Job Discussion Forums

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

Recently I wrote a long post about my old school trying to screw me for damages there was no evidence I caused and for unspecified items missing which I certainly didn`t take and there was no evidence (in the absence of an inventory) that I did take. I thought I`d finally heard the last of it all.

Now, however, the new teacher in my old appartment has tried to `trade` if you like, my mail in exchange for money to cover the cost of above items which as I said there is no evidence that I stole/damaged. Now, while he should recieve nothing of any value with the exception of my JCPT language test result, I want to know if this is in some way a crime, and do I have any legal standing regarding this?

While I am seething with anger about it, my instinct is to just forget about it and move on, having changed the addresses on all my other important documents. After all I can probably get my test result reissued. I am just disgusted at having my mail ransomed and wondered if there was any way I could resolve this without, obviously, doing something that might threaten the status of my visa.

Thanks for you help.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

How about going over there and opening up a can of whoop ass!

Just kidding. What again are the items in question and what monetary value have they been assigned?

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

Sweetsee, yeah I thought about it, but its just not the kind of person I am.

My school was sold half way through my term, and neither the old boss nor the new bosses had an inventory of the flat. My new bosses never even came to see it. Rather than do so or trust me, who worked honestly for them for nine months, they called the old boss and he claimed there were `all sorts of pot and pan sets, and cutlery/crockery for four`. He was always useless at best, and didn`t even live in the same city. This is outright B.S unless the previous teacher (who was only there for 10 weeks) pulled a sly one, but then as far as I know, he went back home.

And a pane of glass in an internal door was found to be broken. I cleaned the flat and am as sure as I can be that nothing was broken when I left. They actually inspected the flat after the new teacher had moved in, which was of course pointless, and the new teacher himself actually admitted he could have broken it himself.

Now he claims he has decided he is `sure` he didn`t break it and says I`m lying. The damage was estimated at 12000, which personally is ridiculous, but when I went to collect my final salary I have the new teacher half as a gesture of goodwill because I didn`t want any bad blood between me and him. Somehow, since then he has decided that I am scum and have a personal vendetta against him. Quite why, I`m not sure, as I was nothing but kind to him, inviting him out to my leaving parties with students so he could meet him, emailing him the last reports even after I`d left the company and owed them nothing. Basically he has acted like a complete b````d towards me and after speaking to him on the phone on Friday I totally broke down, like I`ve never done before. The way the school and now him treated me seems so utterly unjust, and worse, I still live in the same city as them. All I wanted was to leave on speaking terms and then get my test result when it came. It wasn`t too much to ask.

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

Are you saying that a teacher is refusing to give you your mail? THAT is totally illegal in my book. The mail is YOUR property. Tell him that the local policeman will accompany you to pick it up.

If he has some grudge to bear against monetary matters, let him sort it out with someone else. You sound as if you've been more than accommodating.

Get your mail. It's your private property.

injapantoday · Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 40 Location: japan

go to the post office and change your address...your mail will be delivered to your new address

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Really! And be done with the wankers.

Where is the new teacher from?(don't answer!!!) Embarassed

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

The new teacher`s from Canada, but he`s been kicking about in Japan for four or five years I think.

I never got much mail anyway, and anything of importance, my phone bill, insurance, bank stuff, etc, I`ve already changed the address for. The only major thing was my Japanese test result, which has value only to me. I would have changed that address too but up until two weeks ago I didn`t know where I was going to be living. Saying that, I spoke to them this morning and I think they can send out a replacement without any problems. Its just the principal of the thing. Using something that he knows I value highly as a tool to try and bribe more for money is utterly pathetic and quite frankly it makes me feel sick.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

All the more reason to forget it, really.
No good getting sick over some knucklehead.

You making out all right, find a new job and place to live?

craven · Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 130

You know, I'm kind of embarrased to be Canadian at the moment...and I second Sweetsee's advice about a can of whup ass!!!!
Seriously though, any guy low enough to try and ransom your mail is probably not worth confronting face to face (without a cop beside you). Glad you could get your test results resent, and I sincerely hope someone returns the favour to this guy at some point in the future! Good luck with everything!

yamanote senbei · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 435

What's the name of the school? If you let people know, then they'll know to avoid it.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Actually, I'm sorry I was slow to the punch on this one.

I would have strongly recommended that the OP NOT answer Sweetsee's question.

Asking where the new teacher from is not only irrelevant, but consolidates any stereotypes we already have about people from any given country. It really doesn't do anyone any favours and quite honestly, should never have been posted. The new teacher may have just as easily been from the U.K., New Zealand, India, or even the Republic of Elbonia...

"Where is the new teacher from"
"Gadgetstan..."
"Ohhhhhhh.... THOSE people!....."

I agree with yamanote.... it may be a little more helpful to know the identity of the school rather than the nationality of the new teacher.

/not ashamed to be Canadian!

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Good point Jim. My bad. Embarassed

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

I agree with Jim on this, its completely irrelevant where the guy is from. I was just answering the question. My best friends here are Canadian, American, Australian and British, but I`ve also met @@@heads from all of those countries.

Regarding naming the school, if someone wants to know please message me. While I had my problems with them though I did always get paid on time and I don`t want to start bouncing the name about. If I see someone posting a request for information on them I`ll certainly PM them, but they currently only have one full time teacher and that`s the guy who tried to screw me.

I`ve spoken to a few people about it and been advised to just get my mail forwarded by the post office, and leave it at that. I have a good new job, which is frustratingly in the same town, and just want to get on with my life. Revenge rarely achieves anything other than making you feel better, and that in itself would probably screw my visa, which I have no intention of doing. I`m happy in the knowledge that I`m the innocent party, and my friends and family all know that. And frankly, that`s good enough for me.