BDO

There was a glitch in some credit card transactions using BPI (and Citibank, HSBC) credit cards on BDO credit card terminals between August 16-18.

The BDO credit card terminals debitted dollar amounts by mistake instead of the peso amount.

BDO and BPI were quick to make the correction.

Today, I received the email below describing the results of their quick recovery action.

From bpiexpresscredit@bpi.com.ph
date Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 10:16 AM
subject IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: YOUR TRANSACTIONS DATED AUG 16 – 18, 2008

To all BPI Express Credit cardholders:

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: YOUR TRANSACTIONS DATED AUG 16 – 18, 2008

This is to inform you that your peso transactions that were swiped on BDO credit card terminals from August 16 to 18, 2008 were erroneously transmitted by BDO to our office in US dollar currency. A purchase transaction of P1,000 swiped on a BDO terminal, for example, was posted on your card as a US$1,000 purchase (approximately P45,000). This was an error that affected all MasterCard cards (e.g. BPI, Citibank, HSBC) with transactions that were swiped on BDO terminals on the dates mentioned.

Note that corrections were posted on Aug 20, 2008 based on a reversal file sent by BDO. Additional adjustments were made on Aug 21, 2008 to further correct the difference brought about by foreign exchange rate movements.

I would venture to say that BDO (and BPI?) probably spent a significant amount to cover for the foreign exchange movements. This is to ensure that their customers had their balances restored to the correct value.

The announcement just brings awareness that big banks like BDO and BPI still do have small windows of error.

We all have errors.

What’s important is taking responsibility for it, and taking corrective action as early as possible to reduce any negative impacts.

And to learn the lesson so that the mistake does not recur in the future.

ka edong

PayPal

I described my PayPal dilemma last April. I got things resolved tonight! Wahoo! I expect to get my money via Paypal in the next 24-48 hours. Yey!

So let me describe what my scenario.

I have two Paypal Accounts.

Account A: Based in Canada, created in 2003. Cannot verify the account because I don’t have any Canada bank accounts, credit cards that show the same Canada address. The reason I created that Canada account was: back in 2003, we didn’t have a full Paypal service in the Philippines. I experimented with asking a friend to open a canada bank account that I could use with the paypal account.

Account B: based in the Philippines, created in 2008. Fully verified. Full-service. Personal account.

I received money on Account A. Problem is, I couldn’t access it as it was an un-verified paypal account. I couldn’t withdraw it. I couldn’t transfer the funds. I couldn’t use the money to make purchases online.

I tried getting help online. But I couldn’t even file an online trouble ticket through the unverified account.

Finally tonight, I used Skype to call the Paypal customer service hotline.

Hours of service:
4:00 AM PST to 10:00 PM PST Monday through Friday
6:00 AM PST to 8:00 PM PST Saturday and Sunday

For questions about your Paypal account, please call:
+1-402-935-2050 (a U.S. telephone number)

First guy who answered was obviously Pinoy. I can tell by his voice, tone, diction. I always wear a smile especially when Pinoys answer customer hotlines. Second guy (American) verified my identity and account then gathered info on my concern.

The third guy, Seth, (American … or at least he sounded very much like one) understood completely what I needed from him. He guided me calmly and expertly along the double-verification of my identity and my ownership of the accounts.

After verifying, he filed a request to transfer all the funds from my un-verified account A to my verified account B. Yey! I expect to get that money within 48 hours.

The second transaction was to be able to use my unverified account. Seth handled that too. He dropped my first account. Then guided me on how to add my first email address (a very active one) into the same paypal account as my account B.

Now all my accounts are all neat and in a tidy row. I have a few hundred coming my way. And I’ll sleep soundly tonight. Ah, we’re more steps closer to our money goal. Yey!

To Hans, Brad and Seth, you did a good job!

