Job Discussion Forums

[munchkin]

Just arrived week ago..told contract coming while working in japan
however, got to china..only 3 days in hotel..then had to find hostel asap

now at good school; but, company says contract will be sent to the school..have proper z visa, etc

however, now the company says..even though i have all stuff in writing on chat and Facebook saved...no reimbursement for flight to Bejiing
even though i have written statement saying so..spent 1k plus for visa, visa rite center, embassy..China...etc

now company says pay day Oct 12...trying to get reimbursement..have 200 left of money possibly and in hostel hr away from school..subway ..then bus..

any suggestions ...have all they promised in writing on chat and Facebook..

wont last until Oct 12.

company says they send the contract to the school..been working with this company since April..arrived her 31 August..
Any help would be appreciated ASAP.

thanks.

[Alien abductee]

[munchkin]

I came with 400 after they paid 3 days hotel
However, it was in writing that I would get half back in two weeks and the rest at the end of the semester. I have all that in writing..the first contract sent to me had dates changed as I did not come until August..versus June..due to authenticating diploma..i was in the states getting those things done...visiting family.

now am at the school..and they say payday oct 12..company says oh"air fare is to another city..not Bejing..However, that is not what I have in writing from the company guy.

have enough for the month in the hostel.

school is great..buffet style lunch, breakfast..only 16USD a month//hostel is nice.
but hr away..

[munchkin]

Company took me to an apartment to see 3 day at hotel. had to move out of hotel..find hostel day before started work.

apartment had 2 girls in rooms plus the owner slept in the living room.
broker wanted 600 usd and owner wanted 3 mos rent..1500

How much can a Principal do to help me with ensuring I get reimbursed...and help with an apartment.
I can show the Principal all the company guy said..the school likes me..I even redid a TEFL for the 120 hours out of my pocket..

so really know what to do...I expected another 500 two weeks after I got here as promised in writing in my chats..and Facebook.

[munchkin]

Ok.

Clarfication.

First contract had start date of May/June. However, it took longer to get things done as I went through the Visa center in Tokyo..VisaRite in NJersey..mom was in states.

Secondly..in writing the company guy stated that I would be getting a new contract..once I finished my 120 TEFL..that was done. didn t get new contract prior to arriving in Beijing

in writing...reimbursement for ALL visa and air fare expenses. half upon arrival..told it was next week..remaining at the end of the semester.

Now the company says..no reimbursement since I was going to Beijing and not Schezuan..spelling..sorry..but I was not give a job anywhere but Beijing..and at a public elementary school which I like...

I was told I was going to be put in an apartment with a roommate..for 300 usd
and the company would give me money for the apartment..deduct the 300..In writing.

Now, payday Oct 12 just got told..as well as just getting told that the Contract will be sent over to the school to sign. The first contract was signed but start dates..vacation times and pay changed for the better. However, I do not have the Contract yet
and
want to know about ALL the promises in writing which I saved.

Does the Principal of my school have leverage over the Company to ensure they keep their promise.?

Should the school have an apartment for me and try to help me?
What is the rule of thumb for public schools in China?

Any help would be appreciated.

I came with enough for the hostel for a month..family can help some..my mom.and brother.
However, I was told..and expected 500 USD next week.this is in writing also.

thanks.

[munchkin]

I spent lots of years teaching in S Korea and seven years in Japan.public schools..so not new to teaching..

Really need some concrete suggestions as to how to approach this dilemma.
Thanks.

[rocket man]

your writing is almost non native speakerish (and you said you taught in Korea and Japan?), I still can not follow what you are saying even after all your posts.

[Kalkstein]

[munchkin]

Seriously, from the USA..just tried to mention things with shortcutting some of the words..my bad on that

My first contract was awesome..new one needed issuing due to the timing of a new start date as I was working in Japan.

Z visa issued..resident permit being processed as of this juncture.

Prior contract stated the reimbursement for travel and visa expenses..half now and half at the end of the semester (which included half of the airfare which they would pay up to 800 USD for round trip. Also in prior contract was travel to school..bus/subway, etc.

Housing included being put in an apt and 300/usd cost..nothing about brokerage fees, etc.

Told was to be in a hotel for two weeks..got three days..then had to find hostel as the apartment they took me had two gals plus a landlord (sleeping in liv room...plus 600 brokerage fee..900 for apt.

couldn t do it

also told as in prior contract .reimbursement would be half on arrival..
The Company had all this in writing too for me. Principal is awaiting the Contract ..

So, I got on here to ask what options there were for me..even though had the prior contract ..and have all down in writing.

Are you saying that it does not matter what tey put in writing to me is of no value as I do not have the new Contract?

Do public schools provide apartments..I work at an elementary school that is pretty awesome.

Does the Principal have leverage with the Company who placed me?
I have funds to manage through the stated payday..but want to know what other option I have with the school on my side.

Realize it is China..but under tort law...the words are in writing for what they promised, although I have not gotten the new Contract with company signature. Principal is acquiring it he said ..for me.

