Korean Job Discussion Forums

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I just got into a "heated discussion" with the guy over at the local Busan Bank.

I was trying to send money back to my Canadian account, but he refused to send it saying that I need some kind of proof of employment slip from my school.

I have never needed one of these before, I just showed my E2 in my passport and my alien card and no hassles.

Why do I have to do this now?

Is this a new thing, or is this guy just being anal?

He also refused to allow me to send any money at all, eventhough I am supposed to be allowed to send up to 10,000 dollars US home without a proof of employment slip. He tried to say that because I had sent money home in previous years, that I was already over the limit and should not be allowed to send money home.

At this point I lost it on the guy. Embarassed

I feel bad for losing my cool, but this was just too much. I pointed out that the 10,000 limit is for one year, and that no matter what I have sent in previous years, I should be allowed to start from zero again for this year. I have left Korea and come back between each legal year of work, so I can't see the logic behind this....if there is any.

At least, that is what I have been led to believe. Is this correct?

Poktanju · Mod Team Joined: 15 Jun 2005

It's still one year, AFAIK. But I can understand the oversight. He's obviously calculating every transfer entry in the back of your passport and counting that as for the 1 year. I'd get a 2nd opinion from another english-speaking clerk, elsewhere.

Horangi Munshin · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Location: Busan

I had the same problem with Busan Bank. The short sited twits lost my business.

Just go somewhere else. I did a transfer through KB, no bank account just a wad of cash and my alien card.

Good lcuk with it.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Whirlwind · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Don't worry, man...I can personally vouch because the exact thing happened to me recently. I had been going to the same bank for quite some time and I never had a problem. Then, one day they needed the payslip...demanded it and said the same thing about the $10,000 limit...and counted it from all my previous transactions(eschewing the one year rule)...I was pissed. Then, a couple of hours later, I went to another bank and boom...in less than 5 minutes...the money was transferred Laughing

. No payslip or anything needed. This all happened in less than 2 hours. One minute, one banker was telling me it was impossible to send money and flat out refused me. The next minute, the other banker just takes my money and info and sends it out...no questions asked. So, just go to another bank and I'm sure that you won't have a problem.

Homer · Guest

Perhaps banks are not applying the same standards..... Laughing

Then again, asking for a payslip in order to wire money seems reasonable and might be related to the law here when it comes to Foreign workers wiring money out of the country. The fact they decided to enforce a rule now rather than earlier explains the irriation the OP feels...had they done this from day one it would have been better.

Btw, I have been banking with the same bank here for over 5 years and they still ask for a pay slip once or twice a year. No big deal, I just learned to bring the slip with me when I head to the bank.

As for the 10 000 $ rule that applies to bringing cash with you in your country not to wires (as far as know). However, wiring more than 10 grand in one shot just might raise eyebrows at the bank. Perhaps they have rules about wires beyond an amount where they have to check the source to make sure everything is legal (this seems like a reasonable measure).

When I paid off my student loan back in good ole 1999 I had about 9000 grand left on it. I was on holidays from Korea and had come home with 10 000 grand in cash. I just went to the bank and said I wanted to pay back the loan in one payment. When I took the cash out the lady made me fill out secutory check forms and she said that was a bank rule. I had been with this bank since 1988! Ya never can tell.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

The payslip thing is old. I was asked for it years ago.

I think the problem is that some tellers know what the rules are (or used to be) and others don't. Just go to a different bank, as others have recommended.

The other thing you could try is asking the guy/woman out for a cup of coffee. A smile and cup of coffee catch a lot more flies than a teaspoon of vinegar...or however that saying goes.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

The thing that got my goat was that my co-worker went to the same bank 2 months earlier and wired money home no problem........never had to show anything more than his passport and alien card.

But when I went it was like dealing with revenue Canada...if you know what I mean. Wink

I asked the other teacher if he had problems recently, and he said that since a "new guy" started working there, he has had the same hassles.
He too has decided to go to another bank.

I wish I had known this before I lost my cool at the guy. Embarassed

poet13 · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 12:19 am Post subject:

i read several months ago on a gov. website that an E-2 person is allowed to remit (send to another country), up to 100% of their pay. I trust it, as I send about 1400 US $'s a month to another conutry. no problem. Occaisionally they make a note in the back of my passport. THe make another note if you exchange currency (buy dollars). 10,000 dollar limit? I'm almost 100% sure thats for something else, and the bank employee simply doesnt know what he's talking about. If you still cant sent money, just change to KB.

ekim · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Location: Ansan, Korea

I send home more than my full time job's wage every month, so A: thank god I've never been asked for a pay slip, and B: are they expected to check on this?

I'm quite friendly with my banker since I've gone there officially for a year now. He's never asked questions aside from small talk, but today, I guess out of curiosity, he asked me about a company (pt job) that deposited money into my account. I told him that yes, it is a part time, and please keep this a secret.

Since they usually play with the exchange rate to kind of cancel out the service charge on my wire (don't know why they're this friendly) I do trust the guy. That said, should I be worried about anything? Hsinhan Bank seems good to me.

Homer · Guest

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

I hate the fact that Korean banks feel they need to be so nosy. It's one of my biggest pet peeves about Korea.

crystal · Joined: 04 May 2006

last time i sent money home i went to a different guy to usual who told me can only send $10000 home a year, the guy i normally go to never once mentioned such a thing, have never been asked for a payslip though and far as i can see there are no notes in the back of my passport, guess it depends on the bank official and whether or not they feel the need to be pedantic

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

Been sending money home through KB bank for 5 years and there has never been a hassle. Smile

brento1138 · Joined: 17 Nov 2004

Just be glad you don't have to deal with Daegu bank. I can't count how many times I've been told to "wait 10 minutes" to only find myself waiting for over an hour, and finally, at the end, them saying something like "we need your school to fax us all your documents..." I mean, why??? I sent money for soooo long, and suddenly, they need my info. I always felt this evil "we don't wanna do business with YOU" thing from them. Personally, I think they were just lazy... and didn't want to do it.

Anyhow, I simply stopped doing business with those twits. Took too long for me to get my money in my foreign account. Now, I made the decision to switch to KEB. They are so friendly, and have never given me any hassle. Also, the people there all speak excellent English.

Daegu bank is COUNTRY. Trust me, way worse than Busan bank!!