Please explain the difference between the three packages you offer.
If you plan on staying in Israel for a few months or longer, then we recommend the long term Purchase option. With this option you are basically buying the phone for good. You will not need to return the phone and it will remain active forever. You can use it anytime you go to Israel, or lend it to friends or relatives. You pay a one-time fee to buy the phone and that's it. You add minutes to the phone whenever you want or need to straight from the phone or from our website.
If you are traveling for a visit or less than a few months, then we recommend either the Pay As You Go option, or the Best Value.
For the Pay As You Go, you do not have to worry about how many minutes are on the phone and you never reload minutes. You simply use the phone as much or as little as you need and when you return we will bill you.
On the Best Value option, you get by far the best per minute rates anywhere. With this option, you simply load as many minutes as you want onto the phone whenever you want either before you leave for Israel or once you get there from the phone itself, or from our website.
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I heard you send the phone to my house before I leave for Israel. So when do you start the daily line service fee? When does it end?
We won't start the line service fee until the line is activated on your departure date.
The daily fee ends when you return the phone. This means the day it is postmarked, not when we actually receive it back.
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Where will I get my phone? Can I pick it up at the airport?
You will beat the rush and lines and filling out of forms at the airport.
With Gil Travel you are a VIP. The phone will be sent to your home (or any address you provide us with) well in advance of your trip. You will also know your phone number before you leave so you can provide it to your friends and family.
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I ordered my phone a few weeks ago, why didn't I get it yet? I got a message with a tracking number saying it was shipped but there is no updated tracking info.
You may get a message from PayPal or the US Postal service that your phone has shipped.This is an automated message from their system when an order is processed and does not necessarily mean it has shipped yet.
We mail out phones a week or so before your trip. (Unless you requested express service).
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What are the per minute rates on the three packages?
First of all, all incoming calls are FREE from ANYWHERE. Yes, anywhere. Israel, or anywhere else. Land line or cell phone.

Second - and this is important: Unlike any other provider in Israel, we only charge by the second, not the minute. And this is important because it adds up ALOT. Many calls are brief ones that last less than a minute or not whole minutes. In that case, we will only charge you a fraction of the per minute. For example, if you just call and talk for 30 seconds, you won't get billed for a minute. That's not fair and we don't do it. And believe us, it adds up after a few weeks in Israel.

Long Term/Purchase: 13.5 cents/min to any number, cell or landline, in Israel, USA, England, Canada, France and more. 7.5 cents to any other Gil Phones.

Best Value: 13.5 cents/min to any number, cell or landline, in Israel, USA, England, Canada, France, and more. 7.5 cents to other Gil Phones

Pay As You Go: 29.9 cents/min to any number, cell or landline, in Israel, USA, England, Canada, France, and more. 16 cents to other Gil Phones
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Is there any other fee involved with the Gil Phone?
For the Long Term/Purchase package there is not other charge once you buy the phone - ever. The phone is yours forever and you only pay for the amount of minutes you use.

Best Value: $2.00/day line service fee (this is the cost of holding the line open for your phone).
Pay as You Go: $1.00/day line service fee (this is the cost of holding the line open for your phone).
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Do I need to add minutes to my phone?
Gil Travel Phones come with two options:
You can choose the Pay-As-You-Go option in which the phone is always charged with minutes. You never need to add minutes to your phone and we will bill you upon your return.

With the Best Value option or if you purchased the phone, you are in control of the minutes you load and use. So before leaving for Israel, you will load minutes on the phone at our website or you can do it anytime in Israel directly from the phone or online.
Details will be in the box when you receive it.
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How do I check my balance on the phone?
If you are on the Pay-As-You-Go option, do not check your balance and do not add minutes to your phone. You can use the phone as much as you need and will be billed upon return.

For the Best Value option or if you purchased the phone, simply dial *998 from your phone while in Israel to check your remaining balance.
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Why do I need a Gil Travel Phone? Why can't I just use my unlocked phone in Israel?
You may be able to use your existing cell phone in Israel. However, be sure to check carefully with your provider. Overseas charges are usually exorbitant. We have yet to find another provider in America or Israel, that can offer such amazing rates as we do.

