Desperate NHK

[canman]

I am really pissed about what happened to my daughter last night. She had just returned to her apartment building, which has an auto-lock system, and there was an older guy waiting outside. She walked past him and opened the door, and he followed her in to the building, followed her into the elevator, which now was really scaring my daughter, and then got off on the same floor as her. It is a small building, so as she approached her door, he started to berate her saying she hadn't paid her NHK bill and this is a Japanese law, and was very aggressive. Just by chance my wife called my daughter and she could hear what was going on, and told my daughter to give the phone to the NHK guy. My wife told him to leave our daughter alone, she doesn't watch NHK, but he said he wouldn't leave until she signed some sort of contract. He also said my daughter was watching WOWOW and she had to pay a higher fee, even though the building doesn't have BS. To get rid of him, I guess my daughter filled out the form, and the bastard left. This all took place at 10:00pm. So I want my wife to call NHK, and demand this guy is fired, and that they never return to my daughter's apartment.
With all the stalking cases going on, what was this idiot thinking approaching a young girl late at night like that.

[Coligny]

I am really pissed about what happened to my daughter last night. She had just returned to her apartment building, which has an auto-lock system, and there was an older guy waiting outside. She walked past him and opened the door, and he followed her in to the building, followed her into the elevator, which now was really scaring my daughter, and then got off on the same floor as her. It is a small building, so as she approached her door, he started to berate her saying she hadn't paid her NHK bill and this is a Japanese law, and was very aggressive. Just by chance my wife called my daughter and she could hear what was going on, and told my daughter to give the phone to the NHK guy. My wife told him to leave our daughter alone, she doesn't watch NHK, but he said he wouldn't leave until she signed some sort of contract. He also said my daughter was watching WOWOW and she had to pay a higher fee, even though the building doesn't have BS. To get rid of him, I guess my daughter filled out the form, and the bastard left. This all took place at 10:00pm. So I want my wife to call NHK, and demand this guy is fired, and that they never return to my daughter's apartment.
With all the stalking cases going on, what was this idiot thinking approaching a young girl late at night like that.

That's the point where grandpa should already have been pepper sprayed...

[6810]

OP... that was not NHK. Either you or your daughter both are very naive. NHK are a real institution and don't operate at those times. The dude was a salesman for something or other and was using the guise of a legit operation to foist sales on your girl.

This is a very common tactic among shady sales reps. I used to get one or two a week where I was l living. Some of them even go as far to create look a like IDs.

I would urge your daughter to contact NHK with the apparent rep's details and ask a few questions and make a complaint (if it actually was NHK) Following that, she might want to report the matter to the building management company (they'll post notices to all residents informing them of an NHK scam and perhaps alert the police). Also, if she paid or promised money, it might be wise report it to the police after confirming the ruse. She should also ask fellow residents if they encountered the old dude.

Sales here always come after hours. The reawl deal almost always come only on appointment. Just FYI.

[GomiGirl]

That was NHK - they have hired mercenaries to collect fees who get commissions on each contract.

Get the copy of the contract she signed and rip them a new one. This happened to me when I first arrived in Japan and we were able to get the money that I paid refunded, the monthly fee from my bank account stopped and an apology. I was in a company apartment so we used this excuse but you have the stalker angle.

That is just not cool!! Damn you NHK.

[Russell]

This complaint is at the right place at FG. Lots of NHK guys here...

[Yokohammer]

Time go ballistic on someone's ass there.

I believe NHK agents are no longer allowed to operate late at night like that. 10 pm is definitely not a "normal" business hour.

Get on the phone. Get mad. Call the police if necessary. As 6810 says, it might not have been NHK.

Of course your daughter has a copy of the contract ... doesn't she (?).

Edit: Sounds like you also have an unlawful entry case. I'd get on it. If it was NHK they really do need to be torn a new one, but the circumstances sound very suspicious. And BTW, was this in Hachinohe?

