Korean Job Discussion Forums

[s10czar]

This is one for the all-time list of screwy things about Korea. Are you sitting down?

So I teach down in Jeollanamdo and bank at NongHyup because I basically don't have the option to bank anywhere else.

When I opened up my account I was issued this crappy "Maestro" logoed card which is pretty much useless. You can't buy things online with it and it doesn't work outside of Korea (well, at least it doesn't work in Vietnam.)

Meanwhile, for no appearant reason, another teacher that started with me was -at the same bank- issued a Visa Global Check Card. With the Visa logo this card can do it all.

Over dinner with some Korean friends I pointed out the two cards and asked them why I didn't get the Visa card. They said I probably had bad credit because the card I had was known to be useless and only given to folks with poor credit. I explained that my credit was fine and that if anything my financial position was probably stronger than my coworker because I AM CONSIDERABLY OLDER THAN HER. One of my Korean friends then agreed to go to the bank with me to see about getting me the Visa card.

At the bank my friend had a short conversation with the teller and then said...wait for it...

"You are a foreigner over 30 so you can't have the Visa card."

Excuse me? I said. What do you mean?

"Foreigners over the age of 30 get the card you have. Younger foreigners get the Visa card. This is the policy of the bank."

But my card is not as good as hers! I said. This policy is ridiculous! Please check with his supervisor.

My friend then had a 5 min conversation with the tellers' manager.

"She said that the Visa card is only for foreigners under 30. Sorry but there is nothing she can do."

With barely controlled rage I said "Fine. Then ask her how can I purchase things online, and how can I access my funds when I am overseas?"

A 10 minute conversation ensued...which boiled down to this verbatim reply:

"You are a foreigner so you cannot."

[Koreadays]

dude, I hear ya...

it makes no sense why someone under 30 can have it.. they would be risk, in LOGIC..
it's like when I wanted to buy something from home shopping, they said NO, because I was a foreigner. we don't sell to foreigners. LOL

[theloneleaf]

[ZIFA]

A lot comes down to the individual teller. Most times they just don't know what the policy towards foreigners is and it would take them a lot of hassle to actually find out for you.
In the meantime its safer for them to simply say no because there is less possibility of getting into trouble with their superiors that way.

I had a similar problem with Hana Bank, they messed me around for 3 months over getting an internationally functionable credit card.

Teller 1, week 1: Yes you can have a credit card if you pay a big security deposit.
Teller 2, week 4: Sorry but it doesn't work online or anywhere outside of Korea.
Teller 3, week 5: Please understand.
Teller 1, week 6: But you can apply for a different card with your company.
Teller 2, week 9: Sorry but you can't actually have that card because you're a foreigner.
Teller 3, week 12: Ok, you can upgrade your existing card for international use if you come in (once again) and apply for a special code.

....now all of that might even have been forgiveable if I hadn't urgently needed a credit card to buy wedding gifts and various other things online.

[GoldMember]

Here we go again another person who is outraged by discrimination based on (insert item) sex/race/religon/age/ugliness/colour of shoes etc.

Koreans lie a lot, except here its not called telling a lie, its being diplomatic. Get used to it. At least they don't riot and set fire to your apartment building.

Whenever someone somewhere gives you the cowspoo story of, "we can't because of (insert excuse)", ask to see the regulation. If the person can't show it to you then it does not exist.

Rather than moaning and groaning on Daves, think of a solution.

A strategy I learned within 3 days of being here is this:

K person: You can't have because you are (insert item)
Me: But my friend who is (insert item) has one/can do etc.

Has a very high success rate.

Finally if they don't want your business, go elsewhere.

[fermentation]

It makes no sense at all and as a customer you have the right to be upset, but I also think private businesses can operate how they want according to the law. If they don't want to serve foreigners over 30, that's their choice to lose a market demographic. Take your money else where.

Koreans also lie a lot to avoid confrontation or to save face. Its a possibility that the staff sort of made up the policy to cover up a screw up.

[ulmaeri]

I ran into something similar with a different bank. Try a different branch of the bank. They may give you what you want.

[s10czar]

hey Goldmember...

-of course she was there, my coworker. what do you think? she held up her card and I held up mine and my Korean friend told them to change my card into her card

...and if you don't think this is a legitimate issue that others should know about well, you're dumber than you sound

[rainism]

there's a possibility that the under 30 card is a special product available only to those in the target group. as the bank runs special promotions to entrap youngsters into a cycle of spending and debt, even if they're foreigners.

if it's not such a product, they're full of ddong.

Why don't you simply get a KEB account, even if you have to take a long trip to set it up, then get Internet banking, expat account and then never bothering with Korean banking inanities again.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Bypass the teller and go to management.

If you DO have GOOD credit with this bank, they WILL issue you a card but may request a deposit depending on your visa status (E2, F visa...).

[earthquakez]

[quote="GoldMember"]Here we go again another person who is outraged by discrimination based on (insert item) sex/race/religon/age/ugliness/colour of shoes etc.

Koreans lie a lot, except here its not called telling a lie, its being diplomatic. Get used to it. At least they don't riot and set fire to your apartment building.quote]

Sorry to inject some cold hard reality here but down in Mokpo according to one of my most trusted mates who used to live there, when he was there a South African woman was burned to death by a Korean man whose behaviour was excused by his drunkenness.

However, it had all the hallmarks of a racist attack - screaming outside the room she was minding (a room which was rented by a foreigner friend), slurs against waygugin this and that, and the throwing of a lit cigarette right outside the door. She was burned when she opened the door to find out what all the commotion was about and died in hospital a week or two later.

I also have friends in Seoul who were spat on and punched on Sunday when Koreans were demonstrating in Yongsan against the Americans. It didn't matter what country they came from - they were white foreigners and the harassment of the women was particularly ugly. How brave - to spit on and threaten women.

If Korea gets a significant increase in foreigners these things will happen more and more.

[GoldMember]

I may be dumb but then again I've got an international ATM card (3 actually). Got knocked back by one place, went to the bank across the road, they obliged. Plus I have credit cards with no deposit required.
I guess the banks here prefer dumb people to smart whiners.

[Steelrails]

[tomstar86]

Why has nobody mentioned KEB yet? They're by FAR and away the best bank for foreigners - in fact, ESL teachers are among their most targeted demographic. They have online internet banking in English and issue international Visa cards as standard for new customers.

They're not one of the larger banks so finding a branch could be a bit trickier, but if you can find one in your area, then go for it.

Tom

http://waegook-tom.com

[akcrono]