|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
dunkman_nz
Joined: 31 Dec 2010
Location: New Zealand
|
 Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:50 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| I understand that its not included. If the op is paying an extra 60+ k for electricity then yes, he might be getting ripped off. Otherwise he's paying approximately what a lot of us do. But I agree, them taking the money directly out of his account is sketch |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
| shifty wrote: |
| dunkman_nz wrote: |
| in my building, I pay close to 200k for maintenance, electricity etc all up. Its just run of the mill officetel. |
Um, dunkman is it?? Electricity is NOT included in the subject at hand. That is, NOT included!!!!!!!! |
Actually, the OP has never itemized his utilities nor reported what is included in his maintenance fee. So, we don't know if electricity or other normal utilities are included, nor what is covered under his monthly maintenance. Many nice buildings have a lot of extra costs covered in the maintenance fee and the maintenance is considered a utility in Korea. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shifty
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
I stayed in an officetel....loved it. Free of mosquitoes, it had everything that opened and shut within easy reach. All state of the art stuff.
And to clean was the work of a moment.
Most expats in Korea simply need somewhere to hang their hat really, the smaller the better.
Anyway, I had all the charges; elevators, the ubiquitous cleaning ladies, the works. All told I paid between 90 and 120k a month, including elec..
So damn convenient to pay as well, just a step to the left down in the basement parking. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shifty
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:11 am Post subject: Re: Going to pull a runner, need advice |
|
|
| marsavalanche wrote: |
- They're taking out a 105,000 won "maintenance fee" for my building on top of utilities out of my paycheck... how is this legal if it's not in my contract?
|
To me this is explicit. Can't get much clearer than that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:13 am Post subject: Re: Going to pull a runner, need advice |
|
|
| shifty wrote: |
| marsavalanche wrote: |
- They're taking out a 105,000 won "maintenance fee" for my building on top of utilities out of my paycheck... how is this legal if it's not in my contract?
|
To me this is explicit. Can't get much clearer than that. |
Really?
How much was his electric bill? Was it included in his maintenance fee as is common?
Nope. He didn't say. He didn't say that his maintenance fee was 105,000 exactly or every month either.
He gave no details.
His maintenance fee is within the normal range. We have no evidence of anything being improper or incorrect. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shifty
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
| marsavalanche wrote: |
| My building is average. I've already been in Seoul a year and I know the rich areas, and this area is middle class. The 100,000 is BS. |
I think here, he says. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shifty
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:30 am Post subject: Re: Going to pull a runner, need advice |
|
|
| ontheway wrote: |
Nope. He didn't say. He didn't say that his maintenance fee was 105,000 exactly or every month either.
He gave no details.
|
Someone who motions a figure of 105000 on the head is at least trying to be in the ballpark.
He didn't give details b/c he didn't anticipate that there would be an angry posse of posters trying to dog his every move.
When you're in his kind of bad place, patience quickly wears thin with posters that have no empathy, are quick to judge and can't count. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:53 am Post subject: Re: Going to pull a runner, need advice |
|
|
| shifty wrote: |
| ontheway wrote: |
Nope. He didn't say. He didn't say that his maintenance fee was 105,000 exactly or every month either.
He gave no details.
|
Someone who motions a figure of 105000 on the head is at least trying to be in the ballpark.
He didn't give details b/c he didn't anticipate that there would be an angry posse of posters trying to dog his every move.
When you're in his kind of bad place, patience quickly wears thin with posters that have no empathy, are quick to judge and can't count. |
I can see that he's given two round numbers: 100,000 and 105,000 and no breakdown. Maybe he doesn't even know the exact numbers or what's included. The numbers are in the normal reasonable range, so unless he gives more details it seems he has no complaint.
There is a long thread of freaky weigooks somewhere that will attest to the fact that not all teachers who run, quit, are fired or come on here for sympathy actually deserve any sympathy. Sometimes the school and the students are the victims. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
earthquakez
Joined: 10 Nov 2010
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
2 things -
1) Mr or Ms Mars has chipped in on threads like the one where a poster was concerned that a trespassing charge was going to exclude them from an E-2. That was some time ago. He or she rounded on the OP, saying they didn't want criminal foreigners in Korea etc etc.