[Yokohammer]

Double post ... please delete.
(How the heck did that happen ... )

[Coligny]

Edit: Sounds like you also have an unlawful entry case. I'd get on it. If it was NHK they really do need to be torn a new one, but the circumstances sound very suspicious. And BTW, was this in Hachinohe?

Yeah...

Without showing proper ID before entering the building that's a case of trespassing (because I think their might be some waivers/exception for NHK stormtroopers). Don't know how it's dealt with in Japan. In the US (surprise surprise...) It would have been legal to shoot him in the head... In France it's a penal case and could get him arrested on the spot...

In Japan the cops will probably try to play the missunderstanding aangle to avoid the paperwork...

Here I put "No trespassing" sign on all entrances. So whatever happens, once they're in... by the book they are already on the wrong side of th3 law...

[IparryU]

Man... I don't know what you taught your daughter about strangers when she was young... but serious red flag...

Guy waiting by electric lock building entrance and follows her in... the confrontation should have began there whilst she was in a more safe zone.

Thank God it was an "NHK" man and not a stalker...

[gaijinpunch]

How often do they come by? I'm in a new place, and haven't seen them yet. I'm going to play the "this is an office" card which should be hard. Pretty sure the entire 2nd floor of this place is an office... of a construction company... where they play twister all day.

[Greji]

This complaint is at the right place at FG. Lots of NHK guys here...

Hey! Watch that some might be keeping their head down......

[Greji]

With all the stalking cases going on, what was this idiot thinking approaching a young girl late at night like that.

Buy her a Glock!
Seriously, as GG posted, I would be right up in their faces at the NHK office, one for the dood's attitude and another for phsyco aspects resulting from "stalking" a young girl at that time of night. I'd be sitting on that shishacho's desk until they explained and apologized....

[yanpa]

How often do they come by? I'm in a new place, and haven't seen them yet. I'm going to play the "this is an office" card which should be hard. Pretty sure the entire 2nd floor of this place is an office... of a construction company... where they play twister all day.

Someone purporting to be from NHK has called (to my knowledge) twice (bboth times on a weekday during normal working hours) over the last 4 years (during which I've lived at 4 different addresses - all manshons in Tokyo). As I'm very selective about whom I answer the door to, I generously spared them the shock of dealing with a non-Japanese who has evidently been engaged in some form of ritual sacrifice (I keep a bottle of fake blood, some feathers and an MP3 file of distressed chickens around for this purpose). Last time they left a little hanko'd printed slip explaining they'd been to visit and would like to talk about NHK fees with me, and would be coming back another time.

[matsuki]

Man... I don't know what you taught your daughter about strangers when she was young... but serious red flag...

Guy waiting by electric lock building entrance and follows her in... the confrontation should have began there whilst she was in a more safe zone.

Thank God it was an "NHK" man and not a stalker...

THIS

Even after she let him in, why didn't she just ignore him and lock the fugger out? (or call the popo's if she felt she was in that much danger?)

I had an NTT guy pushing Flets come by yesterday while I had just came home. I was on the phone with a lemur so couldn't play dumb gaijin so when he approached me, I just said "got WiMax, not interested" about 5 times, regardless of what he said and then he gave up and politely took his leave. My building is usually locked at night but every weekend, despite the "No solicitors" sign out front, they come in one by one and go door to door. I usually turn up the TV when they knock, and ignore.

[canman]

Hammer, this happened in Shin-Yokohama, she is a student at Yokokoku.
GG, yes she has the contract, and my wife called the bank and already put a stop on the payment. She also called NHK and reemed them out, but they said, that since my daughter is not usually home during usual business hours, they have to go at unusual times. As for this guys aggressive style, the NHK worker said they higher people who are skilled at dealing with customers, (more like intimidating them).
As for the safety issue, she was going home, and I guess didn't think much about a person waiting outside, maybe she should have been more careful, but I think most people in that situation would have thought he was waiting for someone. Once he was inside, what can you do. I guess she could have called the police, but she didn't.
Anyway I am not impressed with NHK's attitude and I am seriously thinking about asking my daughter to contact the local koban and ask them to come round for a visit.

