Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chaz47]

I just moved into a new "villa", and by new I mean old. This is my second month in the room. The first month I received a gas bill of about $160, which shocked me because I'd never paid more than $80 in the 5+ years I've lived here in Busan. Oh, and that bill was for January and the last two weeks of December. My school called to ask why it was so high and they were told that it was due to the boiler running on LPG and not city oil or whatever.

Now, this month of February, the shortest month of the year mind you. I just received a bill for roughly $500. This is after I conserved following my shock from last month. I had a friend call and inquire about this and they said the guy was really nice and seemed honest. He came out again and read the meter and explained that with LPG it doesn't really matter how low you set the thermostat, because if it's "on" you're constantly using gas.

So, that does make a bit of sense... however. WHY DID IT QUADRUPLE IN 4 WEEKS!? How could it possibly be that much more? The previous bill had 6 weeks on it AND with more use.

Secondly if this is all on the up and up, which I find HIGHLY suspect... why didn't my school warn me about the exorbitant cost of gas in this sort of heating system. Seriously, this is freaking ridiculous, the gas bill is higher than my rent.

wtf?!

[Stan Rogers]

Gas is not charged at a flat rate. If you exceed a certain quota, then your rate per cubic meter goes up considerably. Keep in mind it was an exceptionally cold winter in Korea so your boiler was probably coming on more often.

The quota/rate per cubic meter is "usually" explained in a table on the back side of your gas bill. It shows the limit you can use before you exceed your quota and start paying the higher rate.

The gas quota system is in place to discourage overconsumption by consumers and subsidize gas rates for the poor.

[hondaicivic]

[Stan Rogers]

I also forgot to add that the price for gas increased this year as well.

Ask a Korean friend to explain the table on your gas bill. I'm sure they would be happy to do that for you. That way you can check your gas meter and monitor your gas usage each month.

My good deed for today is done. Hope this saves you all some money.

[AsiaESLbound]

These small sole proprietor distributors delivering LPG cylinders just print bills on A4 white paper without explanation of what a unit is nor what the meter read; only the # of units used. They probably up ticked the meters came January 1st to spin the numbers quicker since they have full access to it. The costs raised exactly 4X come January and February. It's the LPG scam of gouging.

[orosee]

Looks like someone doubled my own bill of 260K... that makes me feel a little bit better. I had also economised after the previous bill came up to 180K... no luck.

If you hadn't already paid the previous month's bill, I'd say that you got slapped with a couple of months of unpaid bills from the previous tenant (or during the time the flat was unoccupied).

I wonder if it is even technically possible to consume that much fuel with a single boiler?

[Slowmotion]

I was pissed I had to pay 50,000 for only 2 weeks! (I was on vacation for 2 weeks)

Still doesn't seem right cuz I don't even cook at home!

[eamo]

Something is probably wrong. I live in a 58 pyeong apt on the top floor (i.e. not well insulated) and only paid 200,000 for heating even though it was on 24/7 at 24 C.

Get the gas company out to check for leaks.

[chaz47]

OK, I went around back to check my meter and lo and behold they are locked up in a little metal closet... convenient, no? I'm all for keeping explosives safe but if they can charge me $500 in gas and not let me see my own freaking meter... that seems suspect.

My manager is going to call the gas company today but something from his tone makes me think it isn't hopeful. Do I have any other options? Clearly this is ridiculous. No one at work can believe it. No one back in the frozen tundra back home can believe it. How can there be no oversight for a basic utility like this?

[red_devil]

Dude that's outrageous. I live in a brand new high rise building and i've never paid more than 70,000 KRW for my gas bill. I don't use much heating, just for water and some cooking but $500 of gas alone??? All my utilities together don't add up to that! You should talk to a legal council as well...it seems almost exploitative. Didn't you ask about utility costs when you moved in? That's usually one of the first questions i ask...

[chaz47]

[red_devil]

[Ice Tea]

Don't pay. Give them the burden of suing you. you don't have to worry about your credit rating taking a hit in a foreign country.

[waynehead]

They will happily cut off your gas if you don't pay. With spring coming, maybe that's not a problem for you, but just keep that in mind.

[Ice Tea]