Comments on: Marmot’s Open Thread #19 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/ Korea... in Blog Format Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:33:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: cmm http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-109036 cmm Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:08:24 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-109036 @ Mr. Carr I'm not concerned that he's trying to pocket all the money I wire to him without preparing my return. I'm suspicious that he's charging me more than the going rate and pocketing the difference. Or maybe he's completely freelancing from behind his H&R Block desk. I've contacted H&R Block's customer service back home and alerted them of how I've been asked to pay and they have responded that the "District Manager" (Korean district?) has been contacted and that a "senior manager" will contact me within 48 hours. I am really hoping that these people are all stateside. Maybe it will turn out that the senior manager who contacts me will be the same Mr. Han who asked me to wire him the money in the first place. Maybe I'm coming off as paranoid, but I've been in the country for 2.5 years and seen a lot, and this "payment process" registers as questionable to me. So, to try to establish a more transparent paper trail, I'll insist on sending my money to and H&R Block account and demand an official H&R Block itemized receipt/VAT slip. Is there anything else that might be helpful? @ Linkd - It is the principle AND my money--perhaps the two best reasons to make an issue of anything. Not sure if the price is reasonable. The deal is: There aren't many alternatives, so how do I know if it is the proper rate? His quote was substantially higher than what I should expect back in the states from H&R Block. H&R Block is the leader in the business. I expect a more transparent transaction from an industry-leading financial services company. @ Mr. Carr
I’m not concerned that he’s trying to pocket all the money I wire to him without preparing my return. I’m suspicious that he’s charging me more than the going rate and pocketing the difference. Or maybe he’s completely freelancing from behind his H&R Block desk. I’ve contacted H&R Block’s customer service back home and alerted them of how I’ve been asked to pay and they have responded that the “District Manager” (Korean district?) has been contacted and that a “senior manager” will contact me within 48 hours. I am really hoping that these people are all stateside. Maybe it will turn out that the senior manager who contacts me will be the same Mr. Han who asked me to wire him the money in the first place. Maybe I’m coming off as paranoid, but I’ve been in the country for 2.5 years and seen a lot, and this “payment process” registers as questionable to me.

So, to try to establish a more transparent paper trail, I’ll insist on sending my money to and H&R Block account and demand an official H&R Block itemized receipt/VAT slip. Is there anything else that might be helpful?

@ Linkd - It is the principle AND my money–perhaps the two best reasons to make an issue of anything.

Not sure if the price is reasonable. The deal is: There aren’t many alternatives, so how do I know if it is the proper rate? His quote was substantially higher than what I should expect back in the states from H&R Block. H&R Block is the leader in the business. I expect a more transparent transaction from an industry-leading financial services company.

]]> By: Brendon Carr http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108738 Brendon Carr Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:17:44 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108738 <blockquote>However since the guy asked to deposit the money into his personal account one should wonder if the guy is planning to run away with the said money. I mean it’s the oldest trick in the book.</blockquote> Is this guy the owner or an employee? If an employee, he's not planning to run away with the money. If he did that, you would contact H&R Block and complain about it, and he would lose his job and possibly get prosecuted -- because what this guy is doing is skimming from the company. If it's the owner, he's still not going to run off. But he's not stealing from you or the company. He's stealing from the government, by not reporting your payment as income. No VAT slip, no traceable transaction. The government's ability to trace accounts is so tightly circumscribed that most people feel completely safe in doing their tax evasion by funds transfer. As an employment lawyer I see a lot of fraud. This personal-account nonsense by an employee is an oldie but goodie.

However since the guy asked to deposit the money into his personal account one should wonder if the guy is planning to run away with the said money. I mean it’s the oldest trick in the book.

Is this guy the owner or an employee? If an employee, he’s not planning to run away with the money. If he did that, you would contact H&R Block and complain about it, and he would lose his job and possibly get prosecuted — because what this guy is doing is skimming from the company.

If it’s the owner, he’s still not going to run off. But he’s not stealing from you or the company. He’s stealing from the government, by not reporting your payment as income. No VAT slip, no traceable transaction. The government’s ability to trace accounts is so tightly circumscribed that most people feel completely safe in doing their tax evasion by funds transfer.

As an employment lawyer I see a lot of fraud. This personal-account nonsense by an employee is an oldie but goodie.

]]> By: mins0306 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108736 mins0306 Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:06:55 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108736 Linkd, true, but if the guy asked cmm to deposit the money into the company account, no problem there. However since the guy asked to deposit the money into his personal account one should wonder if the guy is planning to run away with the said money. I mean it's the oldest trick in the book. Linkd, true, but if the guy asked cmm to deposit the money into the company account, no problem there. However since the guy asked to deposit the money into his personal account one should wonder if the guy is planning to run away with the said money. I mean it’s the oldest trick in the book.

