Bills

Paying Bills

Most bills can be paid:

• At any post office (doar) – for a nominal fee. 
• At one’s bank (in person) – for a nominal fee. 
• By credit card – every bill contains a phone number for telephone payment by credit card. 

• Through hora’at keva (automatic payments from a bank account or credit card) – The billing company can automatically charge a credit card or Israeli bank account on the bill’s due date. There is a fee for setting up hora’at keva. To set up a hora’at keva from one’s bank account, submit a form obtained from the billing company to the bank. 
• Online – Most bills can be paid online. Website addresses will be found on the bills. Some websites only process payment from those with a mispar zehut (Israeli ID number).
• Online through Bank HaDoar – See this link. Only certain bills can be paid this way; see webpage for details. The website is in Hebrew.
• Some money changers allow one to pay bills through their offices for a nominal fee. 

Arnona

Arnona is an annual municipal property tax imposed on the residents of the locality. 

In Jerusalem, the Arnona bill is due at the beginning of every calendar year and must be paid shortly thereafter. In other municipalities the bill may be received bimonthly.

Failure to pay the bill on time can result in added interest, legal fees and other consequences such as frozen bank accounts. 

See here for more information on Arnona. 

Bituach Leumi (National Insurance)

At the start of each year, Bituach Leumi sends a bill divided into four, each part covering a period of three months. To pay the quarterly bills, choose one of these options:

1. Bring the bills to any bank or post office and pay with cash, check or credit card. Some post offices only accept Israeli credit cards.
2. Pay by credit card over the phone at *6050. A PIN code (kod sodi) is required. It can be ordered online, by phone, or at the Bituach Leumi office.  Alternatively, if one knows the amount owed, one can pay by credit card at 08-650-9911 (no PIN code is required).
3. Set up an automatic payment plan (hora’at keva). This charges monthly rather than quarterly and eliminates bill mailings. Submit the completed form to one’s Israeli bank. 
4. Pay online from one’s Bituach Leumi account or on the payment page. Select the correct payment category (note the special category for yeshiva students).

Vaad Bayit

Va’ad bayit is collective maintenance for the building in which one lives. Monthly dues include upkeep of the elevator, maintenance of grounds, heating, etc. This fee is the obligation of the tenant. A notice of how much is due may be found hanging in the building or in one’s mailbox. 

Cell Phone

Cell phone bills are sent monthly by mail or email and must be paid via hora’at keva (automatic payments).

Cell Phone Providers’ Contact Information: 

Partner: *5474/1-800-800-054

Cellcom: *3123 / 1-800-071-071 (existing customers)

Hot: *6910 / 1-800-10-6910

Golan: *0058 / 1-800-071-058

Pelephone: *166 / 1800-050-166

Rami Levy:   *123/076-888-8600

Saving Smarts: 

• Check if plans have expired. Promotional offers are often limited, after which higher rates apply.
• Review bills to ensure no extra services are being charged for, such as:
  • Upgraded ringtones
  • Extracellular internet bandwidth
  • GPS service  

These services can be cancelled by calling the service provider.

Phone and Internet:

Most phone bills are sent every two months while DSL, business lines and internet bills are monthly.

Major local providers: Bezeq, HOT, Cellcom, Partner. 

Package deals combining phone and internet often offer discounts.

Phone Providers’ Contact Information

Bezeq: 199

HOT: *6998 / 1-800-077-077

Cellcom: *3123

Partner: *5474/ 1-800-800-054

Saving Smarts

1. Check to make sure that plans have not expired. Many promotional offers are only for limited periods of time after which the company may continue the service at the current, more expensive rate. 
2. Check the bill:
   • Check how much the company charges per minute, perhaps there are better deals available. 
   • Check if the amount of minutes used is close to the minimum being paid for, perhaps one can pay for less minutes.
   • Check over the bill for mistakes. 
3. An itemized bill of every local call can be requested. Most companies provide this service free online. It may also be requested over the phone for a small fee.

See here for more information on phone service and here for more information on internet service. 

Electricity (Chashmal)

The chashmal (electricity) bill is sent every two months based on meter readings. Occasionally, bills are estimated; discrepancies are adjusted later.

Check the bill for regila (normal reading) or ha’aracha (estimate). Call 103 to correct an estimate if needed.

The meter is usually found outside the apartment door.