The poster in question probably didn't get that E-2 and while I absolutely understand why any govt including the Korean govt would bar people who have offences on their record (regardless of whether it went to court or was expiated by a fine), the poster did not strike me as a real criminal type. Trespassing is an easy offence to commit without thinking, especially on govt property that is not marked out in semi rural or rural areas in countries noted for spacious expanses of land.
Trespassing has also been committed by many people - think of every time you cross a railway track that is supposed to be off limits to the public. The poster has probably paid the price by being denied an E-2. There was no need to treat them like Mr or Ms Mars did.
2) How many of you have lived outside Seoul? I've lived in different locations in Korea, mostly one rooms. And no, the maintenance fee wasn't cheap because of the lack of service. There were no separate cleaning people, no videocams to watch who was outside my room, not even a peephole in the door. No security cameras in the basement parking lot and too bad if you couldn't get a parking space for your car.
There was a manager who shoved a wet mop around the different passageways and grudgingly removed the food and bottles that different residents flung around in the etrance. He usually went missing after lunch, came back around 4.30pm and then disappeared and came in later if he felt like it.
3) My costs for that sh##y one room place - 70,000 won maintenance fee. Electricity was separate. Water was separate. Total costs each month - usually around 110,000 won during times of non peak electricity usage. Much more during winter and the really hot and humid days in summer. Contrary to what Seoulites think, living in backwaters and smaller cities sometimes can cost the same for your accommodation esp when it's poor like the one rooms in those places. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lorenchristopher
Joined: 25 Dec 2007
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 12:22 am Post subject: Re: Going to pull a runner, need advice |
|
|
| marsavalanche wrote: |
So things aren't working out at my new job. Based on various shady things I've noticed having just gotten here.
- They're taking out a 105,000 won "maintenance fee" for my building on top of utilities out of my paycheck... how is this legal if it's not in my contract?
- I still don't have internet in my apartment, and they have kept dragging their feet about sending me to immigration to apply for my ARC (I'm told I can't get cable/internet until I get my ARC because they're too scared to put it under their name)
- Job simply does not compare to my last gig and I already know 1 year here isn't going to work out. |
1) As others have said, I think that's a pretty standard maintenance fee for an officetel. The only thing that would bother me is I would want to see and pay the bills myself.
2) KT will allow you to get internet and cable installed only using your passport. You can update them with your information later when you get your ARC.
3) What about the job itself is so bad? Working hours? Working conditions? Pay? Crappy apartment? How long have you been working there?
Also, if you do pull a runner then you should be prepared to enter the job market back home.....as I doubt you'll be able to come work in Korea for a while. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shifty
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:13 am Post subject: Re: Going to pull a runner, need advice |
|
|
| lorenchristopher wrote: |
| marsavalanche wrote: |
So things aren't working out at my new job. Based on various shady things I've noticed having just gotten here.
- They're taking out a 105,000 won "maintenance fee" for my building on top of utilities out of my paycheck... how is this legal if it's not in my contract?
- I still don't have internet in my apartment, and they have kept dragging their feet about sending me to immigration to apply for my ARC (I'm told I can't get cable/internet until I get my ARC because they're too scared to put it under their name)
- Job simply does not compare to my last gig and I already know 1 year here isn't going to work out. |
1) As others have said, I think that's a pretty standard maintenance fee for an officetel. The only thing that would bother me is I would want to see and pay the bills myself.
2) KT will allow you to get internet and cable installed only using your passport. You can update them with your information later when you get your ARC.
3) What about the job itself is so bad? Working hours? Working conditions? Pay? Crappy apartment? How long have you been working there?
