Globe 3G User? Check Your Bills or Prepaid Balance
Warning: This post is quite long so I ask your indulgence. I have been a subscriber of Globe mobile close to ten years. Globe was the best thing that happened to mobile telecoms in the Philippines, being one of the first companies (well they bought Islacom along the way) to introduce SMS or “texting”. I could still remember my first Nokia SMS-capable mobile phone – it was big, heavy, bulky, enough to knock a cellphone snatcher unconscious.
People used to ridicule Smart users who were still using the analog technology – and I was one of them. While Globe was deploying more Digital cell sites, Smart expanded its nationwide coverage for its analog service, dominating the mobile market in that segment. But it was a good strategy, soon when Smart is almost anywhere in the Philippines, it offered digital mobile service and all of a sudden, Globe had a serious, even threatening competition.
Today Smart is a big player in mobile telecoms, including its 3G services. But I’m not going to talk about Smart in this article. I used to have a Smart-sim powered PLDT we-roam and I was happy with the service. Globe on the other hand was a big disappointment. When it introduced its Globe Visibility using 3G technology, I was one of the first people to recommend it to a client whom I had a project two years ago. After presentation of justifications, the client approved my request of procuring more than a dozen units. We deployed the Visibility units in about 12 locations in Central Luzon – where we were doing a pilot project of the client’s Sales and Distribution system, which will serve as the model for a nationwide roll-out (with over 100 locations).
We used the Visibility to transmit data to and from the main office in Central Luzon and its sales locations – and we found out the 3G service was below par. There were instances the client could not connect thus delayed much of the transmission and consolidation of data. So with much disappointment we decided to choose PLDT We-Roam using Smart for the rest of the 100 locations. Although there are glitches at times, but the Smart-powered WeRoam is far more effective – wherever I went, from North to South Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
Now going back the Visibility and the 3G services of Globe. Did you know that you are billed, by default Php0.15 per kilobyte of usage? If you happen to browse Bloggista.com using your 3G-enabled mobile phone, the home page is about 46KB to 50Kb, so that would mean you’ll be billed Php7.50 for browsing this blog on your phone. Why would you use a mobile phone to browse the internet anyway? Well the future is mobility. Soon most transactions can be done using your mobile phone. But companies like Globe took advantage of the unsuspecting subscriber by not openly explaining how much would be billed for every single use of the service.
What’s more unacceptable is the fact the 3G service of Globe is below par. If you use it as a modem of your notebook PC to connect to the internet, there are times, and lots of times, that its not connecting, but still you’re billed! If it can connect, on several occasions, it takes ages before a page gets loaded – but still the KB counter is running – and you are charged for each KB count! Absurd! And to think charging 15 centavos per KB is absolutely an OVERCHARGE and unfair charging.
And the service? It sucks! Why? because more than half the time, browsing the internet using my Samsung 3.5G-enabled phone with this service I always get a message “Content Not Found” and you are already charged! Rival Smart charges its subscriber Php10.00 per 30 minutes of usage, that’s comparable to paying Php20.00 per hour on internet shops, and their 3G service is reliable – maybe not working at times, but not as bad as Globe’s. Globe followed suit just this year – and they have had grand advertisements telling people they’re now charging Php5.00 per 15 minutes of usage. But for an ordinary subsriber, what you don’t know is that you have to do some configuration change before you could be charged Php5.00 per 15 minutes. You have to send Globe a text message ‘TIME’ and send to 1111 to switch to time-based charging.
How about using your 3G phone as a modem? It doesn’t work at least with my Samsung phone. But what’s the difference between using a Nokia or Samsung phone when using it as a modem? I have used the same phone with other networks, it works. It used to work before with Globe but after they announced their 5/15 service I could not connect anymore. Did I seek the help of their Customer Support? Yep, I did. I dialled ‘211′ and this was what happened:
Me: Hi, just want to know if you have changed configurations when you introduced the TIME service. I am using a Samsung 3G phone, I got the configurations on my phone.
