Job Discussion Forums

[Don't get Ripped Off]

I work for ECC in Nagoya. It has been pretty good so far. 6 hours a day, minimal preparation, and a generous vacation package have all contributed to an enjoyable experience. But there has been one incident that has tainted my impression of ECC, and I don't want it to happen to anyone else. ECC Nagoya uses Interlink, a company that will assist new teachers in finding a place to live and getting settled in Japan. If the native personnel at ECC ask if you want assistance in finding an apartment I highly recommend you refuse. Here’s why:

Interlink charged me a realtor’s fee of one month's rent to pick me up at the airport and to assist me in getting an alien card, and a bank account and a cell phone. Getting an alien card and bank account and phone are all doable even if you don't speak Japanese. I know because I did these things on my own. The realtor’s fee also waived any key money or deposits. ( Key money can amount to 3 month’s rent and is non refundable.)
I was moved into 'Freebell' apartments (www.freebell.co.jp). These apartments do not require key money or deposits. The landlord is extremely helpful and if you need assistance in getting a bank account alien card, or cell phone, you can use Interlink free of charge. That’s right the same company who charges you a month’s rent if you go through ECC, will charge you nothing if your correspondence is through Freebell’s landlord.
If you are reading this from overseas and planning on coming to Nagoya please visit the website. You can arrange an apartment through the website. You can even see the layout of the apartments. The building is located extremely close to Nagoya Station.

[Xerius]

Interlink's a scam and is the one major blight on ECC Chubu. They're making hand over fist by taking advantage of newcomers to Japan, and it's surprising that so few people have raised this issue. Granted, key money is a major expense common to many apartments in Japan, but there are numerous places around without it (Freebell being one example). It's laughable the way Interlink justifies their fees as payment for their "assistance" (which couldn't possibly be worth more than even 1/10th the charge). The whole relationship stinks badly, as I doubt it's a one-sided one . . . ECC's probably benefiting from it too.

Good warning there - perhaps fewer people will get caught up in it this way.

[6810]

I'll third that!

I too worked for ECC Chubu, no complaints about the company except for their hook up with Interlink.

I had a couple of run-ins with the interlink crowd, or at least the Chairperson/owner (responsible also for a certain sport'sbar near Fushimi). The owner (who I'll identify as "Snake") ripped off my housemate and friend when moving apartment. Snake sells clients second, third and fourth hand furniture at ridiculously high prices and charges a princely delivery fee as icing. This wouldn't all be so bad if he didn't actively underpay and rip off his Japanese employees (not hearsay, a close (Japanese) friend of mine worked for this company).

I'm sure Interstink and Snake have a number of new dodgy enterprises running, so my info's probably right out of date. But I found "Snake" and Interstink quite awful to deal with - they prey off the inexperience and ineptitude of their clients (eikaiwa teachers), making them pay for services they shouldn't really have to pay for (opening a bank account, getting the gaijin card).

Also, when questioned about Interstink (by myself and other employees) ECC management fairly well fobbed off the issue saying it's not their problem.

I know that everyone's just trying to make a profit and all. I have no problem with that. It's just that, in my opinion (and this is all opinion) the Interstink/ECC Chubu partnership is a profiteering set-up which benefits from a constant influx of inexperienced and unaware clients. If there was any continuity then Interstink would rapidly go out of business. But clients use it once, get burned or go home or just don't do it anymore and then never again. Every new ECC Chubu eikaiwa employee who utilises this "service" is effectively ripped off. Nothing is ever done because in the end, everyone just says, "oh well, that's Japan." or "Yeah, but I didn't have to pay key money."

That ECC continues in this partnership, is in my mind, a profoundly unethical course of action which is a stain on an otherwise fair and decent company.

[BenJ]

Isn't Interlink like the ONLY real estate agency catering especially to foreigners in Nagoya with foreign staff etc? I would guess this is the reason why ECC uses them, rather than any other conspiracies you might want to invent. Freebell, Interlink and Shooters are all owned by the same person I believe.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I've had no dramas with Interlink - charged me Realtor's fee for driving me around for 2 days looking at apartments, and no key or deposit money. Furniture was decent and handy as I didn't have a car or the means/time to go looking for it.

They're probably overcharging by a fair bit, but the demand is there.

[6810]

Just to summarise.

1. There is no conspiracy.

2. Interlink stinks, is exploitative and unethical. Top level management are problematic.

3. That ECC continues to to business with them is the problem.

4. I'm not saying there are NO good experiences. Every company has these.

5. I AM saying though, that "there is no one else" is absolute rubbish. Nagoya is a city of almost 3 Million people. It's one of Japan's Eikaiwa heartlands. That "there is no one else" is a furphy. ECC just ain't trying hard enough.

6. I think ECC is one of the better (if not the best) of all the corporate Eikaiwa. I have no hesitation recommending anyone who wants to do this kind of work to go to ECC.

7. ECC Chubu runs a very dangerous potentially litiguous line by retaining the services of Interlink. A set of circumstances that could severely damage an otherwise excellent company, with adequate (if not good) management. ECC has a good reputation - Interlink, Shooters and Freebell do too - until you step outside of this particular combination of cynical money making franchises.

8. Freebell's a good deal, until you look at where you could be living... (I have a whole house [shared of course], in the inaka, fully tatami, modern and traditional, wooden, air con, 3 car park spaces [no cost] with a back yard, a front garden, cable tv and four bedrooms - 70,000/month [my share - 20,000] and an 11 minute train ride to Nagoya's city centre. Got this independently and NOT through Freebell).

[Wolf]