|
Post by Otaku on Nov 26, 2008 7:40:20 GMT 8
I usually have all of my bills automatically taken out of my bank account, but I recently didn't have enough money in my bank account to pay my cell phone bill so I had to go into a Docomo shop to pay it.
It was then that I figured out I could probably save money. The lady at the counter knocked off 270 yen from my bill because I came in to pay it.
At what point did making a statement for the customer and automatically withdrawing the funds from their account get so expensive?
It seems to me that something that used to be a convinience for customers is now becoming a ripoff.
I thought giving my money to a bank to hold it for me used to be a luxury for the bank because then they would turn around and invest it into profitable gains. Now, I only have a small window of time to withdraw money from an ATM without being charged a service fee. Why is it at 5:59pm the ATM is free but at 6:00pm I am charged 150 yen service fee?
I wonder how much money I could save if I took all my money out of the bank and stopped all my automatic withdrawls? I'm guessing I could save about 2,000 yen a month...
|
|
|
Post by junkdna on Nov 26, 2008 7:47:53 GMT 8
Well the real problem stems from the fact that you aren't making any interest on your account in Japan like you would in the US (or anywhere else in the civilized world). The Japanese banking system is crooked. Always has been, always will be. Why do you think people still find 800–œ now and again in old, donated kimono or dead granny's pillow? She didn't trust the bank, why should you? As for fees... I have my phone bill paid by my wife because we earn milage points, so you might consider doing something similar. As for pulling your money out of the bank... I have been doing that every payday for the last 4 years or so. No point in having it in the bank when it's not doing me any good. I leave SOME in there, but not a lot.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Nov 27, 2008 13:43:32 GMT 8
I agree with Junk that not being interest rates in a bank account sucks, but honestly, unless you have a huge sum of money in there, the amount of money you get from it is negligable, and usually eaten up by inflation anyway. I hate having bills taken directly from my checking account. Giving institutions the right to take my money when they want to is not something I like at all. The trick is to find out where all the hidden charges are, and do what you can to avoid them. The ATM thing here REALLY SUCKS, BIG TIME...sucks like the vacuum of space!!!!! There is absolutely no reason in the world why an ATM should close after 9pm and around/on holidays!!!!!! There is so much with the banking system here that is just しょうがない, but ya gotta do what you can do.
The keitai system here is also robbery. Before I left the States, cell phone companies offered free night and weekend minutes, unlimited internet usage, roll-over minutes, and tons of other things that were great! I come here and I have to pay by the minute and information package! It's freakin' expensive and it freakin' sucks!!!! The cell phone here are so advanced, but the services and prices are back in the stone age. The way to get a driving license here also sucks. It's just something that we have to live with since there's only so much we can do.
|
|
|
Post by junkdna on Nov 28, 2008 7:54:09 GMT 8
9pm!?!?!!!? What part of the country do you live in? We are lucky if it stays open passed 7pm in the countryside.
As for packet prices, the problem lies with Japanese consumers. Look at prices countrywide... they are all high. Why? Because Japanese people pay them without complaint. It's been that way since modern commerce started in Japan. Sure, there used to be haggling on some goods like in Akihabara (man, them were the days), but now... forget it.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Nov 28, 2008 9:50:44 GMT 8
I live in the countryside...probably just like you. But if they close around 7 for you, then that's even worse! Around here it's 9pm. And the thing about packet prices are that they are high indeed, and yes, because people don't complain- but that doesn't do anything for my bill every month. I don't like it at all. It's like everything here- ridiculously overpriced because people will pay ANY PRICE (especially for items that enhance their 'image') for something they want.
If only I were a salesman here...
|
|
|
Post by junkdna on Nov 28, 2008 12:18:38 GMT 8
I rarely visit the bank at all as it is, and never passed 4:30pm, so maybe things have changed. When I lived in Gunma a few years ago, it was still 7pm. I have no idea what it is now though, just assumed it was still the same.
|
|