Job Discussion Forums

ericlemire · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Tokushima

I'll be going to a Peppy Kids Club interview this tuesday, and I just received a confirmation email which mentions a $15 application processing fee. Is this common?

I'm not going to complain at this point because so far I don't have many options for teaching in japan, but I just thought it was strange...

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

That does sound strange, Peppy's a big school. I have never heard of a school charging a processing fee for applicants. That is the cost of business.

Revenant · Mod Team Joined: 28 Jul 2005 Posts: 1109

jonnyjones72 · Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 1 Location: nanaimo bc

i had the same thing happen to me. i was going through a recruiter for Peppy Kids Club called KTC Foreign Language Institute. they wanted me to pay a fee $15 dollar application fee. it can't be normal.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If you go through a middleman, it IS normal. There are even cases like AEON or ECC that charge you directly about ten times that amount (refundable, I believe) just to ensure that you are serious about working with them, instead of using them to get a work visa, then bailing out at the airport for greener pastures.

Ask Peppy if the fee is refundable.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Sorry , but Glenski is wrong here. You should never ever pay an application processing fee. Be it by recruiter or company - never pay. Even if the job is legitimate, this is a bad practice.

AEON charges a refundable deposit after signing the contract. It is to cover charges if you choose to bail on the contract that you signed. It is payed back your first week on the job. Never, never, never ever pay someone to consider hiring you.

What's happened to Japan?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Korean schools regularly use recruiters to find teachers, for obvious reasons. Schools pay the recruiters, teachers don't which is the way it should be. I'm with Guest, you shouldn't have to pay money to find a job. Mind you, what is $15?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

guest,
I never said you should pay that fee. I just said it is normal for middlemen to ask for it.

And, of course, if you are guaranteed that is is refundable, what's the harm in paying it, like at AEON?

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Glenski, sorry for coming across so strictly in my last post. The difference I see between AEON and this situation is that AEON charges a refundable fee after hiring. It is simply to cover visa charges and to provide incentive (though really very slight) to honor the commitment. The fee being described is a scam. They are charging money to consider the application for a job. This means that they will only read your resume if you pay them money. How is a person to even know if a job exists?

The industry has fallen to charlatans and the internet has enabled it.