Tech Tip: Here’s a tip on how to spot a fake paypal email message (phishing). Phishing emails address you by “Dear user” or “Dear subscriber” or other generic titles. Paypal always spells out your full name in their official emails. I learned that tip from a recording while waiting online for Seth to answer.

ka edong
ka paypal

I was at Bolinao (see Bolinao photos here) last year. When it was time to pay, we couldn’t use our credit cards because the resort didn’t have a credit card terminal, sometimes known as a Point of Sale Machine, Credit Card swiper or in jologs terms, “kaskas”.

The cashier explained that they had just recently received their telephone line (a wireless phone) and that their application for the credit card POS was still pending.

I was thinking those wireless POS machines could come in handy in a place like this where phone lines and internet infrastructure isn’t as solid as in the main cities.

I had seen a wireless POS terminal at a Canada restaurant. But that one was wirelessly “connected” to its home-base within the restaurant.

Here is a wireless Credit Card POS used by PSI to collect seminar investments.

This one connects wirelessly via the GSM network, I’m told. It accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express and JCB. It’s a machine administered by BDO and Equitable-PCI bank.

There’s a little charge (around 10%) that goes to the bank to process the payments. But for the convenience of the merchant, it’s worth it.

It’s a lot better than having a collection of POS machines for each bank or each credit card type, just like they used to have in some malls. Here’s what they have in Makati Med emergency room, a collection of POS machines:

ka edong
strike a POS, there’s nothing to it

Yey! I did my first PayPal Purchase today. Yeah yeah, call me a late-bloomer. I’ve been using direct credit card purchases for the past 5 or so years and it’s only now that I activated my Philippine PayPal account.

Today, I bought some tickets to Avenue Q through Anton’s website.
Natuwa naman ako! I’m happy how Anton has turned his blog hobby into a profitable business . Maka-kuha nga ng tips from Anton.

But you know what, I’m still at a loss how to recover almost $200 dollars in my Canada-based PayPal account.
Here’s the story about how I have $200 that I couldn’t access: My First PayPal Transaction

In the meantime, visit Anton’s blog and Check out:  5 Reasons Why You Should Not Miss the Opening Night
of Avenue Q’s Final Run! (http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2008/04/avenue-q-final.html)

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Avenue Q …. sandali, di ba Q Ave yun?

BPI Recently launched Cardless Transactions! Now, anybody can make ATM deposits to any BPI account through selected BPI ATMs even without the ATM. The same goes with bills payment.

BPI Express Teller Cardless Deposit / Bills Payment

Now you don’t have to rush to a BPI branch or spend your time waiting in line.

Because you can do Cardless Deposit / Bills Payment through any of over 400 Express Teller Machines nationwide – 24/7!

It’s so Easy! Just go to a BPI Express Teller machine with the “Cardless” sign.

Available Deposit: Current Account, Savings Account, ECash

Available Bills Payments:

• BPI Credit card
• BPI Family Bank Loan
• BPI MS
• Globe Telecoms
• Manila Water
• Destiny Cable
• Smart
• Manulife Financial
• Manulife Insurance
• Digitel
• Ayala Life
• Ayala Plans

This is a good service! It’s a new way of receiving deposits. For example, eBay.ph merchants can receive their payments via BPI ATM — their buyers don’t need to do over-the-counter deposits. (Although G-Cash is the more popular and defunct payment method).

The obvious plus side of this service is the convenience of being able to make payments at more than 400 ATMs around the Philippines (anytime!). The lines are shorter than having to wait for over-the-counter transactions.

The downside, though, is the delay before the deposit or payment is reflected. Payments will be recorded on the next banking day when the bank officers open up the ATM. There’s an alternative real-time deposit facility — but that one needs the ATM card. That’s another article.
Last week, I did a cardless deposit of P100 just to try out the service. The transaction starts with pressing Enter (I discovered this by trial-and-error).

I later encountered “transaction cancelled” twice. Ah, user problem! I was keying-in the amount instead of what the machine was asking for: the account number. Just read the instructions on the screen and you should be fine. A good addition, by the way, is that the machine asks for your contact number – so that the bank can contact you in case there’s a concern with your deposit.
For inquiries, Contact BPI Express Phone at 89-100 or log on to www.bpiexpressonline.com.

