breaking contract on the phone plan

[bananapunk]

Hey guys, I'm planning to be in Singapore for about 14-16 months, however the Iphone 4 plans are only for 2 years here. I got an EP and bank account here. Now, since there is no deposits, what's stopping me from just leaving the country without paying last few months of my phone bill?

PS. please spare me the lecture on ethics etc, just reply to the question ...

cheers

[Strong Eagle]

Hey guys, I'm planning to be in Singapore for about 14-16 months, however the Iphone 4 plans are only for 2 years here. I got an EP and bank account here. Now, since there is no deposits, what's stopping me from just leaving the country without paying last few months of my phone bill?

PS. please spare me the lecture on ethics etc, just reply to the question ...

cheers

Your own honesty, code of ethics, and honor?

Lecture spared... and you know what the deal is.

[carteki]

Nothing stopping you from leaving enough cash to cover the remaining monthly premiums in your bank account and just not using the phone. Not worth paying the penalty fee.
Had a friend who did that and he left 1 month after getting his.

[sundaymorningstaple]

foreign talent!

[bananapunk]

well i got 3 options here:
1- buy an iphone itself and go for some plan without the phone included
2- get a plan and when i leave pay off the remaining months
3- get a plan and when i leave.. i just leave.

So I just wander what kinda trouble i get into here when i stop paying the bill.
In the US they'd try to screw you on your credit report for example.

[Strong Eagle]

When does your EP expire? If within two years you might not get a contract.

[sundaymorningstaple]

well i got 3 options here:
1- buy an iphone itself and go for some plan without the phone included
2- get a plan and when i leave pay off the remaining months
3- get a plan and when i leave.. i just leave.

So I just wander what kinda trouble i get into here when i stop paying the bill.
In the US they'd try to screw you on your credit report for example.

Well, considering you would have to use your Passport or Employment Pass in order to get a phone contract, and the fact that this website is often trawled by government officials, I would think you may well have shot yourself in the foot as by including your full name in your signature you have told the world who your are and a quick google turns up a considerable amount of stuff linking both your name and your nick here, to FB and myspace. Who knows, maybe they'll catch you before it happens so you cannot give expats here another black eye.

[Chris 525]

For EP holders,

it is common for employers to hold back the last 3 months salary, for the purpose of settling your responsibilities if you don't.

And for utilities, like a phone, the company will ask for a deposit. Which is returned when you close the account.

[bananapunk]

now that's what I call an ontopic reply . thanks for all the info

[bananapunk]

btw, the idea was given me by the starhub representative herself. She said people do it all the time and it's not a big deal. "it's not like we're a bank or something" is what she said.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Doesn't say too much for you does it.......

[sundaymorningstaple]

For EP holders,

it is common for employers to hold back the last 3 months salary, for the purpose of settling your responsibilities if you don't.

That's BS and you know it. It's not common at all. Employers are only required/allowed to withhold the last 1 month's salary to settle your income tax with IRAS and nothing more. They are not and can not be made liable for your private debts. Sounds like you have got a crappy employer to me.

[carteki]

We won't mention the fact that even if nothing happens to you, your actions will affect the ability of future workpermit holders to get any sort of credit without putting down enormous sums first.

If you read through the posts on this forum you will find a discussion on how easy it is for companies in Singapore to enforce a debt elsewhere in the world (but for some strange reason they don't really enforce it).

[Chris 525]

When I worked for the government and quit that place mid-contract to join an MNC, they insisted that I work the 3 month notice period, and initially wanted to withhold the 3 months salary, unless I signed a form pledging that my next employer would be in Singapore.

The 2nd time I worked for the government, they did withold my last months salary and they did deduct the tax due.

Anyway it is always best policy to settle your responsibilities because you never know what lies ahead.

For EP holders,

it is common for employers to hold back the last 3 months salary, for the purpose of settling your responsibilities if you don't.

That's BS and you know it. It's not common at all. Employers are only required/allowed to withhold the last 1 month's salary to settle your income tax with IRAS and nothing more. They are not and can not be made liable for your private debts. Sounds like you have got a crappy employer to me.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I daresay, the government is not the majority of businesses here.