Harassed via text?

Two years ago, I encountered eBay member #1, who bought several Archie comics from my auction. I have been collecting Archie comics for the last 21 years (!) and the Archies I put up for auctions were duplicate copies. And when I see issues that I still don’t have in eBay, I also bid on those.

It so happened that this eBay member also collects Archie comics. When another eBay seller auctioned her Archies, eBay member #1 and I went into a bidding war with me ending up as winner.

I didn’t realize that she took this personally and she even texted me to sell the Archies that I won from the eBay seller. I refused because I was bent on completing my collection. After that, she started harassing me via text, texting me foul words. Because of this, I inquired with SMART on how to deal with harassing texts.

If you’re like me, who experienced it, this is the email I received from SMART. This should also be applicable to those who receive messages from stalkers or any scam artist. Of course, you can always argue that it’s easy to change SIM cards but at least, this is a start.

Dear Pinay and Money,

Thank you for sending us e-mail.

We are sorry to hear that someone has been sending you malicious or offensive messages.

Various types of these messages are being received by our subscribers. SMART has been constantly coordinating with National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to address the problem of malicious, offensive or threatening text messages that have victimized a growing number of SMART subscribers.

If you continually receive such messages, you may personally file a formal complaint to NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) Head Office or any of its Regional Offices through their One-Stop Public Assistance Center. NTC can order us to deactivate the culprit’s line. Please make sure that you were able to save the number and the message of the one who sent you a hoax text message. If important, you may reach NTC at telephone numbers 436-7722, 926-7722 and 925-4651.

The NTC in turn, will send a warning text message to the source. SMART assigned a special number 0919-2999999 for NTC to use when sending out warning messages. In the event that complainant continues to receive these hoax text messages from the same number despite warnings, the NTC may order SMART to deactivate the source of these messages.

We hope to have been of help to you. Feel free to communicate with us again.

Sincerely,

Customer Care

Side Topic: Kim Chiu’s Happiness

Have you guys seen the newest TV commercial of Enervon featuring teen star Kim Chiu? It’s such a cute TVC. In the first few frames, you’ll see Kim Chiu sliding down the floor. In the succeeding frames, you’ll realize that Kim Chiu makes use of this sliding when she sees a one-day sale. Sliding through as the door accordion goes up, she becomes the first person to buy a nice pair of shoes.

This TVC is the cutest I’ve seen in years as Kim Chiu shows a very sincere and enthusiastic emotion after getting that nice pair of shoes. The TVC ends with Kim Chiu feeling giddy about her new purchase and shouting “HAPPINESS!!” . Here’s the TVC for your viewing pleasure:

Read The Difference by Jean Chatzky

Jean Chatzky is one of those financial experts that I truly understand. I’ve read her book “Make Money, Not Excuses” and the concepts and ideas she presented there are very easy to comprehend, especially if you’re not well-versed in personal finance. She’s not as great as Suze Orman but she makes a lot of sense.

Now, with her new book “The Difference,” Jean Chatzky talks about how you can really start from nothing and become secure financially. From many years of research, Chatzky gives the lowdown on what’s the difference between you and Warren Buffett, you and your successful next-door neighbor, or you and your boss. In this book, she uncovers the secret of the self-made wealthy.

Leave a message in the comment box for questions about the book.

How to keep track of your expenses

This is probably one of the hardest things to do when it come to managing your money—to keep track of your expenses. In all the personal finance books that I’ve read, tracking your expenses is a basic requirement if you want to achieve financial freedom.

But how do you know your expenses? With all the small purchases that you make everyday, is there an easy way to keep track or at least give you some semblance of accuracy to determine how much you really spend?

This Expense Sheet was developed by Suze Orman (download here). I tweaked the design a bit to fit the expenses of most Filipinos. At the end of the Expense Sheet, you will see if you operate on a surplus (you have extra money left) or on a deficit (you spend more than you earn).

Side Topic: Earth Hour 2009

Join the world as we celebrate Earth Hour 2009 on March 28, 2009, Saturday. Spearheaded by World Wildlife Fund, everyone is invited to switch off for one hour (from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM) to conserve energy. More than 60 countries will join the movement.

This year’s event also expects more than one billion people participating. I personally hope that more Filipinos will join this year.

Visa urges spending

A recent press release in Philippine Star bannered “Visa urges spending.” In the press release, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines Bob Jouber said that spending wisely means using plastic or electronic money rather than cash or checks.

Joubert also encouraged the public to spend their money not the bank’s money. “People now should use their money rather than the bank’s money through debit cards,” he said.

Now, there’s the catch! Visa is not saying that people should pay in cash but rather use debit cards. For those who are not familiar, a debit card is an alternative way of purchasing. The funds are withdrawn directly from your bank account. So if you have PhP1,000 in your account and you swipe your debit card to pay for that Starbucks coffee, the payment is deducted from that PhP1,000.

So why is Visa urging people to spend? In a nutshell, spending helps the economy grow. In a simplified explanation, if you spend and pay for, let’s say, a pair of shoes, the shoe manufacturer will be able to give salaries to its employees. The employees then would be able to buy food from the grocery. The grocery owner then would be able to pay his suppliers and so forth and so on. Spending money, especially in tough times, is a good thing because it keeps the money flowing from one person to another.

I do agree that people should still spend, even in tough economic times. I also agree that people should stop using their credit cards and pay in cash. But I don’t agree in using your debit card to purchase items.

Why not? Because paying in debit card gives you the impression that you’re using a credit card. It gives you that amazing feeling of being able to afford anything. If you don’t take control of yourself, you will be strongly tempted to just swipe, swipe and swipe that plastic. And then it would be too late to realize that all the money you have in your account is gone!

But when you pay in cash, having those pieces of paper in your hand gives you the impression that it can disappear anytime. You will dilly-dally and think hard before you part ways with your cash.

If you want to spend, go ahead and spend. But always make sure that you use cash for every purchase you make. If you need to swipe any plastic (be it debit or credit card), you can’t afford it.

Planters Bank issues a retraction

Two days ago, I posted a Planters Bank advertisement published in the March 9, 2009 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (see story). In the said advertisement, Planters Bank is promoting a 7% interest for Premium 5, its five-year time deposit.

Posting this information at Pinoy Money Talk, PMT member tokzz called up Planters Bank to verify if the interest rate still holds. Here’s what tokzz posted in PMT:

I called Planters Bank and they said na mali daw yung 7% sa Inquirer. That offer ended last February pa daw. Yung five-year is only 6.25%, monthly interest out. Yung one-year term naman is 5.75%…still better than other commercial or thirft bank offer.

I would like to thank tokzz for verifying this with Planters Bank. Admittedly, 6.25% interest rate is still a very good deal. But whoever is in charge of advertising in Planters Bank, please do your job effectively by making sure that what you advertise in the newspapers is real.