During Globe's 3G internet infancy, they introduced two charging schemes - kb and time charging. Kb is the default, which costs PHP0.15 per kilobyte. Time charging on the other hand costs PHP5.00 per 15 minutes. I switched to time-based charging of course. I always text TIME to 1111 before I go online just to make sure I will be charged PHP5 for 15 minutes. When the bill came, I was shocked to see a PHP17k bill. What happened to my PHP1.5k credit limit? What happened to the time based charging I subscribed to?
To call their hotline and ask for reasons why I'm being charged that much is such a painstaking ordeal. They cannot tell why I am charged per kb even though I'm on time-based charging. They told me they will escalate it to their technical department blah blah blah. After days of waiting, I didn't hear from them so I had to follow up. After calling them again, they still don't have updates blah blah blah.
Two weeks has passed and I decided to go to a Globe business center. The Globe personnel said the same thing that I'm on time-based charging blah blah. They will escalate it to blah blah. I forgot what happened next but I remember Globe reversing the charges.
The following month, my bill is still in the thousands! I went back to the same business center and talked to the same staff. Luckily the guy remembered me. I told him I'm not stupid to switch to kb charging. Why did they introduce this stupid kb charging to begin with? To scam customers? Everything has been sorted out miraculously after a days. The charges were reversed and I'm finally charged PHP5 for 15 minutes!
Fast forward to 2016, my internet usage suddenly got charged per MB!!! This effin charging scheme is PHP2 per mb (a reincarnate of PHP0.15 per kb). My phone plan is still the old plan and I'm not subscribed to any internet promos. Based on their website:
"If you're not subscribed to any Globe surfing promo, you will be charged P5 for 15 minutes. For a cheaper and worry-free browsing experience, Globe encourages you to subscribe to our surfing promos. Please click here to find the best surfing promo for you."
This is like 2011 again. Globe said I made a request to change to mb charging. But I didn't do anything! Then I remembered I requested for a SIM replacement. They must have changed it during that time. Sneaky paniki! But I also changed SIM card back in 2012 and it didn't affect the charging scheme. I had a hunch that something wrong will happen so I sent TIME to 1111. I'm not sure if the keyword is still valid but sent it anyway just to make sure that I'm on time-based charging.
After talking to Globe, they said I'm on both mb and time charging. How the fuck is that even possible? They won't even reverse the charges. Thank you Globe for not charging me more. You should have charged me additional 5 pesos per 15 minutes usage since my charging scheme is both mb and time.
I think I'm cursed. I'm so unlucky with our telcos. Or maybe they just really suck? Life is so miserable when these telcos are the only ones available. Don't make me start with PLDT. They deserve another blog entry.
FML.
Till my next bill!
Till my next bill!
