Globe sucks. Really.

Globe's service really really REALLY sucks. But I have been a Globe subscriber since 2000. How ironic is that?

Last Friday, 16December2011, I had one of my worst experiences with Globe.

When I tried accessing Facebook from my phone (a Samsung Jet), I was taken to a landing page that offers unlimited access to Facebook for P50 for three days. Seemed like a good deal, so I clicked on the link and waited for the confirmation text. After a few seconds, I got the text message and it told me that I can now access Facebook via http://m.facebook.com. I went to that URL, and then again I was shown a confirmation page that I am now registered to unlimited Facebook access for three days. I clicked through and I was taken to the Facebook login page. I logged in my credentials waited through endless redirections until I ended up in -- TADA! -- the log-in page.

I decided to call 211 to: a. verify that I have not been charged twice, and b. ask what I should do to access Facebook. I called 211 from my mobile phone, but try as I might, I cannot figure out how to talk to a customer service representative. All I got was lots of advertisements for the iPhone 4S. The voice prompt said press 8 to go back to the previous menu, but all it did was repeat the whole _current_ menu. Eh? I tried calling again, to make sure that I did not just miss a menu level, but again it was in vain.

After several tries, I pretended to want to buy an iPhone 4S and as expected, I was connected to a CSR. FINALLY!!! I told the CSR about my inquiry, she asked me to explain the details, verify the account, blah blah blah. After all the explaining I had to do, she told me that she cannot do anything about my problem. She said she'd transfer me to the appropriate department and that she had already noted of my problem so that I do not have to explain again. Okay fine.

I got connected to another CSR, Ron. He then asked me to verify my account again, blah blah blah, and then asked me what the problem was. Eh? I thought it was already noted and that the previous CSR had explained it to him? Apparently not. Ugh. So I explained again. And again because he didn't get it the first time. I told him that I was prompted to register to Surf All Day when I visited Facebook on my mobile phone, and so I did. So now I want to know why I am being continuously redirected to the log-in page. Imagine my irritation when he said "Ay Ma'am, wala pong ganung promo." EHHHHHH??? If the promo doesn't exist, why am I being prompted to register to it? "Hindi ko po alam." Why did I get a confirmation text then? "It is system-generated po." So why is it in the system if it shouldn't exist?

I went to Globe's website and true enough the promo is there: http://site.globe.com.ph/prepaid/call_and_text_offers/surf-all-day-and-night?sid=TuhX8MuxpRYAAD9qT3EAAADGe . It also said that the promo is available for both prepaid and postpaid subscribers. Ron said he'd double check. After putting me on hold, he said that the promo is not in their system. I told him to go to the website, click on links until he gets to the offers, and sure enough, he saw it there. Then he said he'd check again. And voila, like magic it is in the system. HAY NAKU.

So finally we can talk about my problem! He said that my number is not registered to any promo, and that I should just register again and call them again. WHAT? After the hell that they put me through, they want me to go through it again? WHAT? Hay naku Globe, you suck.

You see, I can't call them again after an hour because by then I will be at home. And I DON'T HAVE RECEPTION AT HOME. What is this, 1999? I have reported the problem several times already, they said system maintenance (oh my God, that system ha!). Really? System maintenance for over a year? It used to be okay before, then suddenly the signal disappeared. To receive or send messages and calls, I either have to dangle my phone out the window or go out to the lobby. HAY NAKU.

So I have been using this number for ten years now, and last year when I claimed my loyalty reward, all I got was a lousy Nokia C2730. That phone is given away for free when you get Sun's Plan 350. I guess Globe's and my definition of loyalty is different. How come they can afford to give new customers a good phone when they get a new plan but existing subscribers get crappy phones? When I was following up my reward, I told the customer service representative that I might as well have my line terminated and get a new one, so I can have a better phone than the one they're offering. And she said, "Yes, you can do that."

HUH.

A Bikram Yoga Love Affair

When I hit my third month of doing Bikram Yoga, I wrote a long-ish post about it in Facebook. I wrote about how I got to start Bikram, how I felt during the first three months, and the differences between the first class and the third-month classes. Just last week, I went (and finished!) my 100th Bikram class. That's 100 classes in five months! Yay me! Joyce poured water on me right before breathing in fixed firm, and it felt so gooooooooood!