No more globe, no more land

I bid farewell to my home Globe landline + internet. It's useless. No voice call service for 3 weeks. Then I got Globe Duo (a cellphone + "landline" hybrid) and I got Globe Tattoo and Smartbro plug-it prepaid. And I'm not staying at home as much as I did the previous months. So bye bye (un)fixed line. The prepaid internet kits + Globe Duo sort of cover what the landline service gives me. I wont be surprised if subscription to that Globe Duo service picks up. It directly competes with the fixed landline service.

Globe Duo + Nokia 2600 Classic Plan 500

I am trying out the Globe's new bundle service, the Duo "Landline" now for our activitee.

What is Globe Duo? Ill copy & paste in full...

DUO allows you Unlimited Calling to and from any landline number as well as Unlimited Calling to and from any DUO postpaid mobile subscriber!

With DUO's Unlimited Calling, you can:

• Gossip with friends about the hottest events!
• Call far-away family and friends without worrying about the length of the call!
• Collaborate with business partners to efficiently coordinate a project!
• Chat with your special someone for as long as you want!

Because we need another dedicated mobile phone for Leoque Furnitures, we signed up & got, yet again, another mobile phone. We subscribed to a Globe Telecom plan 500, the cheapest postpaid plan. It has a free handset, Nokia 2600 Classic. BTW, activate a Duo "landline" number, a postpaid mobile account is needed.

I am not pimpin Globe, but here are other info...

How it Works

1. Subscription to DUO Service is P399.00/30days on top of a Globe Plan.
2. Once you are subscribed to Duo, you will be given your Duo Landline number. Now, your mobile phone and SIM will have two (2) numbers: your current mobile number (i.e. 0917-XXX-XXXX) and your Duo Landline number (i.e. 02-XXX-XXXX).
3. Upon activation, the following calls are rendered free of charge: DUO to any Landline calls, any Landline to DUO calls, and DUO to DUO calls. Calls made to other mobile numbers are charged regular mobile rates.
4. Everytime you call, no need for a keyword or special prefix:
   1. To call any landline just dial the area code and the landline number
   2. To call another DUO number just dial the area code and the DUO number of the person you are calling
   3. For any landline to call you, a person will just dial your DUO landline number
5. Service is initially available in NCR and Cebu only. All other calls outside the area code (02 for NCR or 32 for Cebu) will be charged regular mobile NDD rates.

How to Avail

1. Promo is open to all Globe Postpaid subscribers.
2. Subscriber can avail of the service through the Business Centers or Register via SMS (with required SMS acceptance of Terms and Conditions). Simply text DUOINFO to 8888.
3. There will be an initial 90-day holding period for new activations, subject to pre-termination fee of P1,200.00.
4. You can only avail of one (1) active DUO landline number for every active Globe line, at any one time.
5. After the holding period, subscription is auto-renewed on a monthly basis unless otherwise requested by the subscriber.
6. In cases of fraud, Globe reserves the right to discontinue the DUO service, and any of the subscriptions. DUO is not available for International Service Resale.
7. Duo is currently not available for prepaid or corporate accounts.

So far, our new mobile phone & new duo "landline" is only 2 days old. On our own test, we got ok results. A call to and from the the Duo of Nokia 2600 Classic handset are all getting by. In the coming days/weeks, we'll see if the Landline Duo can handle volume calls any given day.

Globe Stationed On Pluto

I sent my customer complaint last June 28th and the customer service got back to me today (July 30) via email.

Yep, that's a little over a month.

Calculating the speed of internet data transfer over fiber optic cable and satellite relay of data, I am estimating that Globe's customer service division is stationed on planet Pluto. Wait, Pluto aint planet now?

And she wrote...

Good day.

We apologize for the delay in our response due to the significant increase in our email messages. We regret the negative impression you have gained from your recent bundled broadband application thru our agent. Our agent has proactively processed your landline service while the internet was not readily available. It is regrettable that this was not an acceptable option on your part. We've gathered however, that your account has been reclassified to the correct plan on July 9. With this, we shall ensure that bill charges prior to the said dates shall be adjusted accordingly.

On the other hand, we are looking into the unnecessary calls you have received. Proper attention on this matter has been requested from our Sales Support team. We are ensuring that they look into process flaws which have led to the complication of your application under the Broadband plan. Again, our sincere apologies for the stressful experience these incidents may have caused you. We look forward to the chance of redeeming your trust and the chance of continued service.

Best regards.

Stressing indeed.

To all other Globe subscribers being shortchange by them, mail 'em. Email ad is customercare@innove.com.ph. Just don't flood them. Doing so, lalo lang malilito si Customer Service Agent 007.

Global Headache

Bad and good, I'll blog.

