Bayantel Wireless Sucks

A month after terminating their services, Bayantel is still giving me headaches.

I just received another bill from them. When I called customer service, a kind lady told me that their Cubao bayanCENTER has not forwarded any information as to my request for disconnection. This is after I sent the center a letter and called customer service on the same day to inform them of my decision to terminate their services. Good thing that I have a received copy of my letter.

They now want me to go back to their Cubao bayanCENTER to confirm my termination request. WHY THE HELL WILL I DO THAT? I already did what I had to do. I've broken up with Bayantel. Why will I go meet him again to remind him that it's over. IT'S OVER BAYANTEL! You've ripped me off long enough.

Misery loves company. I am not alone. Darrel James writes, "I am not the only one that BayanTel has ripped off with this. A lot of people have been complaining and returning their units and giving up their subscriptions. The ratio could be 9 out of 10 users are not satisfied. They are making money with their P500 processing fee instead of their actual monthly service fee." (Read full article here)

I wonder how Bayantel can still be in business. We victims should do something about this.

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The Terminator: Sample Termination Letter

Express your dissatisfaction! Complain! Terminate!

Below is the termination letter I am sending my wireless phone provider. Their service sucked from Day 1 but it took me more than a year to decide to terminate their services because I was too lazy to draft a termination letter.










25 May 2009

***** CENTER
[Insert the company address here]

Re : Notice of Termination of Line
---------------------------------------

Gentlemen: [I am seething mad. I don't have time to be gender sensitive.]

I am Mrs. G, the subscriber of telephone number 02******* with ***** Wireless Account No. *********. I am terminating my account effective immediately.

The unit I was given have not worked properly from the very beginning. If you check my account usage, you will notice that I rarely made or received any calls. My number is always busy or cannot be reached even if I am not using it. It takes almost 15 seconds before my call is connected, if ever it is connected.

Last week, I sent my phone unit to your center. My representative was told that I could either pay P3,000 for the repair of the unit or pay P799 for a replacement. I called your customer service center to request for the waiver of the replacement fee but it was flatly refused.

Since I could easily get a brand new unit from **** for the same amount it would cost to get a replacement from *****tel, I decided to terminate my account with you and open another one with ****.

While I am paying my current bill (May 2009), I am terminating my account immediately because I am dissatisfied with your service. I expect not be charged henceforth.


Signed
Mrs. G

RECEIVED by:

_________________________
(Name and Signature)

Date: ____________________

Photo by Horst Frank

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Tamiflu vs. Swine Flu

Swine flu! This PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN is freaking me out. Somebody please give me Tamiflu!

According to the US Center for Disaster Control, "the recommended antiviral drugs for swine influenza are oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu®) and zanamivir (brand name Relenza®). Both are prescription drugs that fight against swine flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in the body. These drugs can prevent infection if taken as a preventative."

I am trying to get my hands on at least 2 boxes of Tamiflu. Wish me luck. 

In the mean time, here are some tips from the CDC.

PRACTICE HEALTHY HABITS TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF SWINE FLU

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. This removes germs from your skin and helps prevent diseases from spreading.
  
• Use waterless alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60% alcohol) when soap is not available and hands are not visibly dirty.
  
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and put your used tissue in a wastebasket.
  
• If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
  
• Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner (with at least 60% alcohol) when soap and water are not available.
  
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread that way.
  
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. (Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.)
  
• It is important to follow the advice of local health and government authorities. You may be asked to restrict your movement and stay in your home to contain the spread of swine flu.

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How to Remove Ink Stains from Longchamp Bags

Baglove called me last night to tell me that her HSBC bill, which I'm guessing was laser-printed, stained the lining of her fox orange Planetes. Imagine her bill permanently imprinted on her bag! I was laughing my ass off until I noticed that she was not laughing with me. Me, bad friend! To redeem myself, I shared with her Teacher J's tip. After around 30 minutes, she texted me to say that the tip worked. Me, good friend!

Teacher J shared with me her secret to removing ink stains in Longchamp bags. It's MILK! 

The Steps:

1. Dip the tip of a wash cloth in milk. Teacher J used evaporated milk but I guess any kind of milk will do.
   
2. Gently rub the milk-soaked tip of the wash cloth in the stained area.
3. After each rub, pat dry the area with another clean dry cloth.
4. Repeat the steps until the stain is gone.

I must admit that I was very skeptical at first but Teacher J swears by it. She already tried it twice on her pink Le Pliage with much success. I finally decided to blog about the tip after Baglove confirmed that it really works. 

Note: Pictures to follow

Check out this link --

Longchamp Spring/Summer 2009 Collection Material and Care Guidelines

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How to Get a Philippine Postal ID

The bank would not let Ate S and M open a savings account without 2 valid IDs. Aside from the Condominium IDs issued to the employees of the residents, they don't have any other identification card so the teller suggested that they get Postal IDs.