In order to put your name on the electric bill, submit this form along with your rental contract, letter from yeshiva (if applicable), passports and visas via the online form at: https://www.iec.co.il/interaction-form.

If you are a visa-holder: For נושא הפניה שלך choose צירוף מסמכים – כללי. Then enter your passport number and contact details. If you have the מספר חשבון חוזה you can enter that at this point too. You will be given the option to attach the documents listed above.

Alternatively, all documents can be sent as a fax to 1-800-200-103.

Once the name change is processed, you should receive a confirmation email from the following email address:  service103@iec.co.il.

Saving Smarts

1. The Israeli government requires all new electrical appliances that are sold to display an energy efficiency rating. The green “A” rating is the most energy-efficient and the red “G” rating is the least efficient. Keep this in mind when purchasing appliances as this can yield significant savings in the long run. 
2. Keep the air conditioner filter clean. A unit with a clean filter will utilize less electricity to cool a room than one with a dirty filter. 
3. Leave adequate space around the refrigerator for air circulation. This helps reduce the per-hour cost of running the appliance.
4. A dryer is one of the most expensive appliances to run. A gas dryer costs less to run than an electric one, but they are less common and more expensive to purchase. Additionally keep the lint collector in the dryer clear of lint so the dryer will work more efficiently.
5. If an appliance is not in use, unplug it ‒ or at least turn it off. Many electrical devices go into standby mode when they are turned off but still plugged in, using a minimal and sometimes substantial amount of electricity. In some cases this can account for up to 10% of an electricity bill.

Water

Water bills arrive every 2 months. Each person is allotted 3.5 cubic meters per month at the standard rate (ta’arif alef). Excess consumption is charged at a higher rate (ta’arif bet). These fees do not include tax.

By default, a household contains only 2 people. When moving, or after a new baby etc, be sure to update the number of household members.  

The number of residents can be updated up to one year retroactively.

In Jerusalem:

To change the resident after a move, choose one of these options:

1. Complete their online form. You will be asked to upload the following documents:

• Rental agreement, with names of both parties
• Copies of the teudot zehut and sefach or passports and valid visas for all the family members 
• Visa holders will be asked for a deposit.  In lieu of this, members of Bituach Leumi may provide an ishur toshavut  (e.g.; the acceptance letter) from Bituach Leumi.

2. Submit the following documents to the water company (Gichon) by fax to 077 470 3048 or by email to change.name@hagihon.co.il: 

• Form: Tofes Bakasha L’Shinui Machzikim
• Rental agreement, with names of both parties
• Copies of the teudot zehut and sefach or passports and valid visas for all the family members 
• Visa holders will be asked for a deposit.  In lieu of this, members of Bituach Leumi may provide an ishur toshavut  (e.g.; the acceptance letter) from Bituach Leumi.

To update number of household members after a change (e.g., new baby), choose one of these options:

1. Complete their online form, and upload the following documents:

• Copy of the passport of the baby/family member or teudat zehut and sefach of the parent
• For renters: chozeh sechirut (rental contract) valid for one year

2. Submit the following documents by fax to 077 470 3048 or by email to change.name@hagihon.co.il:  

• Form: Tofes Hatzhara al Mispar Nefashot 
• Copy of the passport of the baby/family member or teudat zehut and sefach of the parent
• For renters: chozeh sechirut (rental contract) valid for one year

Contact information: 

www.hagihon.co.il

Call: *2070 / 1-800-800-093

Fax: 02-565-1193

Saving Smarts

1. Fix dripping taps.
2. Install chaschamayim water-saving devices.

Gas

Gas is supplied either centrally or via individual tanks (balonim).

Newer apartments generally receive gas through the central gas supply of the entire building. Each apartment has an individual meter and is billed for its precise usage once every 2 months. 

Many older apartments utilize individual gas tanks (balonim) that connect to the gas line of the apartment. When the tank is finished, the company must be called to replace it with a full tank. It is preferable to always have a second full tank on hand to avoid running out unexpectedly

Gas Company Contact Information

• Amisragas      www.amisragas.co.il • *3626 • 03-564-4124
• Gaz Yagel       www.gazyagel.co.il • *2376 • 1-800-288-444
• Supergas (Electra-power)      www.electra-power.co.il • *3114 • 1-800-450-016
• Pazgas          www.pazgas.co.il • *9636