How Celcom upset me!

I went outstation recently and my mobile phone was automatically on international roaming mode. I overused my limit and because the bills ends every 28th of every month I decided to wait until the evening of 28th Aug to make online payment. I borrowed my daughters phone who is on prepaid. However, I paid my bill on the 27th instead- RM314.00 an amount I confirmed with customer service by calling the Care Line. But still continued using my daughters phone until the 28th so I'd have a 00.00 b/f account. After making the payment, I called Celcom to informed them I've made the payment. The customer service asked for the reference and I gave him an 11 digit number with the letter 'x' in between. And he can tell me he does not want the 'x'. I then told him off saying that this is the reference number and if he refuse to accept it and continue to bar my phone, I am complaining. He accepted it immediately. My telephone line was realeased 4 hours a after - 28th August. So I only started to use my phone on the 29th. But my story does not end there.
30th Aug - 8pm, Celcom barred my line again. I didn't know this until I was trying to make an urgent call. I call the so called 'Care Line' and they confirm that my phone is barred as I have not settled my bill. My blood shot high up immediately and request them to check again. I was so furious and upset. The customer service put me on hold and when she returned she confirmed that I owe RM255.65 for August - I then with a harsh voice said that I settled my payment, giving her the history. She then put me on hold again. And when she returned she said I have another oustanding of RM58.35.
I asked her what happened to the RM314 payment I made? If Celcom said that I owe RM255.65 for August- RM255.65 + RM58.35 outstanding, isn't it amounting to the RM314.00 I paid on the 27th August.
Even if I owe RM58.35, my credit limit is RM150.00 - why the hell did Celcom barr my phone line? the customer service said that it is the system that sets it that way and I told her, the system is created by man and can be changed or updated by man. In this case, it should have been updated by the 28th August when I made that call to inform of the payment I made. The customer service could not explained any further but immediately said she will released my phone line. Still furious, I apologized to the customer service that she had received my frustrations on this, told her that this is not the first time Celcom frustrates me and asked her to speak to her management.
Celcom - you may have the widest coverage in Malaysia, but your system and services sucks. You are really taking advantage on users who are perhaps mostly ignorant. I am beginning exercise my choice and rights!

Being friendly and polite goes a long way...

12 years after my first visit, I set foot again in the city of Jhongli, about 1 hour away from the metro city of Taipei. I could not remember if the people are friendly and helpful 12 years back. Perhaps my communication with them was quite limited then as my Mandarin was really half past six. But this time, I really enjoyed my stay, even though it was all the time in the hotel. The staffs are exceptionally extra helpful, friendly and very polite. My Mandarin is still half past six, with a few occasions where I mix Hakka into it. Yet that did not frustrate them or myself to communicate whatever message we need to send across to each other to get the conference preparation in order. There were many times sign language is also included which is so comical. Wouldn't life be so much simpler and pleasant if everyone treats each other the same? Speak politely and try alternative in communicating with each other rather than choose the fast way out? Which in most cases, stop the communication channel and worst, assumptions sets in.
Because of the hotel staff being so polite, I was constantly reminded that I must remember each and everyone of them, their name, so that I can thank them at the end of the conference. I believe if we treat everyone the same way, we will always remember them. And that is the best thing that another person can do for you, remembering you were part of their life for a while - because you were polite and helpful at the time they needed you. Who knows one day you cross each others path again?

It's the legs!

It has been two months now since I started training for a half marathon feat - Borneo International Marathon Oct 2009. The momentum of the training looks good and I always look forward to my long run every Saturday. It is a challenge I have never imagined that I would do while I was in my very younger days and I often wondered why I am doing it now, when the body is older and age is catching up. The long run was always good, with so much personal satisfaction. But it's the legs that always have a mind of it's own. I am trying so hard to have a good relationship with my legs...nurturing it with consumption of healthy food, toning it with the right weight and method, wearing the right shoes. Ah! But the chemical is still not perfect.