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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 57637 times)

Offline Ergel

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #100 on: November 22, 2017, 05:58:31 AM »
None
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline M218

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #101 on: November 22, 2017, 08:55:42 AM »
When did you last pay your power bill?  The no-CSR issue seems to be a recent development.
this month try paying on the phone it should work

Offline M218

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #102 on: November 22, 2017, 08:57:35 AM »
And a follow-up: is there any way to overpay a regular arnona bill, not eligible for discounts?
1. the best way is to pay it Asap and get the 2% discount
2. it acquires interest quite fast

Offline moe8555

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #103 on: November 29, 2017, 09:35:58 AM »
1. the best way is to pay it Asap and get the 2% discount
2. it acquires interest quite fast

Not sure I understood what you meant by #2 (it acquires/accrues interest fast)...

On a related note, I paid my Sept.-Oct. arnona bill today and Amex Plat. was declined, CSR went through.  Last payment, both were declined.  What is going on here?!

Offline M218

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #104 on: November 29, 2017, 02:01:48 PM »
a lot of times just try again in it might work
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Offline M218

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #105 on: November 29, 2017, 05:06:04 PM »
Huh? You overpay your Arnona and they give you the cash back? How often can you do that? How do you request the cash back?
I have one child and officially only get 4000 shekel per month and rent from my parents = 80% discount
i usually pay my bills the day i get it and once i get approved for the discount i get the money to my Israeli account

Offline M218

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #106 on: November 29, 2017, 05:07:35 PM »
And a follow-up: is there any way to overpay a regular arnona bill, not eligible for discounts?
yes let it pass the date you have to pay it then you will pay interest 

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #107 on: November 29, 2017, 05:09:43 PM »
Not sure I understood what you meant by #2 (it acquires/accrues interest fast)...
yes let it pass the date you have to pay it then you will pay interest 

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #108 on: November 30, 2017, 05:23:00 AM »


I thought you meant if you overpay, the extra accrues interest in your favor, i.e. double benefits.

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #109 on: November 30, 2017, 04:47:14 PM »
I thought you meant if you overpay, the extra accrues interest in your favor, i.e. double benefits.
not in Israel!!

Offline emjee

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #110 on: December 02, 2017, 04:50:52 PM »
I thought you meant if you overpay, the extra accrues interest in your favor, i.e. double benefits.
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

Offline Ergel

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #111 on: December 02, 2017, 05:11:57 PM »
I'm confused. How do you get an 80% discount on arnona every year?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Jack out of the box

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #112 on: December 02, 2017, 05:27:11 PM »
I'm confused. How do you get an 80% discount on arnona every year?
Discounts are based on income and household size.

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #113 on: December 02, 2017, 05:31:55 PM »
Discounts are based on income and household size.
Are these published somewhere?
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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #115 on: December 03, 2017, 12:32:22 AM »
I'm confused. How do you get an 80% discount on arnona every year?
we could help you file for last year (17) if you need, and there will be a  new thread when this years Arnona comes

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #116 on: December 03, 2017, 01:45:28 AM »
we could help you file for last year (17) if you need, and there will be a  new thread when this years Arnona comes
Thanks, but Not sure I qualify...
I have the new oleh discount for now
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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #117 on: December 03, 2017, 03:02:44 AM »
Back on topic: tried paying our cleaning lady's bituach leumi via the website yesterday.  Tried both Amex Plat. and CSR, both times received an error message that clearly stated "only Israeli cards are valid for payment."  Ended up paying using the Fly Card Premium (no great loss, not a huge amount of money).  I wonder if it would've worked at the post office?

Offline Jack out of the box

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #118 on: December 03, 2017, 03:24:58 AM »
Back on topic: tried paying our cleaning lady's bituach leumi via the website yesterday.  Tried both Amex Plat. and CSR, both times received an error message that clearly stated "only Israeli cards are valid for payment."  Ended up paying using the Fly Card Premium (no great loss, not a huge amount of money).  I wonder if it would've worked at the post office?
Works by phone. (See wiki.)

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #119 on: December 03, 2017, 04:21:07 AM »
You're not alone. I tried CSR Visa and Capital One Visa before my SPG Amex was finally accepted.  :(
I should at least be thankful for the years that all cards worked because חברת החשמל has probably been my best help at reaching CC bonuses.

Worked fine for me. It was ether the CSR or CSP.
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