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TDC troll
Joined: 03 Feb 2009
Location: TDC
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 Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:33 am Post subject: |
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If you have lived there nine months , and you don't want him
contacting the school anymore , go to the landlord and pay him the remaining 3 months ( 3x5,000=15,000 won ) .
If you renew and stay another year pay it all up front next year again .
Yes some places in Seoul still have to get the septic tanks cleaned out.
I think that's a steal for 5,ooo won .
Your water bill is dirt cheap . |
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yodanole
Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: La Florida
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 8:03 am Post subject: |
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One thing to realize. The school likely has an ongoing and perhaps long term relationship with the landlord, and may hope or expect for that relationship to continue.
How long might they expect you to be there? Unless there are hundreds of students that attend the school only because of you, they will probably want to replace you (or any teacher) after 3-4 years, probably sooner, just because...
Whether the fees are legitimate or not, the school is not likely to go to bat for you for W5000-W10,000 in a month. It's just not going to happen. |
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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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| 12ax7 wrote: |
| ewlandon wrote: |
| 12ax7 wrote: |
| When you think about it, it's kind of funny. Such a big story over pocket change. |
I stated its trivial. I could have left the numbers out. My question is not about me being ripped off 1000 won it is about the situation. I understood why he called with three months of water owed but saying the the price was now more seemed weird and now he it seems he will call every month to tell them I owe him 5000 for water. The reason I was 3 months late is because the price is so low that it didnt matter to me if it got backed up and clearly didnt seem to matter to the landlord either since he never came and asked me for the money and never gave me his bank account. Now he is calling and reminding the school of the bank account number that he gave me last month and of the bill for this month, as well as some cleaning fee.
So mostly my question was about adding fees. In the US renters dont add fees mid year or change prices.
Anyway I just pay it and hope he stops calling about petty stuff. |
It's too small of an amount for him to get off his butt and show you the bill, so he risks causing friction between you and your boss? I'm sorry, but I can't help but being amused since I know the business all too well. You have to be diplomatic when your a landlord if you want to retain your sanity.
Communicating with you directly, either one-on-one or in writing, would have been the right thing to do. Just imagine how high his blood pressure must get when there's are real risk of losing money, like when tenants complain about the noise because there's construction in the neighborhood or when there's a dispute between neighbors.
You probably want to get a filter between him and your boss. Do you have a cell phone? Give him the number and ask him to send you a text message in Korean whenever there's a problem. You can have it translated by one of your co-workers or friends. |
How do you know the landlord is being honest about this situation? The fact that the landlord isn't showing him the bills tells me that the landlord must have a disorganized accounting system. How is that the teacher's fault? |
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12ax7
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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| dairyairy wrote: |
| 12ax7 wrote: |
| ewlandon wrote: |
| 12ax7 wrote: |
| When you think about it, it's kind of funny. Such a big story over pocket change. |
I stated its trivial. I could have left the numbers out. My question is not about me being ripped off 1000 won it is about the situation. I understood why he called with three months of water owed but saying the the price was now more seemed weird and now he it seems he will call every month to tell them I owe him 5000 for water. The reason I was 3 months late is because the price is so low that it didnt matter to me if it got backed up and clearly didnt seem to matter to the landlord either since he never came and asked me for the money and never gave me his bank account. Now he is calling and reminding the school of the bank account number that he gave me last month and of the bill for this month, as well as some cleaning fee.
So mostly my question was about adding fees. In the US renters dont add fees mid year or change prices.
Anyway I just pay it and hope he stops calling about petty stuff. |
It's too small of an amount for him to get off his butt and show you the bill, so he risks causing friction between you and your boss? I'm sorry, but I can't help but being amused since I know the business all too well. You have to be diplomatic when your a landlord if you want to retain your sanity.
Communicating with you directly, either one-on-one or in writing, would have been the right thing to do. Just imagine how high his blood pressure must get when there's are real risk of losing money, like when tenants complain about the noise because there's construction in the neighborhood or when there's a dispute between neighbors.
You probably want to get a filter between him and your boss. Do you have a cell phone? Give him the number and ask him to send you a text message in Korean whenever there's a problem. You can have it translated by one of your co-workers or friends. |
How do you know the landlord is being honest about this situation? The fact that the landlord isn't showing him the bills tells me that the landlord must have a disorganized accounting system. How is that the teacher's fault? |
Where do I say it's the teacher's fault? Typically, there's one water meter per floor on small apartment buildings. 5000won would be his share. Is it the exact amount? Maybe. Either way, it's not worth worrying about. Paying and forgetting about it is wiser than getting into an argument with your landlord and then having to find a new place. |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:32 am Post subject: |
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| 12ax7 wrote: |
| Paying and forgetting about it is wiser than getting into an argument with your landlord and then having to find a new place. |
Agreed.
| Captain Corea wrote: |
| But ya know what, it would not surprise me in the least if there are 'maintenance clauses' and 'rate increase' clauses in there. It makes sense. |
While I think the amounts in question for the original poster are trivial, I've had three apartments for varying time frames, and none have ever raised anything in the middle of a lease. The only maintenance I was asked to pay for was damages that I caused.
Not saying it's the norm, just putting it out there for ewlandon. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:36 am Post subject: Re: Feedback on some (kinda petty) issues |
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| ewlandon wrote: |
as well as another 5000 won for "Septic Tank Cleaning"
I'll pay it but why in the world would I owe my landlord for basic maintenance . |
Wow. another waeguk is bitter about having to pay 5000W. 
