Korean Job Discussion Forums

[plchron]

I am having cash flow problems. How long can I put off paying my phone, internet, gas and electricity?

Thanks

[northway]

I've gone four months without paying KT before they turned off my Internet (automatic withdrawal wasn't working and I didn't realize it).

I've gone six months without paying my gas and still haven't had it turned off (but the bill was still only about 10,000, this might not apply if you have gas hot water and your bill is higher).

Can't say on the phone and electricity.

[Skippy]

About two months. Then you will start getting RED letter warnings and bills.

Time to alter behavior and turn off the lights when needed. Careful of the high summer time electricity bill. Using the air con does jack up the price.

Good Luck.

[JustinC]

I, mistakenly, didn't pay my gas bill for four months before they switched it off. I went to the bank and paid the 450k the next day and it was back on within hours. YMMV.

[Underwaterbob]

On most bills there are two numbers, one in red and one in blue. If you pay by a certain date, you pay the amount in blue, after that date, you have to pay the red number. Yeah. you can put them off for a while, but you'll just end up owing more in the end.

[Modernist]

KT shut off my cell phone after 3 months once, due to an issue with a changed bank account and automatic withdrawal.

I think you can do 3 or 4 months on the gas, but I wouldn't let that one build up if you have gas for hot water. It'll just get worse the longer you wait.

[soomin]

Same with me for KT... my auto-withdrawal wasn't set up right and when I called to ask if my phone was broken they were like "Umm... you didn't pay for three months?" Yay for English service, too~

My bf forgot to pay the SK tv/internet and they'll cut it off after 2-3 months, I think... But then you can just call them up and give them your bank account number (if you've paid with it before) and they can settle your bill over the phone in 5 minutes at any time of the day/night (in Korean only, though).

Utilities will usually add 500won for every month you are late before cutting you off (though I don't know how long that would take).

All of these can be set for auto-withdrawal so you never have to go to the bank or worry about it~ KT sends me a text saying "The charges for this month are: _____won" just to let me know before taking it out of my account.

Definitely pay your utilities... You can live without internet (or go to a PC bang or use your phone) but not so well without electricity (which would make any internet usage very short since you couldn't charge your battery).

[lemak]

I had my internet disconnected once after the bill was 2 months overdue, and the land line phone lasted around 8 or 9 months before it was turned off. I hardly used it, so possibly they don't start hassling about it until the bill reaches a certain amount. Health insurance cuts out on the last day of the paid for month.

Sounds like I'm a irresponsible slackass, but all was supposed to be a direct debit from the boss' account, who...changed his account and forgot to notify everyone.

[Son Deureo!]

I've gone up to 4 months without paying my gas bill with no fines, threats, or other discernible consequences. The electric company on the other hand, adds a small surcharge after the first month late and threatens shutoff after the second month late. If you gotta postpone a bill, it might as well be gas.

[The Internationalist]

If one owed money on KT would they be able to go get a contract at another phone company or will they see your debt / credit and decline you?

[northway]

[lemak]