[GomiGirl]

Still not good enough explanation!! Basically they just admitted to knowing her routine ie STALKING HER.

Kick up a huge fuss over this.

It is a good lesson for your daughter too as she is lucky to be living in a safe country. Those of us FG love to live here as it is so safe and we don't have to watch every shadow when we come home at night but it does give regular Japanese folks a false sense of security. You don't learn the lessons on self protection that you learn outside Japan.

When I was a student at University, if I was going to my car at night I kept my car keys laced between my fingers in case I needed to punch a stalker while walking to my car.

There were also volunteers to walk girls who were on their own to their cars or between classes and tutorials in the evenings.

Creeps and freaks love universities as there are lots of young (naive) women around at all hours. You develop a 6th sense and keep watch over your shoulder - especially at night.

This wasn't hysteria as during my 3 year Undergrad there were at least 10 cases of rape and at least one of murder.

This was at University of Queensland in sleepy old BRISBANE in Australia so hardly South Central LA.

So this sort of self awareness and protection gets ingrained when you grow up overseas. Sure I know Japan is safe, but the lessons I learned at Uni I will continue to carry with me for life. They are important lessons and most Japanese don't learn them - they don't have to as crime is soooo low here and the streets are safe at night. Could be the reason that so many Japanese get into trouble when travelling overseas, get ripped off etc as they just haven't learned these life skills that FG's kinda take for granted.

Sorry to make you (or her) panic with horror stories from less safe countries, but this is your daughter dude. A little bit of overprotection is acceptable.

[CrankyBastard]

The NHK guy called a few months ago, I shouted through the door that I was busy and to go away.
He asked when would be convenient to call back.
I told him I'd telephone his office when I have the time.

[matsuki]

Basically they just admitted to knowing her routine ie STALKING HER.

THIS

Canman - I'd offer to help in protecting your daughter from the NHK people but then you'd have to find someone to protect her from me ]It is a good lesson for your daughter too as she is lucky to be living in a safe country. Those of us FG love to live here as it is so safe and we don't have to watch every shadow when we come home at night but it does give regular Japanese folks a false sense of security. You don't learn the lessons on self protection that you learn outside Japan.[/QUOTE]

GG, I've never met a female in this safety country that hasn't been groped. Many have been stalked, attacked, drugged, raped, etc. I know far more people here who have had their homes broken into and been robbed than I do in LA...and I know faaaar more people in LA. Then, when crimes are committed here, they are bungled by J-popo and/or end up being skewed for convenience. I think the image of "safe country" is nothing more than that, an image.

[Catoneinutica]

This complaint is at the right place at FG. Lots of NHK guys here...

Being an FG means, besides never having to say you're sorry, having experience with the NHK man and his (blatantly illegal, in this instance) shenanigans. What about you?

[twww]

So this sort of self awareness and protection gets ingrained when you grow up overseas. Sure I know Japan is safe, but the lessons I learned at Uni I will continue to carry with me for life. They are important lessons and most Japanese don't learn them - they don't have to as crime is soooo low here and the streets are safe at night. Could be the reason that so many Japanese get into trouble when travelling overseas, get ripped off etc as they just haven't learned these life skills that FG's kinda take for granted.

Raped woman flees through bathroom window

A woman has managed to escape a man who allegedly handcuffed her and repeatedly raped her in a house in Sydney's south by jumping out a bathroom window and flagging down a taxi, police say.

The 48-year-old man picked up the 29-year-old woman from Sydney Airport on Tuesday and took her back to his house in Miranda, Chief Inspector Rick Johnson said.

