Who is to blame?
My sister and I booked flights with Air Asia last night. Because I am not really confident about giving bank account details and the like, I chose to pay through their other payment partners. Since SM City Baguio is so near our house, I decided to pay through the The SM Store which was one of the choices in their list of payment partners.
So this morning, my sister and I went straight to The SM Customer Welfare Desk. That is where I usually pay my online bookings. This time however, it's my first time to pay my booking with Air Asia.
When we reached the counter, my sister handed the printout of our booking details to one of the staff (there were were 2) and she just stared at the paper. After a while, she asked her companion to help her out. Her companion read the document and asked: Ano ito? (what is this?). I told her that it was the booking details sent by Air Asia and I need to pay for our booking to be confirmed. I guess, she was not listening. Or maybe, she did not understand what I said and so she asked: Para saan? (what for?). So I just had to repeat my answer. Then she told me that they are not accepting payments for Air Asia bookings. She probably got the hint with the look on my face so she called their supervisor/manager. After that short talk with the person on the other end of the line, she told me that they are not accepting payments for Air Asia bookings and that she was referring me to a travel agency located on the same floor. It's not my first time to travel and it is not my first time to pay for my bookings so I am not stupid to go to that travel agency knowing that they are not going to process my request anyway! What I did was to show a screen shot of the list of payment partners and asked: So, mali ito? (So, this is wrong?) and she said, Oo (yes). And so I pointed at the signage they have and asked: So, mali rin yan? (So, is that wrong too?) and she said, Hindi (no) but we do not accept payments for Air Asia Bookings. I knew that the conversation is going nowhere and so my sister and I just left.
Just the other day, I was invited to talk about Customer Service and I got a bad one today. Well, it's not my first time to encounter such lousy service at SM. I always do. If only I had other choices for the other services I avail from them...
I wonder, are they not getting any training related to custmer service? Or they do, but they're just so stupid and they do not know how to apply it!
When we reached the counter, my sister handed the printout of our booking details to one of the staff (there were were 2) and she just stared at the paper. After a while, she asked her companion to help her out. Her companion read the document and asked: Ano ito? (what is this?). I told her that it was the booking details sent by Air Asia and I need to pay for our booking to be confirmed. I guess, she was not listening. Or maybe, she did not understand what I said and so she asked: Para saan? (what for?). So I just had to repeat my answer. Then she told me that they are not accepting payments for Air Asia bookings. She probably got the hint with the look on my face so she called their supervisor/manager. After that short talk with the person on the other end of the line, she told me that they are not accepting payments for Air Asia bookings and that she was referring me to a travel agency located on the same floor. It's not my first time to travel and it is not my first time to pay for my bookings so I am not stupid to go to that travel agency knowing that they are not going to process my request anyway! What I did was to show a screen shot of the list of payment partners and asked: So, mali ito? (So, this is wrong?) and she said, Oo (yes). And so I pointed at the signage they have and asked: So, mali rin yan? (So, is that wrong too?) and she said, Hindi (no) but we do not accept payments for Air Asia Bookings. I knew that the conversation is going nowhere and so my sister and I just left.
Just the other day, I was invited to talk about Customer Service and I got a bad one today. Well, it's not my first time to encounter such lousy service at SM. I always do. If only I had other choices for the other services I avail from them...
I wonder, are they not getting any training related to custmer service? Or they do, but they're just so stupid and they do not know how to apply it!
At last! I have my new passport!
I usually renew my passport in October every 5 years. This year, I thought of having my passport renewed earlier. Maybe in time for something in October? *wink* -- I am saving this for another post. I must wait until things are certain. :)
Anyway, I applied for the renewal of my passport last June 4. I was told to be at DFA-Baguio (located at SM City Baguio) as early as possible. Some said I should be there at 8AM, others said 5AM, while someone said I should be there as early as 2AM (of course, I thought this was OA). Okay, so Jason my love, arrived in the area earlier (5AM) than I did (545AM). He did so for me to get into the queue ahead of the others. After more than 3 hours of queuing, numbers were distributed at 9AM. These numbers indicate what time the applicants must be back for the processing of their papers. My processing time was between 12 noon to 1 pm. That means that we have 3 hours to wait. Jason and I took advantage of that time to have extra copies of my documents and have lunch.
And so at around 12 noon, I was already back at SM. This time, I went straight to their office. Jason had to leave for work and so I texted my sister, Ria to come see me.
It took about 65 minutes for the entire process - from lodging of the documents to the last stage which includes encoding of data, picture taking, thumbmarking, and affixing of signature. I was told that I can pick up my passport July 18. Last July 16, I have received a message that said:
Anyway, I applied for the renewal of my passport last June 4. I was told to be at DFA-Baguio (located at SM City Baguio) as early as possible. Some said I should be there at 8AM, others said 5AM, while someone said I should be there as early as 2AM (of course, I thought this was OA). Okay, so Jason my love, arrived in the area earlier (5AM) than I did (545AM). He did so for me to get into the queue ahead of the others. After more than 3 hours of queuing, numbers were distributed at 9AM. These numbers indicate what time the applicants must be back for the processing of their papers. My processing time was between 12 noon to 1 pm. That means that we have 3 hours to wait. Jason and I took advantage of that time to have extra copies of my documents and have lunch.
And so at around 12 noon, I was already back at SM. This time, I went straight to their office. Jason had to leave for work and so I texted my sister, Ria to come see me.
It took about 65 minutes for the entire process - from lodging of the documents to the last stage which includes encoding of data, picture taking, thumbmarking, and affixing of signature. I was told that I can pick up my passport July 18. Last July 16, I have received a message that said:
I waited for their text message but I thought, I might not get one at all. So Jason and I decided to drop by DFA yesterday to check if my passport was already available. In less than 10 minutes, I got my new passport!
First Semester Starts in August... now what?
First semester starts in August. Yes, starting this year, first semester will start in August. Well, not in all schools. Other schools opted to start in June just like how it used to.
I have so many concerns about this change. Since I usually travel during sem breaks, concerns regarding traveling make me feel uneasy. For one, if first semester starts in August, that means it will end in December. I am afraid that I won't be able to travel that much this time since airfares in December can be very pricey. Even hotels can be very expensive at that time of the year. Second semester starts in January and ends in May. Rainy season starts by then. If "summer" term starts in June and ends in July, traveling can also be very difficult at this time of the year. Though airfares can be cheaper at that time, I don't feel comfortable traveling considering all those typhoons and strong rains brought about by the southwest monsoon.
Another concern I have with this change is the fact that most of things I enjoy doing can be best done during October and also in March and April. I am referring to running, hiking, trekking, and swimming. Surfing in December can be fun though.
Is it about time for me to look for a different set of hobbies?
I have so many concerns about this change. Since I usually travel during sem breaks, concerns regarding traveling make me feel uneasy. For one, if first semester starts in August, that means it will end in December. I am afraid that I won't be able to travel that much this time since airfares in December can be very pricey. Even hotels can be very expensive at that time of the year. Second semester starts in January and ends in May. Rainy season starts by then. If "summer" term starts in June and ends in July, traveling can also be very difficult at this time of the year. Though airfares can be cheaper at that time, I don't feel comfortable traveling considering all those typhoons and strong rains brought about by the southwest monsoon.
Another concern I have with this change is the fact that most of things I enjoy doing can be best done during October and also in March and April. I am referring to running, hiking, trekking, and swimming. Surfing in December can be fun though.
Is it about time for me to look for a different set of hobbies?
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