Support Guy (SG): Thank You for calling … blah blah blah. No Sir, we haven’t changed the configurations. What is your phone model again?
Me: Samsung blah blah blah.
SG: Do you have the right configuration settings?
Me: Yes. I received several messages regarding the configuration settings when I inserted my Globe SIM card.
SG: Maybe you’re not in the service area Sir that’s why its not connecting.
Me: I am in Makati. The signal is full bar, 3G.
SG: Do you know how to setup the dial-up connection in your PC?
Me: Yeah, I got the CD Installer and these are the settings… blah blah blah….
SG: Yes Sir, those are the right settings. Were you able to connect that phone before with Globe?
Me: Yep, I used to have a Post-paid plan, but I decided to use the Pre-paid plan instead. Why? Is the service not available with Prepaid Subscribers? Your ad says it works both for Post-paid and Pre-paid subrcribers.
SG: Yes Sir, you are right. It works for both types. But Sir, maybe there is something wrong with your phone, that is why its not connecting.
Me: I don’t think so, I have another SIM Card from U-Mobile, my phone is Open Line, and I was able to connect to their 3G service.
SG: Okay Sir, maybe your SIM card has a problem, or it doesn’t have enough balance.
Me: I just loaded 300 pesos, and yeah, I got another Globe SIM card, it has 500 pesos load balance, and still same problem – it doesn’t connect when dialling the service.
SG: Okay Sir, honestly, this is the situation. We have problems right now with the 3G service. Our Technical Team is currently working on it, and it may take weeks before the service is operational again. So you cannot use the dial-up service at this time, but you can use your phone for browsing, but not as a modem. Thank you for calling – and have a nice day.
Me: ???????………
So, there… right after I put down the phone, the TV commercial was that of Globe advertising the TIME service to both Post-paid and Pre-paid. Isn’t that false advertising?
Globe used to be a great company – but now it sucks. If you’re using its 3G service or using your phone to browse the internet, chances are, you have been cheated too. They have cheated me before with 14,000 pesos of charging for just browsing my Yahoo emails – a browsing experience that raises your high blood pressure because of frequent disconnections. Check your bills – or check your prepaid balance before you connect, and after you connect. I find it absurd for us consumers paying for such a poor, inefficient service. How many subscribers are using Globe? If they have over 10 million subscribers, imagine how much they are making for every text message sent? Imagine how much they are profiting from cheating with this 3G disconnection issue?
Today mobile communications is essential. Each person is empowered with these technologies – mobile phones, 3G service, internet. But being charged for a service not delivered, or not efficiently delivered is totally outrageous and is not fair. Would you stop using what these technologies could offer? That would be a stupid idea – better switch to a reliable and fair service provider.
lmao. May problems pala right now eh, pinahaba ba ang conversation.
labo.
Laarnis last blog post..Attraction And Flirting – Tips for Women to Help YOU Get the Man
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tsk tsk tsk…hahanapan pa talaga yung mga subscriber nila ng butas bago aminin na sila yung problema…
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kuya, mukhang pinapainit ng mga telecoms ang ulo mo ha…ehhehehe.. sumbong mo sila kay ate..hehehhehe.. pero for sure mababasa nila ang post na ‘to and they’ll do something good (sana, lol)..
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The ntc is inutile with regards to regulating and checking possible over charging and violations of these carriers. With that the consumers are helpless since the regulatory body isnt doing its job. Bka nagka lagayan pa. Poor philippines.
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If ur nt satisfied with globe u better switch to another network. Whining abt ur bad experience is all bt a waste of time.
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parang familiar yun ah. sa smart bro na tech support. 2 lang ung sinasabi nila. 1) ma’am dapat po nasa tapat po kayo ng computer nyo. 2) aaah nasa harap po kayo ng pc nyo? ma’am me problem po sa base tower. tawag po kayo ulit after 1 week pag d pa po gumana.
kakaasar!