]]> By: Linkd http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108735 Linkd Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:56:42 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108735 Does it really matter? If he's going to do what you need at a price you think is reasonable, just do it. Does it really matter? If he’s going to do what you need at a price you think is reasonable, just do it.

]]> By: mins0306 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108734 mins0306 Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:54:11 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108734 #9. cmm, that sounds very suspicious. If it was me I would ask the guy why he is asking you to deposit the money into his personal account and not in the company account. #9. cmm, that sounds very suspicious. If it was me I would ask the guy why he is asking you to deposit the money into his personal account and not in the company account.

]]> By: cmm http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108704 cmm Tue, 18 Sep 2007 09:49:33 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108704 I'm working with H&R Block - Korea to get my taxes done, and after I got the price quote from the Korean agent, he asked for payment into his personal bank account. If he was freelancing, sure. But he's working for H&R Block. Does this seem shady to anyone else? I’m working with H&R Block - Korea to get my taxes done, and after I got the price quote from the Korean agent, he asked for payment into his personal bank account. If he was freelancing, sure. But he’s working for H&R Block. Does this seem shady to anyone else?

]]> By: Hugh http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108186 Hugh Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:43:04 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108186 The google ad that's on the top of a lot of these pages: --------------------- Restaurant for foreigners Enjoy mexican food in Seoul ! Find delicious mexican food here. www.casaloca.co.kr --------------------- It's around Chungdam sagari....I'm here to report very good Mexican food, from a trip I made last week after clicking throug the ad (There you go, the Marmots Hole is also helping the Seoul economy.) I have no connection to the place, just miss gringo-style Mexican food and thought I'd pass on the review to y'all. Nice interior, too, would be an appropriate place to take a wife or girlfriend. The google ad that’s on the top of a lot of these pages:
———————
Restaurant for foreigners
Enjoy mexican food in Seoul ! Find delicious mexican food here.
http://www.casaloca.co.kr
———————

It’s around Chungdam sagari….I’m here to report very good Mexican food, from a trip I made last week after clicking throug the ad (There you go, the Marmots Hole is also helping the Seoul economy.)

I have no connection to the place, just miss gringo-style Mexican food and thought I’d pass on the review to y’all. Nice interior, too, would be an appropriate place to take a wife or girlfriend.

]]> By: Linkd http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108100 Linkd Sun, 16 Sep 2007 02:58:08 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-108100 The Joongang is advertising for a senior editor, in case anyone's looking for a wall to bang their head against. "The JoongAng Daily is seeking applicants for a senior editing position. The successful candidate will be a native English speaker with significant experience as an editor and reporter on a daily newspaper, a background editing feature stories, strong headline writing skills and the ability to lead a bi-lingual team. Please send cover letter and resume to enational@joongang.co.kr." The Joongang is advertising for a senior editor, in case anyone’s looking for a wall to bang their head against.

“The JoongAng Daily is seeking applicants for a senior editing position. The successful candidate will be a native English speaker with significant experience as an editor and reporter on a daily newspaper, a background editing feature stories, strong headline writing skills and the ability to lead a bi-lingual team.
Please send cover letter and resume to enational@joongang.co.kr.”

]]> By: The Marmot’s Hole » Rotten Tomatoes Brutalizing ‘D-War’ http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-107766 The Marmot’s Hole » Rotten Tomatoes Brutalizing ‘D-War’ Sat, 15 Sep 2007 06:24:18 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-107766 [...] So, far, D-War has earned a 14% at Rotten Tomatoes, which isn’t really so bad, considering it was 14% higher than commenter commenter ZZOOzzoo expected. [...] [...] So, far, D-War has earned a 14% at Rotten Tomatoes, which isn’t really so bad, considering it was 14% higher than commenter commenter ZZOOzzoo expected. [...]

]]> By: The Marmot’s Hole » Rotten Tomatoes Brutalizing ‘D-War’ http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-107765 The Marmot’s Hole » Rotten Tomatoes Brutalizing ‘D-War’ Sat, 15 Sep 2007 06:24:01 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/09/15/marmot%e2%80%99s-open-thread-19/#comment-107765 [...] So, far, D-War has earned a 14% at Rotten Tomatoes, which isn’t really so bad, considering it was 14% higher than commenter commenter ZZOOzzoo expected. [...] [...] So, far, D-War has earned a 14% at Rotten Tomatoes, which isn’t really so bad, considering it was 14% higher than commenter commenter ZZOOzzoo expected. [...]

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