| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Trebek
Joined: 30 Oct 2003
Posts: 401
Location: China
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 3:41 am Post subject: School refusing to pay airfare as promised in contract |
 |
|
The contract with my current school (Chinese International School) is complete and my Principal is not paying my airfare. She gives no reason. She merely wont answer my calls or emails. School is closed for the summer. Two weeks before the school was closed she kept evading the question and giving me the runaround, but now....nothing but silence. And yes I've been polite the entire time.
Since this lady pays us in cash at the bank, my guess is that she decided to give herself an extra 10,000 for the summer holidays.
This happened in Shanghai. Anybody recommend a course of action? This is all new to me.
I do worry that if I raise too much hell about this the school might not recommend me and I'll have to leave China. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
The_Kong
Joined: 15 Apr 2014
Posts: 349
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 4:07 am Post subject: Re: School refusing to pay airfare as promised in contract |
|
|
| Trebek wrote: |
The contract with my current school (Chinese International School) is complete and my Principal is not paying my airfare. She gives no reason. She merely wont answer my calls or emails. School is closed for the summer. Two weeks before the school was closed she kept evading the question and giving me the runaround, but now....nothing but silence. And yes I've been polite the entire time.
Since this lady pays us in cash at the bank, my guess is that she decided to give herself an extra 10,000 for the summer holidays.
This happened in Shanghai. Anybody recommend a course of action? This is all new to me.
I do worry that if I raise too much hell about this the school might not recommend me and I'll have to leave China. |
Do you already have your letter of release/recommendation?
Last edited by The_Kong on Thu Jul 03, 2014 4:11 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kjk_esl
Joined: 02 Feb 2007
Posts: 41
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 4:09 am Post subject: Sad News |
|
|
| So sorry to say that is a common tactic used by head masters. No talk to pay! Keep trying. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 4:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
If your visa is in order I would advise her that you intend to list her school and the story on as many FT sites as you can.
I advise holding back assessment marks at end of semester 2 until you are all settled $$-wise.
Also make sure you have a clear week before flying out. If they know you are under time pressure.. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Trebek
Joined: 30 Oct 2003
Posts: 401
Location: China
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 4:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
| yes i do have my letter of recommendation, however Im looking for a new job. Whats a release letter Kong? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hermosillo
Joined: 17 Jun 2014
Posts: 176
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 5:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Any kind of deferred payment seems to be a problem. Whether it's Summer pay, bonus, or airfare.........just more reasons to get rid of you. However in your case, they didn't terminate before it was do. Remember that guy in Korea, who signed for someone else's package and went down hard on drug charges? He was within a couple of weeks of getting about 7000 usd in bonus monies at the end of his contract. The more I read, and the more people I speak to; it just seems like it's hard to trust anyone. Heck, even in one of the wealthiest areas of the US; we were promised to be paid for unused sick leave, when we quit. I had 40 hours (never used a minute). The Superintendent (making 170K usd per year) looked us straight in the eyes and said "you will be paid for unused sick leave." She just failed to give us one small detail....you won't get your regular 16 per hour....we got 2.50 per hour.....man, did I feel like a sucker...all those Tuesday mornings after very late MNF games...I would have used every second of it. I think I am going to tell these pricks visa fee and one way airfare upfront....... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Shroob
Joined: 02 Aug 2010
Posts: 1339
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 5:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Trebek wrote: |
| yes i do have my letter of recommendation, however Im looking for a new job. Whats a release letter Kong? |
A release letter is what you need to transfer your FEC to a new employer.
In regard to finding a new job, the new employer will be the best person to put pressure on the old employer. I'm not sure about the airfare, but a new employer will know the ins and outs of the system (hopefully).
I sometimes hear about a 'City FAO', who's meant to be good at things like this. I'm not really sure about who they are or what they do but someone on this board has mentioned them a few times. Hopefully they'll see this thread and post. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
damn_my_eyes
Joined: 13 Jul 2013
Posts: 225
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 8:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
As Shroob mentioned there should be a city FAO or some similar official in town. I found the contact details of a similar person when I worked in China as my FAO was dragging his heels about paying the airfare, doing the release letter etc
They were based in the exit-entry PSB bureau building, might be different where you are!
