Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kdzwright]

I responded to an ad posted on Daves ESL cafe for an editing position. I completed one job for the company over 6 weeks ago, but still haven't been paid for the work. I was supposed to send them the edits by August 30 (which I did) and they were supposed to deposit the payment into my account by September 10. The guy I had been corresponding with told me prior to the 10th that the client had delayed their payment and so he wouldn't be able to pay me until Sept 25. But I still haven't been paid and when I called the guy on the phone today, he had a big sob story about having been hospitalized recently and said he would pay me in 10 days, which he's obviously not going to do. Has anything like this happened to anyone before? Do I have any recourse? Minimally, I'd like to flag this company's ad on the Korean job forum so others are warned about the likelihood of not getting paid if they do any work for this company. Advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[pmwhittier]

Name & Shame. Here. On this post. Do it. You'll feel better.

Recourse will depend on your visa status. Did you do this work legally or illegally? If you are on an E visa, then "the guy" just screwed someone who shouldn't have been doing this anyway. If you're not, then you can take your contract to the authorities (you do have a contract for this, right?).

As for, "Has anything like this happened to anyone before?" Being shafted out of money in Korea? I've never heard of such a thing in my life!

[PRagic]

Back in the day when I did a LOT of writing and editing, I would insist on payment upon delivery. It usually wasn't a problem, but sometimes it was classic.

Sometimes it was painfully obvious that they had no intention of paying or of paying on time even though that had been agreed upon in advance.I'd show up with the disk or the hard copy and ask for the payment, then out would come the excuses. No problem, just call when you have the payment. The work is done and will be waiting. And then either walk away or, as was usually the case, walk to a bank with the client.

Eventually, I could figure out who to trust and who to avoid, and the stiffs who were out to scam some free work avoided me anyway.

Recording was riskier as the work, sometimes 2-4 million won worth, had already been done. There inevitably would be a client who would try and nickel and dime you down, especially after a big project. In general, though, if you could get the studio in your side, they'd get your client to pay. Hated working through agents, and almost never did, as they'd take a huge cut for doing nothing and then still stiff the recorder.

[Feebie]

Not much help now but in the future I would be sure to get half the payment up front.

[Hatcher]

I sued KNS Academy at Daichi St and won. I left prior to being able to collect.

If it is a lot of money you can sue in small claims but not the labor board.

In the future, always get it in writing.

He will say you did bad work but the courts will rule on your side.