Korean Job Discussion Forums

[marktoronto]

Like most, I owe some money to credit card companies back in Canada. Last month I wired some money home to pay my bills but the charge for wiring money sucks. Is there a way to pay Amex, Visa, and Mastercard from Seoul? There must be some international offices in Seoul. Is it possible to go into these offices and pay my bills there? If anyone else is in this situation please let me know what you've been doing.
Thanks

[Patong Dong]

I was told I had to pay my MC through TD in Toronto. I just wire money back to Toronto and pay it through my internet TD account. I did this just yesterday and only paid 13 000 WON in total service charges for sending about $370 CDN back. That's a pretty reasonable charge.

[kimcheeking]

I usually send 2 mill back at a time and I'm set for several months worht of student loan payments and any credit card use.

[Starperson]

As far as I know you can't pay a Visacard from overseas. But there is a Visa office in Seoul. Sorry I've lost the number.

[Homer]

marktoronto,

The wire fee can be reduced to very little if you negociate/talk with your home bank. Arguably this might be difficult for you being in Korea but perhaps it can be arranged.
Also to consider is the amount you will be sending home. If you send a bigger amount the wire fee is not that much by comparison (2 million won vs the fee for example).
If however you send a small amount (under 500 dollars) then it becomes not as profitable.
I have no idea what you money situation is but perhaps you should consider the amounts you wire.
As for the fees, my home bank (RBC) charges me nothing for wire transfers, I went to my bank before leaving for Korea the second time (back in 1998) and met with a bank representative, I ended up getting a package where they don't charge me for the wire.
The only fee I pay is from my Korean bank and that ends up being around 10 000won per month (would have to check). For me this is more than reasonable as I send a fair amount of money back home every month.

You would have to talk to your bank Mark or perhaps use other methods like travellers checks (not a fav. of mine).
As for paying your credit card bills, I would suggest (again I know nothing of your personal financial situation) that you bite the bullet, have a slim month here and pay it off in one shot. Credit card interest rates are brutal, but I am sure you know this.

You can easily pay your bill with online banking once the money is in your account. alternatively, but complicated, you can ask the credit card company to send you your bill here in Korea, go the bank here...make out a cashiers check (fee) for it in canadian and snail mail it back to your credit card company...the whole operation should take about 10 days...

[Mosley]

I came here in late Aug. last year w/$5K Canadian owing on VISA. I simply sent cash home to my parents' account & they slapped the moola down on my balance. Homer is right on the nose: bite the bullet instead of paying those *&@#%'s interest charges that would make the yakuza & mafia blush. For the record, I eliminated my balance(P&I) by mid-January.

[dulouz]

I found out my ccard company allows for "ach" payments. Its a direct e - pay from my bank account. Look into internet banking.