Serious Problem

[Anonymous]

Greetings all,

First, thanks for all the help in the past. It is, as always, greatly appreciated.

I have found myself in the mother of all situations.

Here's the story - I really need some good information or help here - TripHop, Glenski, anyone who has some info that might help me out would be greatly appreciated.

At the beginning of April I made the biggest mistake of my life, not only in Japan, but my life in general. I became acquainted with a Japanese guy about a year ago who was in the import/export/construction industry. I got to be friends with him to an extent and we started talking about a position for me within his company. Unfortunatly, at that time, his company consisted only of himself and some family members. In January of this year he hooked up with a bigger company and drew up a contract with the larger company for 1,000,000 yen to remodel an office. He invited me on to help with the project along with one other foreigner (a professional carpenter).

Mistake Number One: No written contract. This man agreed, verbally (my HUGE bad - hindsight is 2020), to pay 10,000 yen per day to myself and 25,000 yen per day to the other foreigner. After one month of solid work, we both received our salaries with no problem.

After about another three weeks of work, the Japanese guy who I was employed by RAN AWAY. Apparently the contract for 1,000,000 yen, which I had never seen, actually (until the day he split and the owner of the company showed it to myself and my foreign friend), had run out and the owner had NEVER agreed to pay more for the job.

I am now out about 190,000 yen. I have zero savings in Japan (the transition from eikaiwa to this company was a smooth one, but the income did not go up, thus the savings did not go up).

I rent an apartment in Kansai. I have a relatively well established circle of friends and social life here (I have been in Japan for about three years). However, I have no financial assistance to speak of. I am still paying off school loans in my home country and am quickly finding myself in a position, due to the non-collection of this 190,000 yen, of near homelessness in Japan and bankruptcy back home.

I have interviews scheduled at a couple of the big eikaiwas (which, after this fiasco, would be a god-send - having a solid dependable paycheck again). I am getting myself back on track again and have no worries, due to my experience in the eikaiwa world, about landing another job. However, I have to manage, now, to survive until that first paycheck goes into my account.

I have TONS of emotional support, but the financial issue is just about driving me to insanity.

I have been to the police about this matter and they told me that, because there was no written contract, there is nothing they can really do. On top of the fact that even if there was something they could do (1) the Japanese guy who employed me has no money himself right now and (2) it takes TIME to collect unpaid wages, a luxury I do not have.

Basically, I am in a very FUBAR situation. I have no help from home financially (my parents are retired and have next to nothing) and no help from friends in Japan (the economy sucks, so no one seems to have an extra 200,000 yen laying around).

Are there any options for me besides climbing a tall building and trying to fly? My rent is paid up to the end of this month, but all my bills (gas, etc) are past due and my loans back home are coming up in a week or so.

One person suggested going to a loan company in Japan, but with no collatoral or assessts in Japan, I cannot imagine that I could possible get a loan. Any thoughts on that one?

The Embassy basically said that they were here to "help", but couldn't offer financial assistance (whatever that means). The Labor department said that I could file a claim, but that it would take months to translate the documentation and investigate the case, let alone the fact that no one can FIND the guy I was working for.

I need fast cash, and I need it in a week or so.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for any advice. I can provide more info if needed.

Cheers,
Brian

[Glenski]

Have a Japanese friend call your utilities companies and ask for an extension.

Sell something you absolutely don't need, like an old sofa or crappy stereo.

Get a private lesson to pay a month in advance.

Work for NOVA and ask for their 120,000 yen loan.

[mc]

I've got money. Where are you at? Seriously... We will put something in WRITING and I will want to see ID and stuff like that. Give me your email.

[mc]

Oooops, sorry....I just read how much you need and I don't have that much either :(. Sorry, man. I wasn't trying to be a smartass in my last post. Good luck to you. That's a tough situation, for sure.

[Anonymous]

I have it much worse! Will be arriving on a tourist visa, not qualified to teach english, and only enough cash to last a month.

Loan company in Japan? Naw.. No chance..

My parents are dead so have even less $.


The Embassy is useless, Would not spit on your balls if they were on fire.

So I should have first chance off that tall building....

[Anonymous]

Glenski,

Good suggestions.

I asked two of my privates to pay some cash in advance and, actually, out of the kindness of my longest surviving private, was able to collect enough money from one person to pay my rent, which is why I am paid up through the end of the month.

All my appliances are garbage (literally - I was a gomi hunter). I doubt I could collect more than 10,000 yen for everything I own, except for my computer, which would be a crime to sell given the mark-down on used technology in this country (230,000 yen laptop two years ago) - though I am considering that avenue.

Extension on bills - good suggestion - had thought of that but hadn't acted on it yet. I will do that tomorrow.

Nova loan - when will they actualy front that money? I have my interview on Saturday. I also have an interview with ECC on Thursday.

my e-mail is nummy_kuragesu@yahoo.co.jp, to the other individual who posted. Would be more than happy to discuss an option.

[Anonymous]

ok, now who wants to help ME? I arrive in Tokyo in 3 weeks.

[Anonymous]

craplo,why would anybody want to help an insensitive fool like you???

[Anonymous]

I've helped more users here than "Brian Andersen" has. I should have expected no help in return. Thanks & see you in Japan.

[trip_hop]

Brian, I remember your earlier post, and my advice. Well, here's a few ideas.

Try your ward office. They may have counselling sessions once a week, and may offer loans to pay off expenses, you can pay back over 12-18 months - called "bunkatsubarai" - not all do it though.