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BPInoy ako!

I created my first PayPal account back in 2003 at a time when PayPal was not available for the Philippines. I created the account as I was tinkering with an online remittance solution for the common Filipino.

I did a work-around at that time and used my friend’s Canada postal address as a “home” address. Then was planning to register my friend’s credit card or bank account to complete the account validation. I didn’t get far.

A few days ago, a blogger friend Abe told me I had some money with him. And that he could send it to me right away through PayPal. So I hagilap-ed (whatta word!) my old PayPal emails and found my old account from back in 2003. Then got Abe to send me money.

My money was in my PayPal account with the clicks of a few mouse-buttons. Saya!

I tried to convert the 2003 account into a Philippine account now that we had the full PayPal service available for the Philippines. But, it isn’t allowed. If a PayPal user moves countries, he’ll need to close the old account and create a new account.

Shucks. Oh well no worries. I opened a 2008 account and will transfer the entire amount from the 2003 account to the 2008 account. ….

As soon as I figure out how to do that! hahahhaa!

 ka edong
PayPal newbie

This is about paypass. Paypass is a payment system where the credit card does not need to be swiped it just needs to be tapped on a device.

I’m in SM Mall of Asia came from Shapes and I happen to see one of the terminal of paypass. I spoke to the cashier [the  usual technology usyosero that I am] and I was a lucky guy today because when I asked the cashier kung ilang beses na ginamit ung paypass, she told me it’s the first time they used it today, just today…kanina lang daw.

They’ve had the terminal for three months and it’s their first time to transact paypass payment today. The cashier also shares that in FrenchBaker, there’s a stall below them-Frenchbaker, paypass is used often. Madali lang daw magbayad ng paypass especially when FrenchBaker is in 50% off during the evening so it’s convenient for French Baker to use paypass.

That’s the latest about paypass in SM Mall of Asia.

Edwin signing off.

EdXcribe
20 September 2007

Ah, the zen of selling on eBay! I’m far from it.

Just posted my first item on eBay.ph .
It’s a Creative Zen Micro 5Gb Brand new MP3 Player with starting bid of Php3,999 only! Very affordable!
http://www.ebay.ph/viItem?ItemId=290157473655

Made some comparisons. This guy over at Sulit.com.ph is selling his second-hand, 1-year used unit for Php6,000.
Mine’s a better buy, a much better buy!

Come over, take a look and bid!

Notice the earphone jack on some ATMs?

I was suspicious first time I saw them. Thought they were being used for an ATM scam. I was told by a banker that all BPI ATMs in Quezon City had these earphone jacks. Quezon City mandated it daw.

One time I was in Serendra, about to withdraw from a BPI ATM. I happened to be listening to my MP4 player. So I decided to try out the earphone port. I plugged in my earphones and was expecting a voice prompt (like the ones in noisy Metrobank ATMs) saying “Please enter your PIN”.

Nothing of that sort. There wasn’t any audio through the earphone jack.

So what is it? It’s (so far) a useless earphone jack installed on ATMs to comply to a memorandum. Maybe later on (in a century or so) they’ll start using it for better access to ATMs for the blind. Maybe

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sick

I got pissed when I saw my last HSBC Bill.

There was a Mabuhay Miles membership fee of P500. What the?! The miles for every credit card purchase — this should be a free add-on, and that was precisely the reason I got an HSBC mabuhay miles card. But they charge a fee, so what’s the point in keeping the card?

I was also charged an annual fee for a secondary card that was NEVER activated. In fact, I specifically asked HSBC to permanently terminate that secondary card.

So I just killed my HSBC card. It saves me the trouble, simplifies my life. I will no longer have to go through so many password entries (there was a recent security upgrade again that required me to login a couple more times).

Buti nalang it’s at least been almost hassle-free terminating my account with the help of a manager named Jackie.

ka edong