We recommend you getting a Gil Travel phone for all your calls. And take your own smart phone with you for all non-call use (Calendar, contacts, apps, etc.) You will also be able to use internet apps (Mail, Web browsing, etc.) on your smart phone anywhere that there is a WIFI service in Israel (many places in Israel now offer WIFI).
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Can I use my iPhone in Israel?
At this point, we do not offer SIM cards for use in your own phone. Please be aware that many US phones, including iPhones are locked and can not be used on the Israeli networks without "cracking" them. This may or may not be legal.

We recommend you getting a Gil Travel phone for all your calls. And take your own smart phone with you for all non call use (Calendar, contacts, apps, etc.) You will also be able to use internet apps (Mail, Web browsing, etc.) on your smart phone anywhere that there is a WIFI service in Israel (many places in Israel now offer WIFI).
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How do I dial from my phone to America? To other numbers in Israel?
VERY IMPORTANT: In order to receive the discounted rates, you must use the following method when dialing to America:
014-1-(area code)-(xxx-xxxx)
To call an Israeli number just dial the area code and number. For example: 03-222-1111, or 053-222-9999.
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How do people call me in Israel on my Gil Travel Phone?
Remember, anytime someone calls you, it is free for you. To reach you, they would dial: 011-972-50-xxx-xxxx .
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Can I send text (SMS) messages and multimedia (MMS) messages on a Gil Phone?
Absolutely!
Rates for these messages are as follows:

All incoming SMS and MMS are free from anywhere.

Best Value Package:
SMS to Gil Phones about 7.5 cents
SMS to other phones about 8.5 cents
SMS to the USA and Canada about 18 cents
MMS about 27.6 cents

Text rates on the Pay As You Go package are a little less than double.
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Does the Gil Travel Phone have voice mail? How much does it cost?
Yes. Our service includes voicemail for FREE. To check your voicemail, please dial *151 and press "send”, then enter your password 1234*
Make sure to check and delete your messages before leaving Israel.
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I forgot to check my messages when I was in Israel. Now I'm back home. Can I still retrieve my messages?
Yes. Please call your number in Israel 011-972-50-XXX-XXXX. Press * and you'll be asked for your code. Follow the prompts.
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Can I just order a Sim Card from Gil Travel for my existing phone?
At this time, we are not yet offering Sim cards. This is in the process of being set up. For now, our phones are CDMA, and have the number built into the phone. There is no Sim in the phone.

However, we recommend you take your smart phone or laptop with you as most hotels and many other sites in Israel offer WIFI. So you can still have internet access at those locations on your device.
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I am traveling to another country before/after my trip to Israel. Will the phone work there as well?
At this time our phones work only on the Israeli network. This includes the entire country including, of course, the West bank. The phone may connect to networks in other countries, however, you will be charged very high roaming charges and should not use it there.

In general, we recommend getting a Gil Phone for your Israel portion of the trip and a different service for whatever other country you are traveling to, since this is the most cost effective option. Any global phone plan will cost much more than the rates within the specific country.
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What do I do if my phone does not work or I'm having difficulty with it while in Israel?
Please call our customer support office in Jerusalem at 02-624-2000.
They will be able to help you on the spot, and if a replacement handset is needed, you can get it very quickly, often the very same day.
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How do I return the phone after my trip?
Very simple: Upon return from Israel, please go to http://phones.giltravel.com/rma for address and return info.
Do not leave the phone at the airport in Israel. In case of emergency or delay at the airport, you will still be able to use your phone till the very last minute until the captain prepares for take off.
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When will I get my refund?
Once your phone is received back in our warehouse, please allow time for processing and refunding. During peak season this may be up to two weeks. We process refunds in the order phone returns are received.
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How much will my refund be?
Assuming the phone is returned in good condition we will refund the full amount minus the costs your plan: Best Value $2.00/day (from departure until return postmark date) Pay-As-You-Go $1.00/day (from departure until return postmark date) + talk time
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