Korean Job Discussion Forums

[RJjr]

Last summer, I noticed that my air conditioning would sometimes be off when I returned home. I thought that it was just somehow shutting off, until the assistant director said that the apartment manager had been going inside my apartment to turn off my A/C and lights.

A couple of months later, I noticed that he had been back inside my apartment. I have a washer/dryer combo that has shaken with jackhammer abandon the whole time I have lived in my apartment. It shakes so hard that I always hold onto it to keep it somewhat steady at the ten minute mark when it does the part where it spins the water out of the laundry, which is much more intense than the other forty minutes. It shakes so hard during this portion of the wash that I believe it's likely that it would have broken the countertop and the burner above it if I hadn't always been there to hold onto it. At the seven minute mark, I have always shut it off since it has spun most of the water out of the laundry and it's such a task to hold it still. In short, the washer was probably a mechanical bull at a honkey-tonk bar in a previous life before it was recycled into the piece of schitt it is today. In its next life, it should be Rosie O'Donnell's oversized vibrator if there's any justice in the universe.

Anyway, I went to "ride the bull" (my washer, not Rosie) in September or October and it wasn't as bucking quite as hard as usual. There were some yellow strips of posterboard that were under the front left corner propping it up that hadn't been there before... It still shook hard, but not as badly as before. I live on the second floor and the "guard's" office is right below my apartment---under my washing machine, to be exact. I guess he was tired of getting rudely awaken during the spin cycle. In any case, it was obvious that the apartment manager was aware that my washer/dryer was a piece of junk and that he had consulted his Jeff Foxworthy Washing Machine Repair Manual to fix the problem. Not surprisingly, this did not work.

The other day, the washer stopped spinning for good. It would just groan and not do anything. Oh well, I knew the day would eventually come.

I wasn't sure if I needed to get it repaired myself or if it was covered in the 87,120 won apartment maintenance fee that I pay every month. My co-workers assured me that it would be covered and I told the assistant director about it. She arranged for it to be repaired and I thought that would be the end of the problem.

Today, she told me that my washer/dryer had been repaired, but that it was my fault that it had broken, and that if it breaks again, I will have to pay for the repairs. I was surprised and asked how I broke it. She told me that I had put too much laundry inside and that caused it to break. So I asked how much less I should put inside and was told that it was impossible to say since she didn't know how much I was putting in to begin with. I explained that my washes were actually quite small and that I even did colors and whites in separate washes. Whenever I wash my bedspread, the bedspread by itself is twice as heavy as any other wash I have ever done. She conceded that my wardrobe was quite limited and that she didn't believe I was responsible for breaking the machine, but that the apartment manager had tried to charge the school. The school refused to pay him, but if it happens again, it will come out of my pocket.

So, I was frustrated and a little bit pissed. I wasn't sure what to do other than find a laundromat or do my laundry by hand in my sink. There's no way that washing machine will make it until June 19th (the last day of my contract) without breaking again if I use it. It's an absolute piece of junk.

When I didn't think I could get any more pissed, when I made it home, the part of the wall abutting the washer was pulled loose. It was NOT like that when I left my apartment yesterday morning, and I think it's quite obvious how it got that way. When the washer was pulled out for repair, it pulled it loose.

Now, I'm wondering what bullhockey excuse the apartment manager will use to try to bill me for THAT.

[Ramones]

Mr Jeremy I think you broke the washer by sticking that oversized schlong in it...

And change your door locks! keep them out at all costs.

[hellofaniceguy]

In a way...I am confused....why didn't you change your door locks when you moved in?
Whenever I move into a new place...I always replace the locks....common sense.
Even when the apartment owner/manager/etc tells me no....I still change them. And I don't give them a key! If they ask me for a spare key...I tell them.....when you give me a key to your apartment...I'll give you one for mine. Most of the times, I just go to the locksmith and buy the lock and install it myself.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I think you have the makings of a mini-epic here. Keep us posted on developments.

[RJjr]

Well, it's really not a big deal that they come and go as they please. Plus, since the Headquarters Intelligence Detachment SUV always camps out anytime I grow a beard or withdraw $12,000 from a bank when I'm refused service, maybe it can help them to have easier access to my apartment, too.

When I came home last night, my apartment was unlocked and there was a metal chopstick on the countertop...no doubt another "tool" listed in the Jeff Foxworthy Repair Manual.

I don't care who comes and goes as long as nobody takes anything. I noticed the three bankbooks from the old accounts I had with KB weren't sitting as they were when I left, even though my sunglasses were still sitting on top of them. Since those accounts are closed, it doesn't really matter. I had the books from my current accounts on my person.

