Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Howard Roark]

I thought if you had an ARC and a bank account you could buy a mobile phone yourself.
My friend has both. But tonight she wanted to buy one at WalMart and they wouldn't sell it to her. They baically said they can't trust foreigners to honor the contract.
Can they legally refuse to sell you a phone if you have an ARC and bank account?

[Newfoundlander]

Yes.

Need a korean to co-sign.

[komtengi]

019 are pretty good with signing up foreigners... 011 sux

[sadsac]

Yes. Happens all the time. Depending on where you live, get thee to Itaewon. Good place in Ulsan too, again as komtengi stated: 019 are more foreigner friendly

[FUBAR]

[SarcasmKills]

I have an 011 in my name.. just had to put down a w200,000 deposit (which I obviously get back whenever i cancel my phone)... talk to your boss about helping you set it up...

011 rules... no pre-pay hassles or time-credit issues to deal with..

[jaderedux]

I went into KT with my ARC card and got my phone. It is not pre-paid and basically it is just like any other korean persons phone. I get a bill every month like everyone else. I don't have to have a card to call overseas either.

I work in a public school so maybe that is why I had little hassle. I walked in at 7:00 p.m. had my phone by 7:30. I am always surprised when people say you have to have a korean sign for you. I didn't and I didn't pay any deposit.

Guess it depends on the area. That being said I did have to pay 60,000 won deposit for my land line. I can't call overseas and have to have calling card. If I put 200,000 won deposit I could have regular phone service but hell the cards are cheap and some times they have better rates.

Jade

[kangnamdragon]

Yes. You are a flight risk. why should they trust you?

[lush72]

I have a 017 in my name! No deposit as well! I use it to call the US and Japan all the time!

[lush72]

[ryleeys]

I've been refused a phone without a cosigner...
I've been refused cable tv without a cosigner...
I've been refused internet without a cosigner...
I've been refused service at a restaurant...
I've had several buses refuse to stop for me when I was the only person waiting at the stop (and yes, I did raise my hand and try to flag them down).


My solution?

Take my money elsewhere... and spend alot of it. Whenever possible, I like to do this as close as possible to wherever I was refused service.

[jurassic5]

i'm pretty sure most companies can sign up foreigners to a regular account. i've had both 011 and 019 (SK and LGT) in my own name. There may be some kind of deposit, but the option is still available. As for the reason they don't want to is probably all the paperwork and hassle it is for the workers to get the phone activated etc. I know that when I was selling phones in the states, people with green cards etc took a long time to activate....so maybe it's the same here in korea.

[komtengi]

I just cant justify putting down 200,000 just to have it in my name

[jurassic5]

haha...the place where i used to work back in the states required deposits of up to 2,000 dollars if their credit was really really bad. i never saw anyone put more than 200 down though..

[Gord]