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I know the name of the call center who support Globe. Hahaha. Looks like the agent is not knowledgeable enough with the technicalities. He/she should be retrained.
Well, just my opinion ;0
Chizmosas last blog post..Watch Ghost Town Movie Online Preview
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Dr. Zack J.H. Buhman, Ph.D. Replies:
July 25th, 2009 at 3:28 am
Actually, it would be my guess that he/she is trained perfectly: Blame every problem on some fault of the user, whether it be the user not being smart enough to configure the device, or the user breaking the device, etc… before admitting the company’s fault. This is actually more or less a good thing from the company’s perspective, but only from a short-term, shortsighted perspective.
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john Replies:
October 19th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
SOP na ata yan ng mga companies ngayon eh. Sad but true. All problems are caused by the customers.
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yeah isumbong mo kay ate(?)
Miss Elles last blog post..So Help me God.
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Hi B,
Hmm… this is an article that is a definite thumbs up since i am a globe user and I do at times end up using my phone for internet at times when I cant access the internet using regular wifi and I have to tell yah the bill get’s really racked up but considering the speed of the connection it really isnt worth it sometimes.
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Pop over to my end of the woods. I have something for yah that I know you’ll love
and heck you can use it in anyway you wish 
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my friends used to be on globe. they used the phone as modem and when the bill came, it was a whopping php18,000!
i used to be on globe myself but switched to smart 5 years ago. and yes, i am happy with their service. i also use my phone as modem for my laptop.
maris last blog post..Championship goes to Ateneo
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Hmmm, I’m not aware that there is a 3G problem in Globe Telecoms nowadays. I have 3 celphones (sun cellular, umobile and globe) but among the 3 of them, i use Globe regularly. Now, this explains my expensive bills recently…tsk…tsk…
Snow of The Budget Shopper´s last blog post..Janina San Miguel Backs Out For Miss World Pageant!
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Im also with Globe
Will have to start checking my bills!!!
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yeah my sister got ripped off by globe. they’re charging her 59,000 pesos for using the internet for 12 hours (distributed in 3 days). if they’re charging 15 centavos per kilobyte, 59k pesos is equivalent to 393 MB of data. i mean, what the hell? she’s just browsing jobstreet and the likes. i told her to get more info from globe then file a complaint at ntc.
Eric´s last blog post..No TV? No problem.
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ganyan din dilemma ko ngaun..ang laki ng bill ko sa globe. I just used my phone as a modem to check mails and browse and chat for just a total of 10 hours(different days). I just talked to the globe CSR, she said it’s .15 per Kb. She also advise not to reset the logs for gprs modem. it will be a great help daw for filing my complain since under process paren un bill ko baka next week pa daw malalaman un total amount for the month of January. I also asked her to compute based from the sent and recevied session on my phone log. i accumulated 121,361.50625Kb equivalent to 118.5171Mb and it will cost me about Php18,204.23 for the internet usage only wala pa un calls and text. I also asked her if they can adjust it, she only said that they can only deduct 3,000 to the total charge… haay..but the amount is still high.. unfair sobra un globe.
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Naku, Globe Telecom charges too much… Lalo na with Browsing… I filed a complaint with NTC Against them thru this site: http://portal.ntc.gov.ph/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_4VD. They’ll be able to help you. Sobra talaga magcharge Globe, like that’s the way they steal money from their customers.
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Chad Replies:
January 16th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Hi She,
I experienced the same concern in using a postpaid sim. I also filed a complaint to NTC. Anu result ng complaint mo?
Thanks
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[...] have written some articles in the past about my (bad) experiences with these telecoms service providers. Which will probably remain a “rant” since our government turned a deaf ear to the [...]
have to tried to use my samsung phone as well (3G enabled) upon browsing friendster and it really take some time for the page to load… unfortunately, I when the bill comes, kailangan bayaran.. hope Globe can do something about this.. that’s why right now I am using smartbro wireless connection for my laptop… and it’s great!