HOW TO APPLY FOR A POSTAL ID

1. Go to the nearest PhilPost Office. It is best if you go to the post office in your zip code.
2. Ask for a copy of the Postal ID Application Form or Form No. 391. They will probably give you a photocopy. The form is free here in Quezon City but I heard that some cities charge a minimal fee.
   
3. Fill in the upper half portion of the application form with your personal data.
4. Have your picture taken. You need to attach 3 identical 2x2 ID pictures with white background to your application form.
   
5. After filling up the form and attaching 1 picture, we had the form photocopied so that Ate S and M would have 4 copies each. (1 for the post office, 1 for the barangay, 1 for the notary public and 1 personal copy) This is not required but we did it in case the Barangay Captain and the notary public ask for a copy.
   
6. Bring the application form to your Barangay Hall.
7. Request for a Certification from the Barangay Captain that you are a resident of the Barangay. The Barangay Captain will fill up the bottom portion of your application form and give you a photocopy of his/her valid ID. He may or may not ask to retain 1 copy of the application form. Our barangay charges P50 for this.
   
8. While you are in the Barangay Hall, get a Community Tax Certificate. You need this to complete your application form. Ate S and M paid P50 each.
   
9. Have the application form duly notarized. There is usually a notary public near barangay halls. The notary public will ask for a copy of the notarized document. Notarization costs around P150 per document.
   
10. Go get a NSO certified copy of your birth or marriage certificate. (Click here for tips on how to get one.)
    
11. Submit the following to the post office: 1) Duly accomplished application form [notarized with attached photocopy of the Barangay Captain's valid ID]; 2) 3 pcs. 2x2 ID picture with white background; 3) NSO certified copy of birth or marriage certificate; and 4) P315 postal ID fee. The postal ID fees vary from city to city.
    
12. Expect to come back for the ID after a few days. In the case of Ate S and M, they were able to get the ID after 3 days.

Estimated Total Cost: P815
1. ID Picture - P60
2. Barangay Certification - P50
3. Community Tax Certificate - P50
4. Birth Certificate - P140
4. Notarization - P150
5. Postal ID Fee - P315
6. Others (Transportation, Food, Photocopying) - P50

It is EXPENSIVE. Good thing it is valid for 5 years.

Ate S and M now both have BPI savings accounts. Their next goal is to get voter IDs.

NOTE:

• For applicants without a birth certificate, they have to submit a certification of no record from the Local Civil Registrar or a negative certification from NSO plus any of 2 of the following requirements: baptismal certificate, permanent Elementary School Record 137-E, marriage contract of parents issued by LCR (if single) or marriage contract of applicant (if married) or certificate of Live Birth duly signed and properly filled up.
• Instead of a certification from the Barangay Captain, the applicant may submit: a valid NBI clearance; if student, certification from the Principal or School Registrar, together with photocopy of the valid identification card of the Principal or School Registrar; or if employed, certification from the employer with the employer's valid identification card.
• Data from www.pia.gov.ph
  

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Bugged by Bed Bugs!

The bed bugs are coming.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) worries about bed bugs so much that they hosted the very first bed bug summit yesterday. This scary news was enough to make me come out of my long blogging hiatus.

They are like vampires! Bed bugs feed on human blood and are virtually indestructible. There are currently no pesticide or spray that can kill them so prevention is key.

Here are some helpful sites on bed bug prevention:

1. Your Bed Bug Questions Answered by Dateline
   
2. How to Prevent Bed Bugs by eHow
   
3. The Bed Bug Resource

I hate learning about this. One must not underestimate the power of suggestion. I bet I'll be itching and turning in my bed tonight.

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I'm Still Alive

I'm working again.













Will blog soon.

No, that's not my desk. That photo came from Wikimedia.

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BPI-Jollibee Promo: Yum-Yum!

Shop anywhere and get these FREE!
At least 1,000: Yumburger or Sundae
At least 3,000: 2 pcs. Chicken Joy with Rice

Armed with the promo flyer, I went to Jollibee today to check if this promo is for real.

Well, I have good news and bad news.



GOOD NEWS: IT'S FOR REAL!












Just present your charge slip and credit card. It's that easy.

TIP: If you need to retain a copy of your charge slip, photocopy it first before going to Jollibee. They will get the original.

Redemption period is until March 15, 2009.

BAD NEWS: Only receipts from November 15, 2008 to January 15, 2008 will be accepted

Promo period is from November 15, 2008 to January 15, 2008 only.

I was not able to save all the receipts from last year. Aaaaargh... I think I only have around 5 receipts left here. Sniff...

I have until March 15, 2009 to redeem my treats.

IMPORTANT: Only 1 free food item can be redeemed per charge slip or cash advance receipt. A cardholder is allowed up to 3 redemptions per day per store.

GOOD LUCK! Enjoy your Chicken Joy!

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How to Get Birth and Marriage Certificates: Ms. R to Mrs. G

Do you want a copy of my marriage certificate?