After almost 2 and half months of clocking 140/90 BPs, I finally have the much needed... hard 2 get... pain in the ass 2 follow-up... Globe Telecom - Innove Communications broadband. I got the 995 plan, a landline PLUS the 384 kbps rated broadband. 384 to me is just right, coz I'm more of UPLOAD guy than a DOWNLOAD guy.

Contrary to the Globe advertisements of easy installation and eskinol clear cut of doing things, I had a hard time getting this connection. Today, I am so happy It's done, I could forgive all the useless agents I've dealt with. A bunch of gay agents included. I forgive you all. In return, forgive me for saying these words, "tanga ang TPA nyo" "This is shit!" PEACE

How tough was it to score a ONE SIMPLE 995 Globe Telecom broadband, landline bundle? This tough... (excerpt fro a letter directed to Globe - Innove, sent to them by me, gazillion times)

I can no longer track and review every single detail my problem with Innove's handling of my subscription but I will try to. In bullets…

• Via TPA (third party agents), early May, I applied for bundle landline and broadband for home use. My filled up docs were for BROADBAND and Landline.
• Your TPA says, they will install first the landline, in 3 to 5 days, broadband will follow. I said, it's better to wait for that than have a cranky Smartbro connection.
• A week later, still no broadband. After more than 5 calls (separate days) to your customer care group that clearly lacks syncing (as I need to tell the history of my problem every call I make), I was informed that there's an error in my application. Application says, I only applied for landline. Globe error or TPA error right there. Please check the hard copy docs, I applied and signed an application with bundled broadband.
• Weeks and weeks later I am still waiting for the broadband, which, as I was told during the time the TPA is selling the package, 3 to 5 days. A couple of follow ups later to your support group, no development still.
• Worse, I am receiving a lot of wrong number calls, calls looking for someone else. It seems, my designated number is fresh from disconnection or I don't know, a lot of wrong calls are coming in.
• Worst, I just received 2 months worth billing for a landline that I didn't need that much. My application was mainly to get a broadband, secondary is, the landline.
• Even worse than worst, I am getting calls from CEBU Globelines agents who are offering me other packages and promos, where in fact, just a simple 995 plan installation, Innove/Globe cant get it over with.
• And just 2 days ago, your trusted TPA in the middle of the street, came back to my office and again asked for another photocopy of my licenses. I asked for what, he said for back-up filing. Clearly, it looks like the Broadband part is just being processed at that time.
• Here's the clincher, another phone call form CEBU Globelines, a certain &$#^***, called, and says internet port or "reservation" is now ready for my line. I said well and good. Finally!
• But then, she brought the topic, if there are pending bills, it might not be installed to my line. She said it's their SOP. SHE SAYS, SHE MAY HAVE TO RESERVE THE PORT TO OTHER SUBSCRIBER IF I CAN'T PAY THE BILL. Yes, SOP, but the thing is, as a Globe agent, she should know the history and not just give threats of non-installation. She should know that the ERROR is by INNOVE people, or at least your third part agents. Am I to pay for the Globe error?
• She should at least listen and get the history. She wants me to pay right now, with me, having NO ASSURANCE of really?... a broadband will be installed. I got no problem paying for and suffer from a Globe error, but PLEASE, show to me, that you can install the broadband. Threat by this &$#^*** of redirection of reservation is unwarranted. And by the way, as I was asking for Ms. &$#^*** details, her position, department, etc., so I can clearly state the history in case I file complaint and the history. She said, I am sorry sir, SHE HANGED UP on a subscriber. Already being shortchanged, an agent hangs up. That is not acceptable. In no way I am cursing her, I just want to get her info for the record. Train her please.
• Suffice it to say, I DO NOT TRUST your system anymore. Just too many people I am talking to with no coordination at all. The TPA, the 919888 agents, the CEBU based agents. Sigh. There is NO REASON to pay an erroneous installation (admitted by Innove crew) without 100% assurance that the broadband will be installed.
• My new experience with Globe/Innove is far from the advertisements that Globe says it can deliver. And, defintely far from what I am expecting. I have been a loyal Globe subscriber. Please look into this.

Globe Telecom Loyalty Rebates

Went to a Globe Telecom Center earlier today to see if I can re-up my contract with them (postpaid globe mobile subscription) and possibly get a free unit. Turns out, I got a better deal, I was told I am qualified to get a P416 monthly cash rebate. I'm subscribed to the 800 flex plan of Globe, therefore, I'll only be paying 380 pesos or so for the next 2 years. Had I switched to plan 1200, I'll have rebate of P600. But I got extra phone that I am using (loaded via prepaid cards), so I don't need to go P1200 plan. All biz matters, I use the prepaid line. For personal-friends-family calls/txt, I use the post paid. So there you go, onto the next 24 months of 380 billings (assuming I will not go over the 800 peso credits). It literally pays to be loyal sometimes.