stating that they had been appointed by KDDI Digital Life to collect an outstanding payment.
Below is a summary of what the email stated (translated to English):
Creditor: KDDI Digital Life株式会社
Service: povo 2.0 (August usage fee)
Communication charge: 550 yen
Total claimed amount: 1,320 yen (including fees)
Payment deadline: February 27, 2026
Notice: Legal action may be taken if payment or response is not received
The payment was to be transferred to a Japanese bank account belonging to the law firm by the specified deadline. The amount itself was small—just over 1,000 yen—but receiving a lawyer’s notice over such a minor unpaid telecom bill was stressful and unsettling.
Important Lessons for Foreigners Leaving Japan
If you are a foreign resident in Japan and planning to relocate abroad, the below points would be helpful.
- Always officially cancel your mobile contracts: Do not assume that stopping payment will automatically cancel the service.
- Ensure your payment method remains valid: If your bank card expires, automatic deductions will fail—but the contract may continue.
- Keep screenshots and confirmation emails: If you cancel services through an app, always keep proof.
- Update contact details before leaving Japan: Make sure companies can reach you via email, even after relocation.
- Small unpaid amounts can escalate: Even a 550-yen bill can eventually be transferred to a law firm for collection.
Will This Affect Immigration When Entering Japan?
This is a common concern among former residents. Based on general understanding, unpaid telecom bills are civil contractual matters, not criminal cases. Japanese immigration authorities do not normally check private telecom payment disputes.
Unless the case escalates into a court judgment, criminal case, or serious legal violation, entry to Japan should not be affected.
However, if the debt remains unpaid and progresses into formal legal proceedings, it could create complications. It may also affect future credit checks, especially if you plan to apply for loans, housing, or mobile services in Japan again. For peace of mind, settling the matter properly and obtaining written confirmation is strongly advisable.
Japan is a wonderful country with highly efficient systems. However, those systems often assume that residents will always maintain a Japanese address, a Japanese bank account and they can navigate Japanese-language online platforms
For foreigners leaving Japan, this can unintentionally create problems. If you are moving abroad, make sure to cancel all contracts properly, update or close bank arrangements, keep written confirmations, and never ignore small unpaid amounts. Even a minor oversight can result in formal legal notices years later.
I’m sharing this experience not to criticize, but to help other foreign residents avoid unnecessary stress. If you’ve gone through something similar, feel free to share your experience.