You could find out their details, then contact your boss and say you'll going to see them unless you get your airfare. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bud Powell
Joined: 11 Jul 2013
Posts: 1736
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 9:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
| damn_my_eyes wrote: |
As Shroob mentioned there should be a city FAO or some similar official in town. I found the contact details of a similar person when I worked in China as my FAO was dragging his heels about paying the airfare, doing the release letter etc
They were based in the exit-entry PSB bureau building, might be different where you are!
You could find out their details, then contact your boss and say you'll going to see them unless you get your airfare. |
Good advice!
The City FAO will straighten the school's FAO out pretty fast. The City FAO usually manages school FAO's and ensures that contracts are honored. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bud Powell
Joined: 11 Jul 2013
Posts: 1736
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 9:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Shroob wrote: |
I sometimes hear about a 'City FAO', who's meant to be good at things like this. I'm not really sure about who they are or what they do but someone on this board has mentioned them a few times. Hopefully they'll see this thread and post. |
They're usually in City Hall and very near the PSB. If you want to find the City FAO, just go to every floor in the building and ask in English "Where is the City FAO?"
Someone will tell you.
The City FAO is the grand Poo-Bah of FAO's. They bark, and the school FAO's jump. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Trebek
Joined: 30 Oct 2003
Posts: 401
Location: China
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 12:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Cool, I'll try it! My school was in Shanghai in the Putou district, I'm guessing that the Putou district hall is where I should start? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
El Macho
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 200
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 1:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Great, good luck to you! After you get things sorted please post here about how it went and where you had to go…it'll be really useful for others to know what to do!
Don't know if this is of use or not, but here's the website for the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office…but you might need to go to the Shanghai State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) (外国专家局) office instead? Provided you have a FEC, SAFEA could be the ones since you (probably) signed a SAFEA contract. A few years ago I read about another FT who had the same problem and went to SAFEA to complain.
Again, good luck and keep us posted. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
revilo
Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Posts: 181
Location: Mos Eisley
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 1:47 pm Post subject: My variation of the no air ticket home |
|
|
My employer gives me information at the last minute. I have been working here in Northeast China for 10 months (OK, Feb. doesn't count, but I got cabin fever). Now that the year is ending, the school tells me I will go to a different school and cover for a summer school teacher who is gettnng out.
They tell me this in JULY!! and Mr. Chinese henchman has his interpreter asking me questions about how soon I can move outta my apt. and do I remember if I answered her questions about how I can teach Business English and statistics, and other stuff. and then Chiney henchman looks at me and asks "Kuhyee maH?" which means "do i agree?" TO WHAT?!?!? being railroaded into covering your lazy ass because your teacher wants to go on vacation? What about my vacation? Curiously, my contract makes no mention of vacation. . . .Now I remember why I F'N HATE CHINA!! Mofo thinks he's slick!
I felt like blowing up and causing a big stinking scene but I remembered I have bigger fish to fry.  
In addition, I got assaulted by one of their spoiled MUN party chairman wannabes. I banned cell phones and laptops in my class and he felt I was picking on him. A fat, bloated 200 lb toad threw me onto the desks and I end up with a sprained ankle and bruised hip. Now I have to notify Canadian authorities not to let this sociopath into their country. Can anyone top my story for sheer misery???  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
revilo
Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Posts: 181
Location: Mos Eisley
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 1:53 pm Post subject: the upside |
|
|
the upside is that these clowns don't pay a bonus or airfare home for completing the school year.
NO LEVERAGE = SEE YA SUCKERS!!  Man, I thought Chinese were good at negotiating.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
|
| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 6:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Shroob wrote: |
| Trebek wrote: |
| yes i do have my letter of recommendation, however Im looking for a new job. Whats a release letter Kong? |
A release letter is what you need to transfer your FEC to a new employer.
In regard to finding a new job, the new employer will be the best person to put pressure on the old employer. I'm not sure about the airfare, but a new employer will know the ins and outs of the system (hopefully).
I sometimes hear about a 'City FAO', who's meant to be good at things like this. I'm not really sure about who they are or what they do but someone on this board has mentioned them a few times. Hopefully they'll see this thread and post. |
Shroob is right.
Your best ally if you are moving schools is the new school's FAO.
This is particularly so if the new school has more status.
I moved from a provincial 3-year associate degree vocational college to a tier one uni in the same city.
When the vocational FAO got cute about the release letter I called on my new FAO in person who leaned on the other guy.
I expect the fact that the new FAO was getting ready for his summer leave and didn't want a late-breaking issue to disrupt his plans had a bearing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
