The Bad News

If you haven't heard of the collaboration of Globe Gcash and American Express Virtual Card these past few days, then you must have been on an internet-less zone. #GcashAmex

After the launch several weeks/months (?) ago, I tried to subscribe to Gcash Amex but when I called 2882 to get *KYC'd, but I was only told "someone will be calling you to KYC". I never got the call. Then, I moved on.

*KYC - Know Your Customer, is a process which requires a one-time validation of your identity as required by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. - [source]

So when the blogosphere was hit with blog posts (mostly due to sponsored contests from bloggers and Globe / yay prizes!) about the Globe Gcash Amex, it was impossible not to become interested again. I told you, I am sheep! Haha.

I immediately went to Sephora to buy makeup, even debated with myself if I should purchase with a 3-Step skin care regimen from Clinique. It was in my shopping basket, and then I chickened out. It is my first time purchasing using the Gcash Amex after all so I didn't want to buy everything I want in one go.

Also, I wanted to take advantage of the promotional codes for samples and freebies for every $25 purchase. Meaning, I'll get to use another promo code if I bought them separately. To this hour, I still don't know if that is bad or smart. Hah!

When I was already placing my order, this thing happened.

The credit card americanExpress could not be authorized for payment: We are unable to authorize your credit card. Please enter a different credit card or another valid method of payment. For additional information, please contact your financial institution.

For assistance, please contact Sephora Client Services at 1-877-SEPHORA (1-877-737-4672)

Please review your order information.
If everything is correct, click the Place Order button.

Text posted above so you can read it better.  :)

*someone needs to point out the typo error

Globe Mobile Banking is the best thing Globe has done for people who don't use credit cards. Imagine, being able to transfer funds back and forth GCash and your bank. No long lines, every thing is at a touch of your fingertips. It does have a huge con, which I also love, which is being able to impulsively buy anything online since most local sellers use GCash. 

I have not used this service for 3 weeks now since it's apparently still unavailable. I called it in then. I was told there was a system maintenance ongoing and that there's no definite time when it will come back. I called again today, and I was told the same thing. Bravo Globe! I tried googling it, and not a word in the internet about the whole service being STILL unavailable, which led me to ask, "Am I the only one using this?"  Haha. I seem to be the only one who cares. 

Being that this service is currently down, I've done less online shopping. Yay me! But the hassle for those who also use this feature for paying bills, like me. And since I don't wanna waste my precious time falling in line in a Globe Service Center, I enrolled my bills to BPI Express Online instead. 










But which Globe company to choose?

I'm already enrolled to Globe Telecom (GMCR INC) (HANDYP), which I suppose is for the Globe mobile postpaid (because of handyp? hehe) but is it the same company to use for Globe Broadband?

Update: I just called again. The account specialist didn't even think twice, she just told me outright what company to choose and without looking at her *slow system*. The first one I talked to earlier must be new. (benefit of the doubt na lang because I'm quite nice today.)

For Globe Broadband bill enrollment in BPI Express Online, choose Innove Communications.

I realize now that I'm this dependent on Globe services. Even for my company data and voice sim cards, Globe is the service provider. With all the service I'm currently subscribed to, one would think Globe should also reciprocate with better customer service. But since they don't really have any other more competent company that competes with them, they give mediocre service, because really, where would the subscribers go to?

When I win 1B pesos in the lottery or if ever I get to randomly pick up a huge fortune, making a start-up telecom company might be my first business venture. 

Bonding moment: My iPhone 4 box meets my almost-3-yr-old iPhone Classic box

At last, I now have my new baby! As expected, my rant here was easily overpowered by this new shiny thing that I have. Others may say that it is an expensive move for me but really, for almost three years, I only used one phone (that is still functional now, if I may add) while my friends averaged one new phone per year. So yeah, I really consider this move a good investment. I need a secondary phone for a Smart sim card anyway as both my parents are Smart subscribers.

It's still on the barely-wanted-other-people-to-touch stage so even I am really careful with handling it. I do not even bring it to work because I have not yet bought a screen protector and a case. Feature-wise, I'm loving the upgrade. Truly, this iPhone IS the upgrade from the iPhone Classic (1st gen).

I plan on blogging separately on the new features but I could not not say this: I loooove FaceTime! It's almost like video-chatting in real time.

I have been so psyched to find out that I will be having an iPhone 4, someone really generous will be the one to pay the cash-out for my Globe iPhone 4 Plan. It was supposed to be an early Christmas gift.

We rushed to the Globe Telecoms Tower to order two phones last December 7, 2010. We were told that we would have to wait for TWO WEEKS before we get our phone. We filled out forms, passed the requirements and signed under the signatories.

The second month of waiting is now looming and with no updates from Globe, I went to a Globe Service Center last week to ask if they have available stocks. They told me that the last one they released was for a customer who applied last October. If that's the case then, that would mean an additional two months for our phones to arrive.

If that's the case, Globe should not be telling customers the promised two-week span, it creates false expectations. If there is so much demand for an iPhone 4, shouldn't they order more from Apple? If there are more upcoming customers and they cannot deliver the promised goods, shouldn't they stop advertising and put down their iPhone 4 billboards instead?

And another thing, in a perfect world, there would be a publicly visible waiting list for customers to be given the gist of the patience they have to extend. I've seen people blogging about their new iPhone 4 when they only ordered at the same time as we did. I know we live in a less than perfect world, it's just frustrating that some people are being given a different treatment when we all are capable of paying.