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Haha, I did enjoy that little conversation there. Classic
. Globe CS is now my role model 
.
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Ganyan din nangyayari ngayon sa misis ko ilang ararw palng yung plan 1200 nya,, here’s the story we called last night in globe checking for overall charge sabi ng agent 300++ (three hundread plus) and we also asked regarding the charges of globe internet the agent told her that the charges of globe INTERNET was 5 PESOS PER 15 MINUTES so ok na so thank you for calling globe goodbye,, now the day after she checked her balance NOW walllaaa…. 2,900 pesos,, then she called the customer service regarding her bill was too high,,, the agent told her that the charges of globe internet was 15 CENTAVO PER KILOBYTE cant you see whats the big difference of PESO to CENTAVO and MINUTE TO KILOBYTE? now she complained regarding to her bill,, ok na,, after a MINUTES now she cheked her balance NAKU pUUUU!!!!!!!!!! 8,000++ (eight thousand plus) then going to 9,000++ (nine thousand plus) my goodness,,, we called back to globe regarding bill,, we talked to supervisor i said “bakit ganun ang laki bill ko sabi ng agent 5 PESOS PER 15 MINUTES hindi namin alam na my process pala yan, then the supervisor said “sorry sir down po yung system” then i said “paano gagawin natin diyan? ang laki laki nyang bill niya kagabi lang nagsurf ng internet ang misis ko then the supervisor told us “hintayin daw namin yung billing statement before we complain regarding to my wife’s bill, hindi pa naman yan exact na bill” sabi ko what so you mean hindi accurate yung machine niyo regarding balance inquiry?” the supervisor said hintayin nalang daw namin yung billing statement before we complain,, tapus bingyan kami ng reference number,, tapus tawag nalng daw kami ulit pag nakuha na yung billing statement together with the reference number that she gave to me….. for now im waiting for my billing statement..
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Ed Replies:
October 6th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Nang yari din sa akin ito my previous bill was amounted to 51,920.45 + vat unaware that my post paid will bill me as kb browsing using visibility broadband. Dapat deafult pricing of 0.15cents per KB. Ginamit ko lang ito for 2 hours and the next day globe call me that i reach 51,920.45 + vat just using my globe sim into visibility broadband grabe na shock ako 1st time nangyari sa akin ito. Subscriber ako ng globe for over 5 years ngayon lang nangyari sa akin ito. Lumampas pa ako s credit Limit ko n 1,500.
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daph Replies:
October 26th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
almost the same experience here… i registered to Globe’s surf facebook all day for 20 pesos… when i checked my bill the next day, they charged me P2,000++. so i called 211 – USELESS!!! they can’t explain what happened. i then went to the globe office in galleria, and the lady there told me that perhaps, the registration was not read, etc… so she asked me to come back when i have my final bill so that they can adjust accordingly. good thing i kept the confirmation text from Globe for that P20/24 hour surfing. never again… thinking of switching to SMART
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Ed, I had the same problem with Globe. My phone was damaged during the typhoon so I just kept my sim card in my wallet. Over a week ago, maybe two weeks, i bought a Samsung E250i and inserted my sim card and asked for a gprs setting and got the reply that my phone is not supported. Fine, I have DSL so what do I need GPRS for. I turned off the phone again because I have a 3,000 bill that I have to pay. I did not want to go over than what I already used. 3 days ago, I paid my bill online and then today, I checked if my payment has already been credited.It was. But I almost passed out when I checked my unbilled that I have used up 8,600 pesos of internet connection. For a phone model that’s not internet capable, why do I get charged for that amount. My other charges are IDD 35.15 for calling Australian Veterans’ Affairs for maybe two minutes, Other network: 6.25 and Internet- 8,642.39, You can see by my charges that phone use has not been abused. 35.15 and 6.25. Where did Globe get the amount they are charging me? For a cellphone that has been turned on maybe four times for a few minutes in over a month, it couldn’t have used up that amount of money. Now they tell me that I have to wait for my bill which will be sent anytime after November 9, my cut-off date.and maybe I can work out an adjustment with Globe. What do you think is going on? Have you fixed your problem with them?
