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33 • Personally, I rarely use my debit/check card and use my credit card for almost everything I buy. I do this because a) my card provides numerous benefits, which increase the more I use it (air miles, discounts etc.) and b) my income far exceeds my credit limit on the card, which means I will always have enough money in my account to both pay the card balance and take care of my other monthly outgoings. Any leftovers get stashed into an Installment Savings Account or a Time Deposit (check your bank’s equivalents). • If you have a good track record for paying your bills on time, why not call to request a credit limit increase? The worst thing that could happen is that they may say no. Please do consider your monthly income, though. • Credit cards here offer lots of benefits and discounts. Shop around. • Unlike check cards, which can carry the T-Money function that allows you to prepay for your transportation, having a credit card allows you to pay for your transport at the end of the month. Again, make sure you have enough funds in your bank account to cover this. • Consider a “secured” credit card if you are not eligible for a regular card. Although this kind of card looks and operates like other cards, a security deposit is required, which you will get back with a small amount of interest when you close the account. Using such a card in conjunction with making timely payments will also help you build your credit profile. • Applications require a visit to a branch with your passport and Alien Registration Card, and eligibility is evaluated based on each applicant’s individual circumstances. You will also need to provide proof of your income (usually three recent pay-slips, though your contract of employment will sometimes suffice). • Prospective or existing Shinhan Card customers may call 1544- 7333 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or visit eng.shinhancard. com/contents/main.jsp for more information. tiPs Though newcomers to the Korean credit system might find the process daunting, it’s actually a lot simpler than you might think. In Korea, your credit card is linked to your bank account, and the balance due is automatically deducted each month. Provided that you have the funds in your account, these payments shouldn’t present any problems. What is very important, however, is to be aware of your automatic payment date and make sure you have a sufficient balance in your account. In addition to an online or paper bill, you can also call your respective institution’s card call center to find out what the balance of your next bill is. You can even request such information be sent to you via text message. With regards to the latter option, even if this service isn’t available in English, the messages usually make it quite obvious how much you’ll have to pay and on which date. If you have spent a little too much in the previous month, you do have the option to call your card company and ask them to split the payments into one or more transactions over an agreed number of months; in this case, the staff should advise you if any interest will be applied — something that depends on how many months you wish to spread the cost over. Shops might also ask you to split the payment. If they do not, wait a couple of days and then contact your bank. This should be done in advance of your actual billing day. Hair consultant from UK. Trained at Vidal Sassoon and TONY&GUY in UK Hair Salon in Sinchon Brazilian conditioning keratin based straightener. SAFE for colored, highlighted, bleached, damaged and even frizzy hair! Reservations 02-325-2225 / 010-8809-3443 www.lucyhair.com facebook.com/Lucyhair2011 Open Hours 10:00AM~9:00PM 1 min. from Hyundai Dept. in Sinchon Subway. Hyundai Dept. Subway Line2 Sinchon Station. EXIT #1