The woman, a Japanese national living in Australia on a student visa, first met the man in January and he arranged to pick her up after she returned to Sydney from a trip around the country, Chief Inspector Johnson said.

[Yokohammer]

She also called NHK and reemed them out, but they said, that since my daughter is not usually home during usual business hours, they have to go at unusual times. As for this guys aggressive style, the NHK worker said they higher people who are skilled at dealing with customers, (more like intimidating them).

None of this is a suitable explanation/excuse.

Of course they're going to play the "we had no alternative ... we're professionals" card. They don't want any more stains on their already trashy reputation. But if the rules say "no late-night visits or intimidating tactics," which I believe they do, then them's the rules and they must be abided by. There are weekends, aren't there?

I call bullshit and an attempt to squirm out of responsibility. If you let it go at that, they will have succeeded (they probably normally do). I realize it's a PITA to follow something like this up, because you'll be met with a wall of denial for sure, but I really hate to see them get away with this shit ... again ... and again ... etc. A bit of persistence might pay off.

[gaijinpunch]

My building is usually locked at night but every weekend, despite the "No solicitors" sign out front, they come in one by one and go door to door. I usually turn up the TV when they knock, and ignore.

I unfortunately do not have autolock... big down side. However, I do have the "this is an office = no TV" card.

EDIT: Great, both of my goody goody neighbors have their fucking NHK stickers. Assholes. Guess they'll be cummin' around sometime.

[Coligny]

GG, I've never met a female in this safety country that hasn't been groped. Many have been stalked, attacked, drugged, raped, etc. I know far more people here who have had their homes broken into and been robbed than I do in LA...and I know faaaar more people in LA. Then, when crimes are committed here, they are bungled by J-popo and/or end up being skewed for convenience. I think the image of "safe country" is nothing more than that, an image.

+1. The family house in Toyohashi (wich to be honest is a bit abandonned) as been broken into so many times that we don't even bother with the smashed windows.
For the clinic it's different. There is always some lights on somewhere, lots of automatic spotligths for the parking/entrance. Plus 200lbs of gaijin who despite nearly pissing himself at the last encounter with a tanoki seems to be enough to scare the living shit out of the locals.

[waruta]

I unfortunately do not have autolock... big down side. However, I do have the "this is an office = no TV" card.

EDIT: Great, both of my goody goody neighbors have their fucking NHK stickers. Assholes. Guess they'll be cummin' around sometime.

They have come by twice, an 40ish guy and an older gentleman (who was a complete prick). I was smoking a cig in front of the exhaust fan in the kitchen when the doorbell went off, thought it was my KuroNeko delivery coming in, opened the door and nondescript guy stands there with clipboard and a pen.

First time the young guy had no issue when I told him about the TV being so old I only use it as a big screen for movies, even offered to let him come into the house to check out the channels and lack of cables going to the wall, but he declined and politely asked to contact them if I ever got a newer TV.

Now the old fart was a whole different issue. Immediately off the bat assumed that I would speak Japanese (I do) and proceeded to grill me on how long I had lived here, how many tv's I have, etc...etc... Now I don't really mind the questions (answering them is a whole different matter and up to my discretion but I politely told him I only have a really old plasma screen that doesn't pick up digital signals and use it for the PC hookup only.

Normally it would end here. Then the old guy puts his hand on the door and opens it up a bit more so that he can "shoulder" it or prop it open without me holding it open. I didn't really like this turn of events, so I grabbed the doorknob and started to shut the door (do I now need to move this part of the story into the passive-aggressive thread? and ask him to move away. He starts getting huffy about how we need to back-pay for all the TV and everything when I have just been telling him we don't watch TV and how even if I did, NHK would have to drastically change their programming in order for me to flick over to their channel. Or let me choose what they show.