My main concern, actually my only concern is this:

At 1,200,000 won, my apartment deposit is probably one of the largest in the ESL industry. I'm starting to wonder how much of it I'll get back. I'm going to put pressure for the wall beside the washer to be repaired NOW so it can't be used as an excuse to take my money at the end of my contract.

I've had no luck finding a laundromat, so I guess I'll go to my ex-milf in Apgujeong and grovel to see if I can use her washer and dryer. I can give her what she wants if she can give me what I want. I'm all about a square deal. I'll try to finish up when I hear the dryer beep. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll have to kick it old school and wash my clothes in the sink. Using the washing machine again would be the financial equivalent of dropping the soap in the prison shower, so I'm not going to do it.

Speaking of mini-epics, what ever happened to the threads about Almond Tease?

[tzechuk]

You are very, very careless.

There is no way I would let anyone wander in my apartment. I would feel too violated!!!

Also, do you really mean 1.2m or 120m?

If it's 1.2m, then it's not really that much..........

[bellum99]

Something very very very frustrating is about to happen to you...

Your situation looks like a big problem about to happen. Change the lock.

[RJjr]

I don't have much in my apartment, but 1,200,000 won is a lot of money to me.

[Bukowski]

Not sure if you are being serious or just kidding around, but...

in case you aren't, there are two many reasons your machine would do what you said. One, your machine is not level/balanced. I thought most people knew that it needs to be, as it is common sense. However, in case you didn't, just get a level at the 1,000 won store and level it. The second reason, your clothes are all bunched up prior to the spin cycle (you may be loading heavy and light fabrics or just too much). Anyway, simply open the machine and rearrange your clothes so the weight is evenly distributed.

If you follow those steps, you shouldn't have any problems in the future.

Best of luck,
AC

[tzechuk]

I actually solve all the bunching up problems by putting our clothes in those laundry nets... they keep the clothes in better shapes as well.

As for levelling... the problem is probably not so much that the machine isn't level as it is that the floor itself isn't level. We have to level our washing machine every time I use it because the floor in the laundry room is somehow slanted... so the machine moves each time it is used. It is very annoying!!

[Bukowski]

Yes. Of course, it's the floor that isn't level . That's why I said you have to level the machine (adjust the legs).

Is it just me ?

It's not like you are going to adjust the floor ! That is why the legs are adjustable!

Too Roch...my plane is finally leaving!

See you in a month,

AC

[Fresh Prince]

Great post. I hadn't really thought about changing my locks that much but after reading this it's a top priority.

I've caught my apartment manager opening up other people's apartments while they were out and entering them. I know that at least once a week my apartment manager snoops through my place.

They probably got your washer from one of those recycling yards. Where I live they are all over. They are little places where large items that are thrown away end up. They are filled with large metal items that are stripped of anything valuable. There are always at least one or two washing machines available at these places when I go by. I'm sure they aren't very expensive if you wanted to pick one up. They are easy to install but if you gave one of the people a bottle of soju they would probably do it for you.

Anyways, you might try buttering up your apartment manager a little. If you give your manager a small gift as a token of your thanks for the help then they may be less likely to screw you in the future.

[oneofthesarahs]

Here's a potential solution. When you move into a new apartment, leave the apartment-issued lock, but install your own additional lock.

I've had a few circumstances where I've approved building managers coming into my apartment (I had plumbing issues). On those days, I only locked the apartment-issue lock. Every other day, I lock both of them.

That way, nobody can walk around in my apartment without me knowing about it, but if I do need something done, they can get in if I know about it ahead of time.

[rothkowitz]

I've has horrid places.Here is a brief inventory of solutions.

My first school had NO w.machine ready and this went on for 2 weeks in summer.Also,no hot water.

I turned up in my steel-capped docs,Khaki shorts and Norton T-Shirt.I fronted up to reception with my clothes in my backpack.They looked me up and down and said they'd give me 200.000,a guy will come tomorrow,and don't lose the money!!!!

If the building is providing the machine,I don't know what you can do.I guess you don't have much space?

How about advertise for someone to take in your washing?I think that's your best bet.

[poet13]

"I wasn't sure if I needed to get it repaired myself or if it was covered in the 87,120 won apartment maintenance fee that I pay every month."

What?????? That's crazy off the top.

You don't mind people coming and going in your apartment? When did you get out of the penitentiary?

Dude, or dudette. Your crib is your crib. Unless you explicitly give permission for someone to be in there, you should be kicking some proper *ss.