Also, if you do pull a runner then you should be prepared to enter the job market back home.....as I doubt you'll be able to come work in Korea for a while. |
1. You know what happened to "I think" don't you?
2. Look at the piece of OP that you yourself have quoted. He says the employer says he can't get Internet without an ARC. Did your eyes jump sideways when you perused this? Or are you suggesting that he ignore his boss and sponsor and take the reins in his own hands? Incidentally, in my own experience I couldn't get Internet without first having the ARC.
You obviously know better.
The job market back home and Korea. You must be inculcated with the idea that they're the only places in the world to work and now project onto the OP. Did you not notice that he said this is the second Asian country that he has worked? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lorenchristopher
Joined: 25 Dec 2007
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:38 am Post subject: Re: Going to pull a runner, need advice |
|
|
| shifty wrote: |
| lorenchristopher wrote: |
| marsavalanche wrote: |
So things aren't working out at my new job. Based on various shady things I've noticed having just gotten here.
- They're taking out a 105,000 won "maintenance fee" for my building on top of utilities out of my paycheck... how is this legal if it's not in my contract?
- I still don't have internet in my apartment, and they have kept dragging their feet about sending me to immigration to apply for my ARC (I'm told I can't get cable/internet until I get my ARC because they're too scared to put it under their name)
- Job simply does not compare to my last gig and I already know 1 year here isn't going to work out. |
1) As others have said, I think that's a pretty standard maintenance fee for an officetel. The only thing that would bother me is I would want to see and pay the bills myself.
2) KT will allow you to get internet and cable installed only using your passport. You can update them with your information later when you get your ARC.
3) What about the job itself is so bad? Working hours? Working conditions? Pay? Crappy apartment? How long have you been working there?
Also, if you do pull a runner then you should be prepared to enter the job market back home.....as I doubt you'll be able to come work in Korea for a while. |
1. You know what happened to "I think" don't you?
2. Look at the piece of OP that you yourself have quoted. He says the employer says he can't get Internet without an ARC. Did your eyes jump sideways when you perused this? Or are you suggesting that he ignore his boss and sponsor and take the reins in his own hands? Incidentally, in my own experience I couldn't get Internet without first having the ARC.
You obviously know better.
The job market back home and Korea. You must be inculcated with the idea that they're the only places in the world to work and now project onto the OP. Did you not notice that he said this is the second Asian country that he has worked? |
1) I will rephrase it....."I believe within my soul's deepest conviction that 100,000/month is a reasonable maintenance bill."
2) Seems like the OP really wants internet and he thinks he can't get it w/o an ARC....I'm trying to help the dude out by providing info. Call the English service line at KT and inquire about getting internet/cable using only your passport....then get back to me. You'll find I am right, I do obviously know better.
3) Did you notice the six questions I asked before I warned him about leaving? If he's gonna pull a runner because he can't get internet since his company isn't used to dealing with E-2 ARC processing, and he thinks 100,000/month is outrageous for utilities, then that is totally lame.
"OMG, I don't have internet yet, my ARC is taking a while to process, I have to pay utilities and my last job was better so I'm gonna pull a runner already." 
There are much worse circumstances out there, late pay, no pay, ungodly extra hours, crap-hole apartment, loads of unexpected extra work, unruly bosses, etc etc. His three complaints are laughable reasons for a pulling a runner. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shifty
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Going to pull a runner, need advice |
|
|
| lorenchristopher wrote: |
1) I will rephrase it....."I believe within my soul's deepest conviction that 100,000/month is a reasonable maintenance bill."
2) Seems like the OP really wants internet and he thinks he can't get it w/o an ARC....I'm trying to help the dude out by providing info. Call the English service line at KT and inquire about getting internet/cable using only your passport....then get back to me. You'll find I am right, I do obviously know better.
3) Did you notice the six questions I asked before I warned him about leaving? If he's gonna pull a runner because he can't get internet since his company isn't used to dealing with E-2 ARC processing, and he thinks 100,000/month is outrageous for utilities, then that is totally lame.