In the end, he wasn't none too happy about the fluent ass-chewing he was getting through the front door and the ciggie smoke (hey, it's my house, I can fuckin' show up in boxers and pink bunny slippers for all you care if you want to bother my lazy Sat. afternoon), but he finally made grumbling noises and left, but not before asking me to contact them yadda yadda, but I asked him for his identification badge/license thing just to make sure I knew who to contact, he was definitely not happy with that (dunno why) and then left after providing the details.

Like Gaijinpunch, neighbors also have something like 8-10years worth of NHK omamori decorating their doorway in a arch of multicolored shinyness whilst mine is but a bare white (steel) door.

Greji, is there anyway you can grant the members of FG amnesty provided we come in from the Cold War of watching Western programming exclusively for the past 10 years? Nothing you can do like those trading guns for toys schemes? j/k.

[IparryU]

None of this is a suitable explanation/excuse.

To get rid of him, I guess my daughter filled out the form, and the bastard left. This all took place at 10:00pm. So I want my wife to call NHK, and demand this guy is fired, and that they never return to my daughter's apartment.
With all the stalking cases going on, what was this idiot thinking approaching a young girl late at night like that.

Father to father... Go to the Koban and get a police report, then sit your wife and your daughter down next to the phone and settle that shit.

Seriously though, this is your daughter and there still is no proof that this was an NHK guy. She signed a paper... ya, he may be an NHK guy, but don't second guess this canman.

[matsuki]

Then the old guy puts his hand on the door and opens it up a bit more so that he can "shoulder" it or prop it open without me holding it open. I didn't really like this turn of events, so I grabbed the doorknob and started to shut the door (do I now need to move this part of the story into the passive-aggressive thread? and ask him to move away.

Anyone (FG or J-peeps) have any well noted physical altercations with these guys? I never open the door for anyone except takyubin or people I know but if some weird fuck tried to pull that with me, he'd be rolling down the stairs faster than he could pronounce me name...and believe me, that's fast!

[waruta]

Anyone (FG or J-peeps) have any well noted physical altercations with these guys? I never open the door for anyone except takyubin or people I know but if some weird fuck tried to pull that with me, he'd be rolling down the stairs faster than he could pronounce me name...and believe me, that's fast!

I almost never get into physical altercations (fisticuffs - I love that word heehee) with anyone, mostly because they are just doing their job.

However, when a little ident badge or paper gives them an overinflated sense of importance or ego, and they decide to ride the wave of overwhelming and soul-consuming power to bully others into submission, then it's up to the other person to give them a reality check. Most guys have forced their way past other, more timid individuals and have much (ill-)gained confidence in themselves and their authoritai [(c) Cartman] and no one has called them on their bullshit so far.
They may think they are in the right and you may be wrong for paying or not paying for certain services, but in the end they knocked on your door and cannot come into the house, so the best thing would be to walk away, or in this case, close the door gently but firmly and go back to watching your noon-time NHK programming.

[legion]

Basically we need a champion freelance journalist to take them down!

[matsuki]

I almost never get into physical altercations (fisticuffs - I love that word heehee) with anyone, mostly because they are just doing their job.

However, when a little ident badge or paper gives them an overinflated sense of importance or ego, and they decide to ride the wave of overwhelming and soul-consuming power to bully others into submission, then it's up to the other person to give them a reality check. Most guys have forced their way past other, more timid individuals and have much (ill-)gained confidence in themselves and their authoritai [(c) Cartman] and no one has called them on their bullshit so far.
They may think they are in the right and you may be wrong for paying or not paying for certain services, but in the end they knocked on your door and cannot come into the house, so the best thing would be to walk away, or in this case, close the door gently but firmly and go back to watching your noon-time NHK programming.

I wasn't saying to start a fight with the d00d, I was saying to send the fucker rolling down the stairs IF they attempted to physically force their way into your apartment or physically block you from closing your door.

[Dreamy_Peach]

Basically we need a champion freelance journalist to take them down!

In Japan? Ha ha, only to be read by the likes of Debito readers.