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I just noticed a trend here, and it’s a trend in my facebook too. Since October, it seems that the no of people who were charged wrongly for using 3G has increased. I’ve been using Iphone 3G for more than a year now without problems, but suddenly after Ondoy hit my bill became P20,000+ for Internet only. I took my phone to Globe, they can’t figure out why. NOt only that, all my text messages have been delayed for 4 hours or more in the last few weeks. What’s going on? My staff has complained of missing load in the last few days as well (and some, hahah, hindi naman nabawasan at all ng load!). My GLobe tattoo, I used for two minutes, was unable to Download ANYTHING, turned it off, and checked the load again by calling using cellphone, the load was gone!
Globe, what’s going on? Been a subscriber for almost 10 years now, but in the last few weeks, been totally effin up! Even friends in Facebook have been biyatching about it so Im pretty sure it’s not only our area. Wonder if it has anything to do with Ondoy.
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bloggista Replies:
November 11th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
@Mel, no Globe has been that effin suckin suckers. And I am surprised that instead of these things getting solved, more and more people are complaining of the same problem.
My lola once told me that if you commit the same mistake more than 3 times, you’re probably stupid. Well probably Globe doesn’t really care. They’ve grown so big they don’t give a damn.
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Finally got my bill. 9,000 plus for a cellphone that was turned off for almost two months. Internet usage only. I wasn’t doing internet in a Samsung E250i because it’s a a model that is not internet capable. They said they will give me 25 percent adjustment. I should think that they are doing me a favor???? 25 percent discount from what they are trying to steal from me? I would laugh but I don’t think it’s funny. Can anybody tell me where to bring this problem to for a reasonable and acceptable solution? Please, I will be thankful for suggestions.
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I’ve been using Smart Bro Prepaid for about 6 months now. Since I am a globe subscriber, I tried globe’s tattoo last weekend. BIG MISTAKE!
Friday night using a borrowed globe tattoo kit, inserted my sim and plugged it into a laptop. The tattoo program appeared and displayed two options, one for prepaid and one for postpaid. I clicked postpaid and was already connected. Connection was relatively fast, no errors. I browsed through my Facebook account, played a few games and chatted for about and hour.
Saturday morning I again used my post paid sim for an hour or so, used facebook, played farmville and cafeworld and chatted.
Late in the evening I again used the tattoo service. Cumulatively I had about 4 hours worth of internet usage.
Come Sunday morning, the BIG SURPRISE. I got a message from 290 that my unbilled charges already amounted to P10,000 plus. Puzzled I called up 211. I couldnt get hold of any customer rep as the voice prompt said all of them were engaged. Tried it for 30 minutes to no avail.
Thereafter, i inquired about my balance thru 2312 and the text reply informed me that my unbilled charges was up to P14,950, almost all of it was charged to mobile browsing.
I went to the globe center to complain. ANOTHER BIG MISTAKE. The first question after telling them of my unusually large unbilled charges, “Anong unit nyo sir?” I showed her my jurassic motorola phone which came with my lowly P500.00 plan. Then came the barrage of lecture about per kb charging as my default chraging, came a disclaimer particularly for iphones about per kb charging, she took my phone, punched a few keys, sent a text message and said that i was already registered to a time based internet usage.
I asked her, “Di ba Miss ang ginamit ko yung globe tattoo nyo, di ba nakalagay ads nyo P20.00 per hour lang?” She repeated that i was only registered for the time based charge that day and i was still using per kb prior to that. I then asked, “Bakit ngayon lang kayo magbibigay ng disclaimer? When i signed contract with you di ninyo sinabing ganyan ang charging. Add to that, your globe tattoo program did not show that i was being charged per kb? Do you think i would have used my post paid sim kung per kb? Would you yourself use facebook on your laptop and play games if you knew you are going to be charged per kb?