I've been married only two years but I've already submitted more than 15 copies of my marriage certificate to various private and government offices. These copies are all printed on security paper and issued by the National Statistics Office. If I include the ones I gave to companies and agencies that only required photocopies, the number will increase to around 30.

Some agencies and offices that required my marriage certificate:
1. Social Security System
2. PhilHealth
3. Land Transportation Office - Driver's License Renewal/Change of Name
3. Banks (6)
4. Embassies - Visa Applications (6)
5. Department of Foreign Affairs - Passport Renewal

The official transition from Ms. R to Mrs. G was and is not that easy.

2 WAYS TO GET YOUR MARRIAGE OR BIRTH CERTIFICATE IN THE PHILIPPINES:

1. ON-LINE/THRU PHONE

You can order the documents you need from www.ecensus.gov.ph or Pilipinas Teleserv, Inc.

E-Census is managed by the National Statistics Office while Teleserv is run by a private company. From my experience, both are very reliable. I tried E-Census for my husband's birth certificate and Teleserv for my passport renewal.

E-Census

• Type-in the data in their website
• Pay the fee in any of the accredited banks
  
• Delivery within 5 to 9 days (Processing - 3 working days; Delivery - 2 to 6 working days)
• PRICE: P315 for Birth or Marriage Certificate and P415 for Certificate of Non-Marriage

Teleserv

• Call the hotline (737-1111) and dictate the necessary information to the agent
• Pay the fee in any of the accredited banks or through Bancnet
• Delivery within 4 working days (from date of payment)
  
• PRICE: P330 for Birth or Marriage Certificate and P430 for Certificate of Non-Marriage
  

I personally prefer Teleserv's services even if they are slightly more expensive than E-census. I like the fact that I can call them 24/7 to follow-up my order. They will also deliver your documents in just 4 working days.

2. PERSONAL APPEARANCE IN NSO

• Go to any of the NSO Satellite Centers (Check the list here --Satellite Centers)
• Submit your application form (Download the forms here -- Forms)
• Pay the fee
• Get the documents within 2-3 hours
• PRICE: P140 for Birth or Marriage Certificate

M, one of my household crew, went to NSO this morning to get copies of my marriage (4 copies) and birth (2 copies) certificate. At P140 each, that's only P840! Compare that to the P1,980 I would have spent if I ordered them online. I was also able to get the documents on the same day.

TIPS:

• Print-out and fill-up the forms (download them online) before going to the NSO office.
• If you will be sending a representative to get your birth certificate, make sure that person is armed with your authorization letter and your I.D.
• Ask your representative to bring his or her own I.D. too.
  

SAMPLE AUTHORIZATION LETTER:

09 January 2009

NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE
Office of the Civil Registrar General
National Statistics Office
East Avenue, Quezon City

Dear Sir/Madame:

I am Mrs. G, the owner of the birth certificate and marriage certificate being requested by M. I am authorizing Ms. M to request and receive the said documents in my behalf.

Attached to this letter is a photocopy of a valid I.D. bearing my photograph and signature. The original of the said I.D. is with Ms. M for your verification.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Mrs. G

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New Year Chores: Quarterly Mold and Moisture Check

Damp and humid weather is conducive to mold growth. While the mold toxins may not kill you, it can cause nasty allergic reactions such as irritated eyes, nasal congestion and headaches.

With molds, prevention is the key. You can never let your guard down. Constant vigilance is required. Check and clean your cabinets at least once every quarter.

Tools:

• Flashlight
• Bleach Spray (I am using diluted Domex)
• All-Purpose Cleaner Spray (I am using diluted dishwashing liquid)
• Rags
• Moisture Absorbers
• Silica Gels
• Industrial Fan
• Moth Balls

Clockwise: (1) Dehumidifier from Japan Home; (2) Used Dehumidifier; (3) Neopara (moth balls); (4) Sachets from Gourdo's

DETECTION.

Check all your rooms, cabinets and drawers for mold and moisture patches. Use a flashlight to inspect the dark corners. Don't forget to check the cabinet ceiling.

Examine your leather items carefully. Molds love real leather so you better check your designer bags, shoes and belts. I've noticed that if there's leather in the cabinet, they will ignore the pleather.

ELIMINATION.

SPRAY AND WIPE. The best way to kill molds is by spraying them with a bleach solution. Clean the area with an all-purpose cleaner then spray with bleach. DO NOT use bleach on leather.

For items made of leather, click here for instructions -- How to Clean Mold from Leather.

DRY. Make sure the area is dry before returning the clothes inside the cabinet. I used an industrial fan to dry the cabinets.

PREVENTION

Prevent further build up by putting moisture absorbers and silica gels in the area. I also put Neoprana (it smells like moth balls) in small sachets and hang them inside the cabinet.

More Resources:

• Molds in Your Home
• Prevent Mold in Your Home
  

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