Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ds_fan]

Hi, I was taken to a bank today by my director afte being told a few days ago I was joining another bank which i researched.

I was frustrated at having to sign loads of things without knowing what I was signing, im quite anal so to speak when it comes to sorting out my finances.

The director well pissed me off, felt like going for her when she pointed saying sign here, ellen.... my name is not ellen and im not a girl.

she then pointed to the bit saying write waht country your from here saying write england here, im from northern ireland.

So pissed off iv been here 3 weeks and she hasnt actually had the decency to learn my name or even respect the country im from when iv bent over backwards to accommodate korean culture.

Anyway, rant over, anyone had any experiences in dealing with this bank with regards to international transfers? Does it cost money? How much?

Futhermore I seem to have ended up with a 'check card' 'bc' what appears to be a cash card, not showing the visa symbol. I wanted a visa debit card for using for online shopping and setting up paypal etc, I also wanted one for shopping with, not having to go to a bank every day.

Any experiences? Any ideas? Dont blame me for cocking up, i was stuck with no one who spoke english.

Merci

[shifty]

Avoid Woori bank. Unless you get personal satisfaction from paying astronomical wiring fees.

The other stuff about being called Ellen, I think that's quite quaint. And
probably better for business to be from England than whatsit? Ireland??

Where's that??

[cedarseoul]

i could be mistaken, but i don't think basic korean bank cards typically have the "visa" or "mastercard" logos on them. many korean credit cards do, but the bank cards are typically just associated with the bank. (i have a bc card with woori for my bank card, and another korean credit card that's attached to visa.)

your woori bc debit card will be accepted pretty much everywhere in seoul...

[ciccone_youth]

how do i ask for an international money transfer at woori bank? they don't seem to know what i mean.... do i show a cheque from my canadian bank? and my passport?

[ttompatz]

[shifty]

Jeepers, Ttompatz, you're a veritable font of info..... where do you store it all??

Ok, what'd I have for brekkie this morning.???

[ttompatz]

[Lekker]

I have been with Woori Bank for 2 1/2 years. Their wiring fees aren't that bad. I wire money home, I check my account in the states, and my money is there within two days at most, every time. No problems with them. They have always been polite and patient with me. I have used three different banks by them regularly now... They are a bank though, and they have to make some kind of profit. It costs more if you wire money home more than once per month. They take 15,000 per wire transaction. In the grand scheme of things, their services aren't that bad.

I'm not an expert at banking in Korea, nor am I an expert on Korea itself, but I would go to them in a Suit when you want to ask them about a Visa card. That would make them look at you differently than the foreign guy who walks in wearing ripped jeans and uncombed hair. These are Korean bankers you are dealing with. Make them look at you the right way.

[shifty]

Ttompatz on the mark again, I'm in awe.

Hey Lekker, of course I agree with you, though I was charged 30000 despite my elegant gait and superior demeanour. That was to South Africa though, have no idea whether that makes a diff.

What I'd like to draw to yr attentionis that once you get to know them it gets real hard to abide with the thought that they are Korean bankers.

I think that the term "banker' refers to yr executive wheeler-dealer in banking, not bank staff.

And Woori bank personnel don't even earn that epithet.

[ciccone_youth]

[ciccone_youth]

Update:

i had a fantastic experience at Woori Bank today!!

i sat at a desk with a banker, did my international transfer, and they even set up my internet banking, so next time i can do it online on my own!!

they also put me on the phone with the lady at customer service (her English was impeccable).... they were so helpful!

it was so easy, thank you again for all the help!!

[PGF]

after you've been here a year or so you can get a decent card from nonghyup that can be used on line, etc....

i had to get a woori card for a private I was doing and they demanded too much personal info...wanted my passport for withdrawals, etc....so I just use their ATM to take my money out each week.

Hana bank, IME, is about the same. But, I've always had good luck at nonghyups.....

[maddog]

I swithced from wooribank as I was tired of

a) outrageous charges to send money home

b) having my passport stamped EVERY time I sent money home, or bought OR refunded travelers cheques

Xenophobic, racist, anti-foreign wankers.

[ajgeddes]

[spliff]