I have never, ever, in my life, encountered so many tight-fisted, penny-pinching misers as I have with the expat population in Korea. |
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Plume D'ella Plumeria
Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Location: The Lost Horizon
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 6:09 am Post subject: |
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While I'm not condoning it Julius, I think a few factors may be at play.
Fresh-faced new graduates who have never really held down a real job in their lives. Earnings are startling to them and they don't quite know how to manage their new-found money. And are exceedingly nervous about parting with any of it.
Economic refugees for obvious reasons, especially the last above.
People paying back loans, university or other, who are watching money carefully.
And then, yes, there are the tight-fisted sorts whom I can't quite wrap my mind around. I'm rather loose-fisted myself when it comes to money.
This would be one of many reasons that I am not a rich person ... |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 6:38 am Post subject: |
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| Plume D'ella Plumeria wrote: |
I'm rather loose-fisted myself when it comes to money.
This would be one of many reasons that I am not a rich person ... |
I'm similar, although its mostly the principle thats important to me.
But in Korea there seems to be many expats who...
1) Put money- even very small amounts- before friends
2) Send virtually all their money home every paycheque then cry poverty
3) Agree to share taxis then "accidentally" get out without paying
4) Claim to suddenly have no cash when it comes to their turn to pay for a meal or whatever
5) Accept group drinks from others yet manage to disappear before their round
6) Borrow money then avoid paying it back
7) Refuse to spend reasonable amounts for worthwhile things
viii) Don't keep track of when its their turn to pay
9) Would prefer to walk miles and waste hours while e.g. on a weekend trip, than simply pay for a taxi and better utilise precious liesure time.
10) Set a ridiculously small daily budget and then fade or go home the moment they reach it |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Zyzyfer wrote: |
| Captain Corea wrote: |
| But ya know what, it would not surprise me in the least if there are 'maintenance clauses' and 'rate increase' clauses in there. It makes sense. |
While I think the amounts in question for the original poster are trivial, I've had three apartments for varying time frames, and none have ever raised anything in the middle of a lease. The only maintenance I was asked to pay for was damages that I caused.
Not saying it's the norm, just putting it out there for ewlandon. |
So electricity/gas/water bills never increased while you were living somewhere? |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Captain Corea wrote: |
| So electricity/gas/water bills never increased while you were living somewhere? |
I've received gas and electric bills directly since no longer getting employer-provided housing back in 2005, so the bills increased based on the rates those companies had set.
The water bill has always been a landlord affair, however, and no, I have never experienced an increase in it, particularly not in the middle of a lease. |
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ewlandon
Joined: 30 Jan 2011
Location: teacher
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:13 pm Post subject: Re: Feedback on some (kinda petty) issues |
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| Julius wrote: |
| ewlandon wrote: |
as well as another 5000 won for "Septic Tank Cleaning"
I'll pay it but why in the world would I owe my landlord for basic maintenance . |
Wow. another waeguk is bitter about having to pay 5000W.
I have never, ever, in my life, encountered so many tight-fisted, penny-pinching misers as I have with the expat population in Korea. |
Something I have said many times in this post, and I probably shouldnt have to say at all. "its the situation not the money" This isnt a money question, i should have left the figures out to avoid people who feel better about themselves by replying like the above.
Anyway, lets let the thread die. This situation is because its the only bill I dont actually pay like a normal bill. and I have not viewed the contract since its through my school. |
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ewlandon
Joined: 30 Jan 2011
Location: teacher
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Captain Corea wrote: |
| Zyzyfer wrote: |
| Captain Corea wrote: |
| But ya know what, it would not surprise me in the least if there are 'maintenance clauses' and 'rate increase' clauses in there. It makes sense. |
While I think the amounts in question for the original poster are trivial, I've had three apartments for varying time frames, and none have ever raised anything in the middle of a lease. The only maintenance I was asked to pay for was damages that I caused.
Not saying it's the norm, just putting it out there for ewlandon. |
So electricity/gas/water bills never increased while you were living somewhere? |
Your question is easy to answer. Bills change every month, they are basically never the same. But if there is a flat fee agreed upon in the contract that is paid to the landlord, the landlord doesnt just call you up and say its %25 higher now. That is why i started this thread because I got the impression that the landlord just decided to start charging me more. |
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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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When the landlord doesn't tell the tenant how much to pay and when it is due then who's at fault for the lack of communication? Not the tenant. That's true anywhere. "You pay now." This landlord sounds like Will Ferrell's landlord in that video. Maybe she's too busy trying to get her drink on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_egOja-tuU |
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Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Is this a battle worth fighting? It may not be a lot of money but it is money. Plus is it that difficult to adapt to this. Or is it more of "the principal" of the situation. I say suck it up and move on. |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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I always put money in different locations. So, when he comes for money, have a place with only 5,000 or 10,000 won. Tell him that's all you have for now.
He will have to keep coming to you then. I doubt they are going to take legal action over such a small amount 
Another thing, ask for a receipt each time. If you ever feel you have paid your share, and he didn't give you a receipt, tell him you need the receipt from before.
This doesn't exonerate you from what you actually owe, but it does slow down the flow of money coming out. They are less likely to annoy you about miscellaneous stuff and just collect on what is really needed.
I remember I paid a maintenance fee once, and I decided to pay for 4 months instead of doing it every month. The landlord kept claiming I didn't pay after the 1st month, but after I showed my bankbook to the school they never complained again. Feel free to make them feel stupid. They hate that. |
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