Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kigolo1881]

Sorry to hear all this yall. Sounds like alot of you are out of luck in banks. Me on the other hand had a few bad beginnings with tellers turn into nice ones.
First one was when I had to transfer some money from my nonggyub (SP) bank to another korean bank to pay for some airtix that i got from an agent. Went up with my bankbook and card and the needed wiring info and told the grumpy looking male bankteller what i needed to do. All this was in english since i dont speak korean.
Grumpy old man: no cant, transfer money. only at Foreign exchange bank.
Me: No, i just need to wire/transfer to korean bank.
even more grumpy man now looks at the other banks name and acct. number then walks from behind the counter to the ATM machine and we had to wait in line.
By this time he looks through my bankbook and saw that i was paid by the elementary schoo.
G.O.M.: you english teacher at elementary school?
Me: yes i am!
AFTER THAT, he was my best friend and asked me how long i'm staying, how i like korea, etc....

Another time i had to cross the street to Kiup bank to wire money back to my US acct.
Got my number, then was told by the girls behind the counter to go to one of the men behind the desk area. Filled out my wire form and showed him my passport.
After he finished he told me that the next time, he'll need my contract or my salary info from my school. i was confused at first and just ignored it and thanked him. During the whole procedure, he came off a bit snobby and not very customer friendly.

The next month, i went back to wire money again, this time i didnt bring my salary info bc i thought he was nosy and i thought it's none of his business to know how much i make. (afterwards, i read on dave's that banks need the salary info bc of the law bla bla bla..)
I got to the bank, saw him at his desk assisting someone else and sat down, the moment he saw me, he slid me the transfer form while still talking to the other customer and i filled it out. When he finished and took my form, he asked me for the salary info, but i really forgot and told him that i didnt bring it.
i think he hesitated a bit but then proceeded with the transaction nonetheless.

[canuckistan]

[cubanlord]

Something that has worked flawlessly for me; get to know them. I got to know 4 out of the 5 tellers at my KEB branch (one is knew so I am currently working my mojo (as kermo would say) on her . I ask them about their kids, complement them, ask them what they are doing for lunch, etc. (all in Korean...well....broken a$$ Korean mind you). I always greet all of them; always say goodbye to all of them; even when they are busy with other customers; even the "boss" that sits behind them. I make it a point for them to remember me as the nice person. THIS GOES A LONG WAY. They all know me. So, now, when I walk in, there are zero problems. I have been there a year and a half.

To show that this theory worked....The new teller (the first round she attended my needs) started asking me for the "passport". I told her in Korean that she doesn't need my passport. She gave me a look like this: When the other 4 saw me...they said a few words to her in Korean and BAM....2 minutes later I was out the door. It works!!!

I think it also helps that we transfer almost the same amount every month. We are never required to brandish our passports or anything; in and out in 5 minutes.

[The Man known as The Man]

[skinhead]

[Grotto]

Went into Citybank and asked for a money order for 1500$US....I had my previous money order info and form from a different bank I had dealt with previously.

I was told at first they didnt have it...then yes they did have it...no I couldnt get one for 1500$ as the maximum a foriegner could get is 1000$...even with a Korean speaking friend trying to help they were adamant that this could not be done....ITS THE LAW!

After about 15 minutes of waiting and frustration I said screw this and left.

Down the street I say a KEB branch and walked in....got my money order in about 2 minutes(which is why I have been singing the praises of KEB) I've had problems with Citybank, KB, Woori but never KEB.

I went back to Citybank walked in slapped the moneyorder on the counter and showed them how full of crap they were. Eyes as big as saucers they were quite surprised and (hopefully) ashamed at their stupidity.

[ella]

Qinella, please tell me you're kidding about pool times being assigned based on whether you're female or male.

[kermo]

Banks seem to be very suspicious about making wire transfers when there have been transactions at other banks within the last two months. However, if I wait two months, I can't make payments on that pesky credit card...

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Kermie...




Grover is sad that the Frog is sad. Very sad is Grover, so Grover wants the frog to know that if the Frog might have better luck with this service:

http://www.westernunion.com/info/homePage.asp?country=KR&origination=US

Grover says that after a few hard months of online betting and dirty cam girls he had to pay off his bookies quick quick.

What Grover did was find a contact name at the credit card company, as in an actual representative. Wired the money to the company coffers flagged for that person to do the final transaction. Grover also says call back the next day with your information to confirm the kill... err transaction.


Is Kermie happy?

Cause Grover is crying all over my living room and I am about ready to boot his ass out the door.

[Milwaukiedave]

Kermo,

I can sympathize with you on this. Sometimes it is hard and as a foreigner you are treated differently. For the most part, the fact that people cut in line like that is common whether you are Korean or a foreigner.

A funny story I was in a bank awhile back and the bank had already closed. It wasn't 5 o'clock yet, so the side door was open. There were a few of us waiting our turn as we had taken numbers. One guy walks in the bank and he stands right near one of the tellers. As soon as the person the teller was helping left, the guy walks right up. Although it wasn't my turn, I walked up and said something motioning to the woman whose turn it was. He was somewhat apologetic and waited his turn.

Sometimes you just have to gently put people in their place.

[flakfizer]

Just sing, "It ain't easy bein' green." You'll feel better.

[JongnoGuru]

[seoulsucker]

I downloaded the theme song from "Benny Hill" for my mp3 player, and let 'er rip when I made my request for a wire transfer last time. It was quite fitting.

[JongnoGuru]

Perhaps no other business besides airlines promises customers so much "service" and "convenience" and "satisfaction" as do banks, while regularly delivering a memorable pain in the ass.

But the reason for the high level of frustration and annoyance here isn't just generic _bank bureacracy_ but KOREAN bank bureacracy as a FOREIGN customer. And I might add, as a WESTERN customer. The fact is, several Korean banks have specialised branches or windows w/in branches that cater to Korean parents remitting money to their kids studying abroad, and to ethnic Chinese and other 3-D-type foreign factory workers remitting to their respective countries. These branches are strategically located in high-density foreigner areas nr. industrial complexes. The process is well-oiled & streamlined, and I don't imagine it takes the average 3-D worker the months & even years in country to work it all out that it invariably seems to take the average whitey teacher.

Of course immigration & visa procedures can also be a hassle for many. But those are probably not nearly as infuriating as banking-related problems (e.g., int'l debit cards, credit cards, salary remittance). In the case of the former, it's a paper chase, it's a bureacratic nut to crack, but once you do, you're done with it... till next year. With the latter, there's an automatic and understandable desire to lash out when someone's playing fast and loose with the rules that limit your access to your own money. When one works as hard as many people do, puts up with as much shit as many people do, just to earn that money... and then to have some incompetent, clueless nitwit throw a "foreigners can't do that, but Koreans can" in your face -- when it's something you've already DONE plenty of times -- hell yeah, I'd be fighting the urge to lean over and pop them one. Hard.

[captain kirk]

The bank in the little downtown near where I work is always full of mothers who have multiple business to do, sending money different ways. So each takes awhile. And there are twenty mothers, some with strapped on babies, waiting. Unless I have ten minutes or more to wait for my number tab to be called I go to another bank...

There's a Korean Exchange Bank out in the industrial area and it usually has only three people, foreign workers, waiting in line.

That guy you were talking to at the bank who said you CAN'T send money to your Canadian account is just taking the piss out of you with his fast talking Korean, etc., as you know.