Concrete suggestions..prior military..and yes, born and raised in the good ole' USA,

[Modernist]

Clear communication is pretty useful in teaching, you know, English.

Your posts are meandering and hard to grasp. You claim to have been teaching in Asia for, what? More than ten years? How could you not recognize certain obvious issues? How old are you?

Like, why are you mentioning USD in reference to housing? The only place you'd use USD in China is at an airport or bank, to change it. The idea that you'd be paying USD for apartment fees and such is crazy. Why aren't you quoting RMB for those costs? Are they paying you in USD?

Why would you accept shared housing? There's absolutely no shortage of apartments in this country, in every city. Even if it was small, I would demand single housing and never ever tolerate roommates or any shared facilities besides a laundry room and an elevator. I would certainly imagine 95% of teachers here would do the same. It is entirely expected in China that you have solo housing. It should be provided on arrival with no need to look at multiple places, no roommates, no fees, and really no interaction with landlords at all except if you're getting an allowance and renting your own place (not advised for a first contract).

All the yammering about 'I have it in writing' is really for nothing. WeChat and Facebook do not count in China. Only printed papers with those nice red stamps on them make the Chinese pay attention. If it's not on there then you will get nothing from them, especially in regards to money.

You were foolish to arrive without seeing the new contract. It should have been signed and sealed by both you and they before you stepped on a plane. If there were issues or problems that was the time to settle them, and refuse to sign until they were changed to your satisfaction. Now, you are basically at their mercy.

US law, tort or anything else, is less than irrelevant in China. Time to learn that right now, or you'll have a very very long year.

By 'company' that placed you, do you mean a recruiter? Or are you working for some company that outsources you to a PS? Recruiters are lying and worthless. If your contract is with a company instead of a school, then -perhaps- the principal could help you, as the school also contracted with that company to get you. But you don't want to push that too far.

The shared housing, that they offered it and you accepted it (WTF?), doesn't make me optimistic about your prospects. How many hours are you teaching and how much are you making? Best to be honest so we know how bad you've been screwed.

[Foo_Fighters_Dave]

I have to agree with other posters to this thread. I had a hard time following what you are telling us.

To me, it sounded like you went through recruiting company who got you a public school job but the contract was changed a few times due to your visa taking a long time AND you redid a TEFL (I am assuming this is online).

Anything that was written on We Chat/ Facebook/ Skype/ etc are meaningless because they were not in the contract.

What really disturbs me is it sounds like you taught in South Korea and Japan for almost a decade so you have to be at least in your mid 30's and you got suckered into this mess. Why didn't you use your previous experiences in ESL to make sure you had a job and perks that you wanted?

I have heard that a lot of places put you in a hostel and give you a stipend in lieu of housing. However being put in an apartment with two girls and the landlord sounds weird.

Also, having no money to tide you over is your fault. You had to have known from living in South Korea and Japan that you may not get your first paycheck for up to six weeks. A simple Google Search tells people to bring X amount of money to tide them over until their first paycheck. It sounds like you are living hand to mouth which is risky.

Can you be more detailed and write like a native speaker? I apologize for being rude but it is hard to make sense of what your problem is to help.

Whatever happens, I hope you make it through.

[Marinx]

[munchkin]

Contract now signed.
Housing is a stipend. 667
visa costs we are splitting
air fare reimbursement.half now .half end of the semester
no housing from the school. public elementary..
Company placed me with the school..
My bad on things...know better...had enough contracts in the past...recruiter kept saying it was being sent...chit..believed him..he sure didn t know his stuff..and I followed suit..

However, on the bright side..school is awesome..teachers are as well..They have some ideas about my getting a place from people they know and the Principal is helping. Wants me to stay and says he will try to make the process as "painless as possible" to get my own place.

I said no to rooming with 3.landlord sleeping in the living room..couldn t get out of the place fast enough.

Only thing I don't know about is ..having to pay a brokerage fee ..for the apartment..any one know about that OR how to get around that.

Vacation pay, salary and job is good..

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

[Foo_Fighters_Dave]

munchkin wrote:

Contract now signed. Housing is a stipend. 667 visa costs we are splitting air fare reimbursement.half now .half end of the semester no housing from the school. public elementary.. Company placed me with the school.. My bad on things...know better...had enough contracts in the past...recruiter kept saying it was being sent...chit..believed him..he sure didn t know his stuff..and I followed suit.. However, on the bright side..school is awesome..teachers are as well..They have some ideas about my getting a place from people they know and the Principal is helping. Wants me to stay and says he will try to make the process as "painless as possible" to get my own place. What is the name of the recruiter or company? How much is your stipend? You still don't make a lot of sense writing about your situation. I said no to rooming with 3.landlord sleeping in the living room..couldn t get out of the place fast enough. Only thing I don't know about is ..having to pay a brokerage fee ..for the apartment..any one know about that OR how to get around that. Vacation pay, salary and job is good..