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What if i can't afford a flight ticket home?
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tina2cool



Joined: 09 Jul 2009

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:58 pm    Post subject: What if i can't afford a flight ticket home? Reply with quote

I'm leaving in 5 weeks.

I don't get paid for another week, and the price of my flight home is going up everyday not to mention the flight seats are filling up faster than I thought. I'm already using all the money I have to buy this ticket.

If they go up anymore, I will not be able to pay, and my school says they can't buy me a ticket. I work for a public school. I don't know what to do, I've told them my situation many times, but their solution is ask your mom, like my mom has any money either and I shouldn't have to borrow money to leave the country.

I thought it was clear that the school provides the airfare. This is very stressful, and I don't think they really understand, that I cannot leave if I can't afford a flight ticket. My mother has already given me some money, but if the ticket price keeps climbing she cannot give me anymore.

What do i do?
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DrugstoreCowgirl



Joined: 08 May 2009
Location: Daegu-where the streets have no name

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You work for a public school and they won't pay? Have you finished your contract or are you leaving in the middle?
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BigBuds



Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Location: Changwon

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Call the labor board ASAP. Sorry I don't have the number handy but someone on here will. And, YES, they are supposed to supply airfare home if it's in the contract.

If you're in a public school, also call the board of education and your handlers to get some to tell the school to pay for it NOW!
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jmuns



Joined: 09 Sep 2009
Location: earth

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

maybe you should have saved some money
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Cerberus



Joined: 29 Oct 2009

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very basic matter.

if you will have completed your contract at the time of your departure, your school MUST pay for the ticket.

No ifs and buts about it. Call SMOE, GEPIK, EPIK coordinator in your region, but I'd be shocked if they'd refuse. It's a cut and clear no win situation for them.

However, should you be leaving BEFORE the end of your contract, you're all on your own.
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JFuller317



Joined: 10 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

How is this possible? You should get a final month's paycheck. Even if you're making the minimum of 1.8 million, isn't that more than enough for a ticket anywhere in the world?
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jonpurdy



Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Location: Ulsan

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This year's EPIK contract stated that you will get paid an exit allowance to be used for your flight home. 1.3 million. So the best you can do is ask for it in advance and maybe they would give it to you.

Unlike years before where they would reimburse you for the ticket, or outright buy it for you.
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JFuller317



Joined: 10 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is this a situation where you're leaving after four months or something, so they're withholding your last paycheck to cover your entrance allowance since you didn't make it to the six-month mark?
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DeLaRed



Joined: 16 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cerberus wrote:
Very basic matter.

if you will have completed your contract at the time of your departure, your school MUST pay for the ticket.

No ifs and buts about it. Call SMOE, GEPIK, EPIK coordinator in your region, but I'd be shocked if they'd refuse. It's a cut and clear no win situation for them.

However, should you be leaving BEFORE the end of your contract, you're all on your own.


The new style contracts that came into effect from last September with SMOE (and Gepik?) give 1.3m instead of airfare now but I assume the OP is on the old contract. If that's the case, then yes, the school must pay for your ticket absolutely if contract is completed.

If the OP is quitting early then he/she has to pay from his/her own pocket. Seeing as the semester does not finish in 5 weeks time, then that could well be the case. Really the OP should have saved some money for such an occasion if that's the case.
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Aelric



Joined: 02 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can talk to the Embassy. From what I understand, they can send you home but you will owe them the money back. Basically the same as a deportation, except it's not gonna red mark your record. I'd be sure you repay that cash double quick, though.
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egrog1717



Joined: 12 Mar 2008

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So when does SMOE actually gives us that 1.3 mil exit allowance?... Would be nice to be able to book a flight home in advance and pay in cash...

OP - Call SMOE HQ... Get on their cash about this... Plus, if you've been here at least a year you'll get one month's pay (severance) with your last cheque, plus your 500k housing deposit, plus (depending on your country of origin) you'll be getting your pension money back in a few weeks...
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thoreau



Joined: 21 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cerberus wrote:
if you will have completed your contract at the time of your departure, your school MUST pay for the ticket.


Wrong. Most of the new EPIK contracts give a 1.3 million entrance allowance and a 1.3 exit allowance. Its up to you to buy the ticket.
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MalFSU1



Joined: 27 Jan 2009

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think his problem is he doesn't have the money right now to get the ticket which he/she will use in a few weeks, and won't get the flight money until they put it in his account, which typically occurs with your last payment.

I don't think the school is saying they won't pay, just that they won't do it up front. When I travelled home in between contracts I had to put it on a credit card and then pay that off when they put the reimbursement in my account two weeks after coming back to Korea.

I think the best bet is to find someone to put the flight cost on their credit card if they don't have one of their own and then pay them back once the EPIK/GEPIK/SMOE deposits the flight reimbursement into their account. I don't think there is any grounds to go to a labor board.
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MalFSU1



Joined: 27 Jan 2009

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry for the awful grammar above. Talking on the phone and typing can be dangerous!
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T-Bone



Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Location: Yongin

PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Aelric wrote:
You can talk to the Embassy. From what I understand, they can send you home but you will owe them the money back. Basically the same as a deportation, except it's not gonna red mark your record. I'd be sure you repay that cash double quick, though.


I don't know what super-sweet country you come from, but in the case of the American Embassy (anywhere), they are usually explicit that they WILL NOT fly you home if you go broke. I hope for the OP's sake they hail from your kind nation and not the US of A.
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