Loans back home can be rescheduled. Do that in advance, rather than default on them, and face having to repay the full amount, as opposed to the interest.

Embassies won't lend money, and rarely interfere with private problems, unless they can get PR mileage out of it. You could try TELL - Tokyo English Life Line, who also have no money, but they may know sources that could help you.

Do not sell your computer - it is a potential source of income, and as you mentioned, you'd get little for it and have to pay to replace it again.

Talk to the other family members, with a Japanese friend in attendance - explain the issue, and how their relative caused a very large problem for you. Do not be afraid to use the Japanese group mind and culture of shame back on them to see if you can get some financial support.

Get out and find private lessons. Make an offer of 11 lessons for 10 payments, 6 for 5, or similar for advance payment; offer proper vouchers/ tickets, make it look professional. Use your computer actively to support you.

And lastly, when you get back on your feet, which I am sure will happen, sit down and take a good look at your finances, incoming and outgoing. Focus on reducing your payments as quickly as possible, and possibly review your social life and "friends". Establish a "rainy day" fund, in case you lose a job again. There is little job security in this world today.

th

[n]

...Great advice th and Glenski......

...i would also be inclined to negotiate out of paying next months rent on time too....if u have always usually paid on time then that shud in theory be acceptable for the landlord (ie u have shown reliability/honesty) and give u more breathing space while keeping a roof over ur head till u get straight....

RE. NOVA...tell them u are immediately available....u might get a contract within a week and then the advance maybe 10days later (if not before)......if u pass the interview they have nothing to gain from holding u up.....they want u in that classroom ASAP!!!

All the best...and keep us posted....

[Anonymous]

remember this?

Your advice is always sound, Thank You. I have thought about the implications of doing business with a friend and, yes, it does concern me a bit. But I have worked for him for the past year or so but had a sponsor at that time. We're mostly trying to continue the work legally at this point. I have been welcomed to his house and met his entire family as well. Yes, down the road, issues can arrise, but I'm pretty sure he's on the level.


now who do you suppose wrote thet Brian?

[Glenski]

craplo,

You are 3 weeks away from arriving in Japan, and you KNOW you don't have more than enough money to last a month? Don't expect anyone to have pity on you. That's just poor planning. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but Brian is under much different circumstances because he is already in Japan and had the rug yanked out from under him. You, on the other hand, have had sufficient time to plan ahead.

[Anonymous]

What city are you located in? This may help give you leads.

[Anonymous]

Hey folks,

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful advice so far. It is most helpful.

My interview today went well at ECC I think. The hiring manager said my "mock-lesson" was very good. The grammar test was hell. NOVA is on Saturday.

questioner: I live in Osaka.

I am trying to delay loan payments back home tonight, which is bound to be challenging.

Seriously, folks - the advice is great - there are some really good people out there and I sincerely appreciate everything.

Cheers,
Brian

[Anonymous]

If you have a credit card, you should use it to withdraw money and buy groceries. You can pay that back money later. And if you can't withdraw enough, you might try applying for new ones. You can get them from a million places, such as department stores, etc. But it might take a few weeks to get approved, if you even get approved. Also, there are things such as Yen shop and others from which you can basically get loans from a machine. But you should be very careful about this and make sure you understand the interest and payback schedule because its pretty steep. In fact, I don't even know if they would accept a foreigner. If you are responsible with debt and think you can manage it, then it might be your best option. If you can't manage it, then don't even get started with it because it will spiral out of control.

[Anonymous]

Glenski.

Not all of us are rich. I've been stuck in Hong Kong jobless since my employer went bankrupt. And that's expensive. So I have no choice but to do this quick. it's not about planning.

BTW, I have lived in Japan over 5 years before..Killer mistake was coming to Hong Kong.

[n]

Craplo,

How bad is HK these days?

I used to be out there quite a bit and the last time was about 9months ago and the general atmosphere everywhere was pretty dispondent.....really sad as i have friends over there who have also had economic problems.....

When u say u r not qualified to teach what have you been doing?

When did ur company go under?

[Anonymous]

Do shops like Yen Shop or Aiful or Acom lend money to non-Japanese? I think for a short term loan, the rates are not too unreasonable......

[Anonymous]

Same story that I have heard over and over! Myself and so many of my friends have been ripped off in similiar situations. There really are bad people out there, even in Japan. I can really sympatize with you-you trust somebody and then they **** in your face!! Apart from asking your friends for a loan, have you tried Aiful (it's a loan company that's located in several different places). I'm sure that as long as you have your gaijin card, you can get a small loan. The interest is really high (like 28%) but in your current situation, probably the only option. They issue the loan really fast.
Best of luck!!!! Samantha

[Anonymous]

dont do it my friend....dont take a loan with those laon sharks...

I have a friend who did, and his financial situation quickly deteriorated with those ecalating loan repayments.
Then the daily visits from the yakuza began...at his work place and home.
He ended up borrowing (out of necessity) money from his parents who could ill afford it, and paid a huge sum to the laon company to clear the debt.
A very stressful situation, that cost far more than he could afford (hell, he went for a loan in the first place coz he was broke and no one had the spare cash to bail him out.
Not a clever move.
better to borrow the money from your poor parents and friends now than beg them to bail you out later when you are being hounded by the mafia with a debt 10 times the size.

Also, that suggestion of getting together with the family that the guy who shafted you is connected to, and gettng them to feel the shame they should
and take on some of the burden was a good one and well worth pursuing.

I hope everything works out well for you.
take care