Korean Job Discussion Forums

JeonjuMichael · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Location: Jeonju

Just got my first pay.... and was deducted W60,000 for an apartment 'maintenance fee". This was never discussed beforehand. Shouldn't this 'fee' be covered in what the school is paying for rent here? I thought housing was paid and I was only responsible for utilities. Anyone else paying this 'fee'?

Roch · Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

First of all, they shouldn't be deducting it from your pay.

Secondly, it's a big rip off for someone to make needless income.

Thirdly, just say, "No. Give me back my money."

And...

Landlords, hagwon owners, lawyers, and recruiters. Landlords are really bad here. If they can find something to charge you for, they'll try. Management fees should be included in rent because it's the landlord's responsibility to upkeep his own building. And 60 bucks? Wow! Do you have a security guard? Sometimes you have to pay a small fee for water. Like 10,000.

Your boss could be pocketing the maintenance fee. Tell him or her to get bent.

That's pretty sneaky of them to not tell you about the fee. I could understand mabye paying a little for a security guard, but why 60,000? How is that justified?

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

PaperTiger · Joined: 31 May 2005 Location: Ulaanbataar

It sucks and it, by all appearances, is a "hidden fee". Best just to ask if you have pay one and then try to weasel out of it, or simply negotiate it out of your expenses when discussing your contract. It's something you should definately count on your boss silently putting on your plate without mentioning it.

bnrockin · Joined: 27 Feb 2006

can you post your contract on here? maybe we can locate it in there.

ontheway · Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:17 pm Post subject:

Maintenance fees vary quite a bit. You should look at what it covers. My maintenance fee includes my electric bill, water, basic cable, monthly insect spray, garbage removal, cleaning and snow removal in common areas, security etc. It is really a legitimate monthly utility. It does seem to be a hefty fee, but it covers a lot. The only utilities I pay outside the monthly fee are my gas bill and telephone.

Having a monthly maintenace fee, is an indication that you have better housing. When I lived in a much older building with no such fee, my total monthly costs were much higher. Even though I had no security, no parking, no elevator ... my basic costs for just heat and hot water were much higher. My total monthly costs are cheaper now INCLUDING the monthly maintenance fee than they were in a worse place without it.

All the places with a maintenance fee that I've seen are the Korean condominiums. Most people here actually live in condos and not apartments. Your maintenance fee comes with a breakdown that shows what it covers. You can get someone to go over the covered items with you.

Think about your total monthly costs. Do you have decent housing? It can be pretty bad here. This is not a big item at 60,000 won, and not a sign of a problem with your job.

heydelores · Joined: 24 Apr 2006

seoulshock · Joined: 12 Jul 2005

I was charged one of these as well.

I was told a certain price, and when it came time to pay he told me that price but he added 50,000 WON on top of that...

I asked him what that was about, and he said "maintenance".

Anyway, he's a nice guy, but he will financially rape you, all while being nice and friendly.

Address:

Seoul
Seodaemun-Gu
126-6 Daeshin-Dong
Media House Building

It's about a three minute walk away from the East Gate of Yonsei Univ., and about halfway up the hill that leads to the Bongwonsa Temple (where the serial killer buried many bodies).

seoulsista · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

If you don't live in a villa then it's quite common. This is included in all the "utilities" that the school tells you you must pay for in your contract. Of course they should pay for it, as it is part of the rent, but they don't and it's just one more slimey way to rip you off.

If you live in an officetel don't bother fighting it. If you live in a villa then they might have messed up or they are scamming you.

BTW 60,000 W is not a lot for a maintenence fee. It pays for the sleeping front door guard, the ajummas that clean the adverts off your door and water. It's basically welfare but what are gonna do?

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

It may be some kind of maintenance fee.

You might find these articles interesting and informative.

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

Ex-pats Describe Korea's Culture of Corruption
by Kim Hong-jin, Chosun Ilbo (December 16, 2004)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200412/200412160027.html

A Country of Liars
by Kim Dae-joong, Chosun Ilbo (July 3, 2005)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200507/200507030027.html

For Housing Rentals, Foreigners Easy Victims
by Byun Duk-kun, Korea Times (August 28, 2003)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200308/kt2003082818233111970.htm

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

If you're paying your gas/oil, electric, etc. and then paying 60,000 on top of that, you are being ripped off.

TonyD · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Location: Ulsan

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

bnrockin · Joined: 27 Feb 2006

so then when you are looking for a contract, if they say you will pay the maintainance fee/utilities, this is normal?