Consumer Hotline (188): phone number and hours

• Navi Dial

  0570-064-370

  The Navi Dial number for the Consumer Hotline. Like 188, it directs you to the nearest consumer affairs consultation desk

• Enter your postal code and you are connected to the consumer affairs center or consumer consultation desk of your municipality or prefecture. You enter your postal code, not your telephone area code. You are connected to a local desk, not to the Consumer Affairs Agency.
• Consultation is free, but call charges apply from the moment you are connected to a desk. Because the call goes through Navi Dial, it is not covered by mobile flat-rate call plans. A charge announcement plays before you are connected.
• It handles problems with businesses over contracts and unscrupulous sales practices, accidents caused by products, food or services, and problems with improper labeling such as falsified origin or false advertising.
• It cannot be used from some IP phones, prepaid mobile phones or telephone relay services, so in those cases call the consultation desk for your area directly. It can be used from rotary-dial telephones.
• If your life or body has been seriously harmed, or such harm is imminent, you are advised to contact the police or fire department first.

• This number does not connect you to the Consumer Affairs Agency.
• If the line is busy, you can also use the National Consumer Affairs Center's "backup consultation" (weekdays 10:00–16:00).
• Because it is a Navi Dial number, call charges apply even on a mobile flat-rate plan.

Your municipality (city, ward, town or village) also has counters for welfare, health and child-rearing concerns. Call the main number, explain what you want to discuss, and ask for the counter in charge.