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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 57606 times)

Online Hjay

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #20 on: November 19, 2016, 04:59:07 PM »
Recently was told by a cell phone store that golan isn't taking foreign cc anymore. However I know ppl that have come now & opened acct & are paying with American cc…

Offline Jack out of the box

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #21 on: November 20, 2016, 02:15:56 AM »
Actually was trying checkout on Alibaba.com and was only able to checkout with my Israeli CC since my shipping address was in Israel
Alibaba? Or AliExpress?

Offline Z56

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #22 on: November 20, 2016, 03:42:21 AM »
“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work

Offline Jack out of the box

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #23 on: November 20, 2016, 03:56:49 AM »
Sorry ali express
I've done it recently.

Offline Emkay

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #24 on: November 20, 2016, 04:54:01 AM »
Actually was trying checkout on Alibaba.com and was only able to checkout with my Israeli CC since my shipping address was in Israel
I never had an issue with that.

Offline Z56

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #25 on: November 20, 2016, 06:11:51 AM »
I never had an issue with that.

Shipping to Israel ? Which cc worked ?
“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #26 on: November 20, 2016, 06:19:06 AM »
Shipping to Israel ? Which cc worked ?
A bunch. Just used an amex last week.

Offline moe8555

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #27 on: November 20, 2016, 06:26:03 AM »
Thanks, have made a Wiki and put in latest updates.  Also added Israel Railways ticket machines from personal experience a while back with Chase IHG Mastercard (didn't work).  Don't know about other cards.

Would appreciate it if a mod could edit the first post and direct people to the Wiki.

Offline Z56

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #28 on: November 20, 2016, 06:34:29 AM »
Thanks, have made a Wiki and put in latest updates.  Also added Israel Railways ticket machines from personal experience a while back with Chase IHG Mastercard (didn't work).  Don't know about other cards.

Would appreciate it if a mod could edit the first post and direct people to the Wiki.

I just used  my CSR at the Israeli railways
« Last Edit: November 20, 2016, 07:47:41 AM by Z56 »
“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #29 on: November 20, 2016, 06:38:23 AM »
I just my CSR at the Israeli railways

At the machines or ticket booth?

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #30 on: November 20, 2016, 06:39:47 AM »
I just my CSR at the Israeli railways
I just got approved for CSR. I hope it will work at Kavim machines because I need to somehow spend $300 on travel before the end of the year and that's the only idea I have right now for that. (Any additional ideas would be appreciated though.)

Offline David Smith

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #31 on: November 20, 2016, 06:42:24 AM »
You can always sell the CSR credit on DDF if you can't figure out any way to use it.
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #32 on: November 20, 2016, 07:05:01 AM »
I just got approved for CSR. I hope it will work at Kavim machines because I need to somehow spend $300 on travel before the end of the year and that's the only idea I have right now for that. (Any additional ideas would be appreciated though.)
if they don't work on the kavim machines you can go to tachana merkazit and fill up erech tzavur with a CC by the teller, bec erech tzavur works on all buses and trains besides the Jerusalem light rail
the masmid atzum
מאז

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #33 on: November 20, 2016, 04:17:33 PM »
if they don't work on the kavim machines you can go to tachana merkazit and fill up erech tzavur with a CC by the teller, bec erech tzavur works on all buses and trains besides the Jerusalem light rail
Do you know if they are categorized correctly as travel?

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #34 on: November 20, 2016, 04:24:30 PM »
Do you know if they are categorized correctly as travel?
the light rain station is, don't know about tachana merkazit

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #35 on: November 24, 2016, 03:40:47 PM »
I've paid for Israel Railways (through a machine) using Citi Premier.
Used CSR credit towards Student חופשי שנתי through Egged. Worked like a charm  ;)

A lot of the new gas stations with new or "renewed" pumps (the slimlined ones) don't accept foreign CCs at all (SPG, Citi Permier, IHG). I've tried Paz, Delek and Dor/Alon.
I've managed (once) at a Delek to pay inside with an IHG card and the guy managed to make it go through, but most of the time I don't have the patience...

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #36 on: November 24, 2016, 05:01:33 PM »
Used CSR credit towards Student חופשי שנתי through Egged. Worked like a charm  ;)
Thanks

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Re: Israeli companies and sites that accept (or decline) US cards
« Reply #37 on: November 24, 2016, 05:08:04 PM »
Are you paying via PayPal, or Golan's processing?  I just tried changing my card to the CSR through Golan's own processing and it wouldn't let me.
Golan's processing
call them, and if it doesn't work,.. HUCA

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #38 on: December 12, 2016, 03:34:16 PM »
just used my CSR by a kavim machine, BH posted as as travel

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Re: Master List: Israeli companies and sites that decline US cards
« Reply #39 on: December 12, 2016, 04:35:21 PM »
just used my CSR by a kavim machine, BH posted as as travel
Where? Any tricks? I tried mine just today and it was not accepted. Thanks anyway for the boost of confidence regarding the travel classification.