"OMG, I don't have internet yet, my ARC is taking a while to process, I have to pay utilities and my last job was better so I'm gonna pull a runner already."
There are much worse circumstances out there, late pay, no pay, ungodly extra hours, crap-hole apartment, loads of unexpected extra work, unruly bosses, etc etc. His three complaints are laughable reasons for a pulling a runner. |
1. Deep conviction. Well, I accept you are being sincere here, so no problem. Agree to disagree etc.
2. Yes, you are trying to help, but I'm also sure that you will excuse me if I take a pass this time.
3. I certainly did read your six questions, just hope the poor OP doesn't do the same....you want him to be driven stark staring insane?
100 000 is obviously not unreasonable for 'utilities' as is the word you have now transfered to. But this not utilities. The amount of 105 000 is for maintenance alone, thereupon follows the utilities. Please don't mix them up again. Otherwise I'm also going to go off my head.
The final comment that you make is entirely laughable, tantamount to saying 'Enjoy your thin soup gruel, most of the world is below the breadline.' |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lorenchristopher
Joined: 25 Dec 2007
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 9:32 am Post subject: Re: Going to pull a runner, need advice |
|
|
| shifty wrote: |
| lorenchristopher wrote: |
1) I will rephrase it....."I believe within my soul's deepest conviction that 100,000/month is a reasonable maintenance bill."
2) Seems like the OP really wants internet and he thinks he can't get it w/o an ARC....I'm trying to help the dude out by providing info. Call the English service line at KT and inquire about getting internet/cable using only your passport....then get back to me. You'll find I am right, I do obviously know better.
3) Did you notice the six questions I asked before I warned him about leaving? If he's gonna pull a runner because he can't get internet since his company isn't used to dealing with E-2 ARC processing, and he thinks 100,000/month is outrageous for utilities, then that is totally lame.
"OMG, I don't have internet yet, my ARC is taking a while to process, I have to pay utilities and my last job was better so I'm gonna pull a runner already."
There are much worse circumstances out there, late pay, no pay, ungodly extra hours, crap-hole apartment, loads of unexpected extra work, unruly bosses, etc etc. His three complaints are laughable reasons for a pulling a runner. |
1. Deep conviction. Well, I accept you are being sincere here, so no problem. Agree to disagree etc.
2. Yes, you are trying to help, but I'm also sure that you will excuse me if I take a pass this time.
3. I certainly did read your six questions, just hope the poor OP doesn't do the same....you want him to be driven stark staring insane?
100 000 is obviously not unreasonable for 'utilities' as is the word you have now transfered to. But this not utilities. The amount of 105 000 is for maintenance alone, thereupon follows the utilities. Please don't mix them up again. Otherwise I'm also going to go off my head.
The final comment that you make is entirely laughable, tantamount to saying 'Enjoy your thin soup gruel, most of the world is below the breadline.' |
Oops, I didn't catch that the maintenance fee was extra and he's also paying his own utility bills. I feel really sorry for the OP's horrific situation now. IF ever there was a reason to pull a runner, this tops the list!! If my school charged me a "maintenance fee" I would certainly make plans to run back home immediately rather than stand up and challenge the issue with my boss. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shifty
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:04 am Post subject: Re: Going to pull a runner, need advice |
|
|
| lorenchristopher wrote: |
| Oops, I didn't catch that the maintenance fee was extra and he's also paying his own utility bills. I feel really sorry for the OP's horrific situation now. IF ever there was a reason to pull a runner, this tops the list!! If my school charged me a "maintenance fee" I would certainly make plans to run back home immediately rather than stand up and challenge the issue with my boss. |
Everyone pays maintenance, since time immemorial it's been there.
The question is the amount. You are wasting my time, Loren!!!
Your riposte is all about the validity of charging a maintenance fee and you run away into the dark about what is reasonable, the whole object of the exercise.
And of course, if it were the only problem that the OP faces then it could never be a reason to run. But you're now trying to make it look like that, with your prissy one dimensional post, obviously trying to save face. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
