Topic Wiki

Hello all!
Many of us live, study, or travel to Israel and prefer using US credit cards.
I haven't seen a "master list" anywhere that outlines which stores, sites, government agencies/utilities, or companies decline US cards, so I thought it might be nice to start one.

I've only transitioned my spend to a US card this past week, so there are still plenty of unknowns.
Please reply to the thread and I'll update accordingly!

Here are my experiences thus far:

Declined US card
-BigDeal http://www.bigdeal.co.il (Groupon copycat) (attempted with Chase CSR Visa)
-Club Teva website (if you happen to be a Teva employee  :))) (attempted with Chase CSR Visa)
-Website getit.co.il; Barclays MC declined
-Clal Insurance
-most gas stations (ask them to pre-charge 400 or 500 shekels if you need a full tank on your car, and if you go under the amount the gas station will refund you.) even better if you know the guy well enough and he'll let you fill up without charging your card first.

Tentative
-AIG Insurance declined through call center (rep mentioned that they do not accept any foreign cards).  However, my card successfully registered through their online portal and will wait to see if it gets charged properly.
-Pizza Hut worked online with Amex; CSR was declined

Other
-Cellarix (Israeli social payment app/site).  It let me send money, but Chase categorized it as a cash advance (attempted with Chase Visa)
-Mika gas stations (only lets you fill up 30 shekels worth when paying at the pump, apparently paying inside gets this raised to 200) (attempted with Chase Visa)

golan and other phone companies now charge an additional 30 shekel per month for processing any foreign card.

also you dont have to put in a real 9 digit number 123456789 works fine or put in your 9 digit passport number instead of teudat zehut.
« Last edited by yman on January 09, 2019, 09:58:19 AM »

Author Topic: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards  (Read 57588 times)

Offline moe8555

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 1303
  • Total likes: 155
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Israel
  • Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Sixt Platinum
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #120 on: December 03, 2017, 04:35:03 AM »
Worked fine for me. It was ether the CSR or CSP.

As of when?  The message was in red letters, very clearly stating non-Israeli cards are not accepted.

Offline moe8555

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 1303
  • Total likes: 155
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Israel
  • Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Sixt Platinum
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #121 on: December 03, 2017, 04:35:26 AM »
Works by phone. (See wiki.)

Thanks, next time...

Offline Live N Learn

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 3799
  • Total likes: 332
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #122 on: December 03, 2017, 04:53:30 AM »
As of when?  The message was in red letters, very clearly stating non-Israeli cards are not accepted.

Worked for  חברת חשמל two months ago.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline Jack out of the box

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 754
  • Total likes: 70
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: ארצינו הקדושה
  • Programs: Chase UR, BA Avios, AAdvantage, UA Mileage Plus, SPG
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #123 on: December 03, 2017, 05:07:42 AM »
Worked for  חברת חשמל two months ago.
It was OK into October. The change is newer than that.

Offline Live N Learn

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 3799
  • Total likes: 332
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #124 on: December 03, 2017, 05:27:53 AM »
It was OK into October. The change is newer than that.

I guess I'll have to try again.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline moish

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 10006
  • Total likes: 297
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: AA LT Plat, Avis, SPG Plat
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #125 on: December 04, 2017, 09:04:24 AM »
Just used my CSR for chashmal

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 12818
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #126 on: December 04, 2017, 09:21:10 AM »
You should probably get the newcomers guide
Thanks, just read through the newcomers guide. Heavily slanted towards Yerushalayim. Either way, fortunately (unfortunately?) not eligible for the discount.
Only learned a few new things (need to register for hospital for birth) - but useful nonetheless.
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Jack out of the box

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 754
  • Total likes: 70
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: ארצינו הקדושה
  • Programs: Chase UR, BA Avios, AAdvantage, UA Mileage Plus, SPG
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #127 on: December 04, 2017, 09:35:01 AM »
Just used my CSR for chashmal
Online?

Offline moish

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 10006
  • Total likes: 297
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: AA LT Plat, Avis, SPG Plat

Offline Jack out of the box

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 754
  • Total likes: 70
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: ארצינו הקדושה
  • Programs: Chase UR, BA Avios, AAdvantage, UA Mileage Plus, SPG
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #129 on: December 04, 2017, 10:38:13 AM »
yes
Thanks for the update. Hopefully the problem has passed.

Offline Live N Learn

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 3799
  • Total likes: 332
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline M218

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2017
  • Posts: 639
  • Total likes: 169
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #131 on: December 07, 2017, 12:52:24 AM »
FWIW , an Israeli guy that told me he pays arnona in full every year on Jan 1st , applies for 80% dscount in Dec. and he DOES recieve money back + interest on the 80% returned
Halvai ;) but i don`t lat my money sit by the Israeli Gov

Offline M218

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2017
  • Posts: 639
  • Total likes: 169
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #132 on: December 07, 2017, 12:54:41 AM »
Thanks, but Not sure I qualify...
I have the new oleh discount for now
you could be qualified for a lower discount to it always pays to try even 30% is quite a lot

Offline moe8555

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 1303
  • Total likes: 155
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Israel
  • Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Sixt Platinum
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #133 on: December 07, 2017, 02:08:46 AM »
Halvai ;) but i don`t lat my money sit by the Israeli Gov

Dunno, I've had nothing but positive experiences with that.  I got a tax refund recently and it was processed extremely fast, including back interest/hatzmada.

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 12818
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #134 on: December 07, 2017, 06:09:06 AM »
In general I really think Israeli beauracracy has gotten much better. I think a lot of the stories people tell are outdated
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline M218

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2017
  • Posts: 639
  • Total likes: 169
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #135 on: December 07, 2017, 08:01:39 AM »
In general I really think Israeli beauracracy has gotten much better. I think a lot of the stories people tell are outdated
they just have the same head and blood as us :) ;)

Offline Hjay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2016
  • Posts: 1345
  • Total likes: 93
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #136 on: December 11, 2017, 07:25:09 AM »
In general I really think Israeli beauracracy has gotten much better. I think a lot of the stories people tell are outdated

Then maybe you’d like to take care of my bituah leumi issues & get the approximately 2000 they owe me.

Offline Luvisrael

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2016
  • Posts: 2872
  • Total likes: 366
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: לבי במזרח
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #137 on: December 11, 2017, 07:43:09 AM »
Then maybe you’d like to take care of my bituah leumi issues & get the approximately 2000 they owe me.
how long has it been?

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 12818
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #138 on: December 11, 2017, 09:08:50 AM »
Then maybe you’d like to take care of my bituah leumi issues & get the approximately 2000 they owe me.
What's the issue?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Hjay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2016
  • Posts: 1345
  • Total likes: 93
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #139 on: December 11, 2017, 12:17:16 PM »
What's the issue?

I sent in my meuhedet receipts for the waiting period & still haven’t received the 875 shekel they owe me (many months later).

I didn’t have 6 months in Israel on my visa before I went back to have a baby. I was in America for about 5 months so my waiting period started again from when I returned. Because of that my first child as born before my bituah leumi started & they didn’t want to give me maanak leida. They said after my second child I’ll receive it as if it was the first child (about 1000 shekel more). Second child is here & I only got 788 shekel.