A moment of silence and she told me she will forward my complaint to the billing department for investigation. After a few more minutes of me ranting about the company’s misleading ads and the violation of my right as a consumer to make enlightened choices, I left.
Less than hour after, I gor a call, landline number. Thinking that it was theit billing dept., i answered. Nampucha Collection department na. Naniningil kahit kalahati kasi exceed na ako limit. Quoting myself in verbatim, “TARANTADO! KAKA COMPLAIN KO PA LANG MANININGIL NA KAYO! I kept saying more explitives, na carried away yun pala naibaba na niya telepono.
I tried calling 211 last night to follow up my complaint, still their customer reps were all engaged as of the moment. Early this morning around 5:00 i called 211, still all of them were engaged.
BIG MISTAKE OF GLOBE. I’M TAKING THEM DOWN!!!
Current Status: Drafting my letter-complaints to the DTI, NTC, DOTC and to Senate President Enrile.
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Chad Replies:
January 16th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Hi,
I experienced the same concern with my bill. I am a victim of misinformation as well. Any update on on your complaints?
Thanks
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mel Replies:
January 29th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
i have the same problem, i am kinda techie person but globe is a communication company that also invests in miscommunication, i have been had…let’s bond together and form a group…atty padua you can lead the way…lets bring this to sen. enrile
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Hi, im also a globe G_Plex PLan 800 user.. and it was a BIG BIG MISTAKE EVER!
I’ve been using my sim a month or two, then na disconnect ung line ko for about two months kase nde ko sya binayaran.
After ko ma fixed ung credit ko or balances for the previous month nag request ako na i connect yung line ko, a day after na connected na sya almost 3 days na lang para ma consume ko ung 800 and cut-off date ko na so i think to use the sim with my new Globe tattoo kit , as per advise naman ng agent na binilihan ko pwede ko magamit as postpaid, tinanong ko pa sa kanya ” pwede ko ba gamitin ung postpaid sim ko? and he told me “yes mam” . Wala man lang sya sinabi na may per KB charging…
Ginamit namin yung sim ko sa laptop for about an hour or two, youtube, farmville, tpc at friedster ung na browse namin after a while nainis narin kami ipagpatuloy kase sobrang bagal ng connection.
Then nung morning ginamit ulet ung sim ko , i think wala pang isang oras, kase that was the time na nag prepare na ako para pumasok sa office.
After lunch. may tumawag sakin collection agent nag inform na exceed ko na yung credit limit ko which is 38,000.00.
On my surprise , nagalet ako sa agent kase hindi sila marunong mag inform sa customer about KB charging.
Tumawag ako sa customer service , i think almost 10 times na consistently asking the status ng complain ko but until now isasagot lang sakin is on investigation.
Actually tinawagan na ako ng credit investigation group at nakipag negotiate ako regarding sa billing they promised to bill me Php 3,700.00 more or less but until now , every time na dumarating sakin ung billing ko andun parin ung 38K plus VAT..
Kung alam ko lang at na inform ako about kb charging hindi ko sana ginamit ung sim ko sa globe tattoo.
Sana yung mga customer rep hindi sila nagbibigay ng promises at assurance na hindi naman nila ginagawan ng solusyon.
Hindi naman ako sobrang tanga para gamitin ung sim ko for about two or three hours para lang ma bill ako ng 38K if alam ko ung kb charging.
Nag effort pa naman ako na bayaran ung overdue balances ko, then ganun lang pala yung mangyayari.
Two months hindi nagamit yung line ko pero na ca-charge ako every months , it’s fine with me kase nasa contract naman yun pero if hindi ka naman na inform about sa charging ng globe tattoo hindi naman yata makatarungan yun.
Please send me an email , if may naging successful na sa complain nyo, para malaman ko if worth it pa ba na ipag patuloy ko or permanently i disconnect ko na lang yung line ko.
Thanks for this blog…
My email: nairnej_44@yahoo.com
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