Thursday, June 26, 2014

Nightmare Service

I opened an online banking account with Maybank on tuesday. I thought everything was going well, and I went home happily with my new debit card. But then something horrible happened. I thought it was just a small issue that can be solved easily. But no! It took two days and many calls to solve this issue. Guess what happened?

They didn't record my mobile number down.

And because of this, I wasn't able to access my online banking! I could activate it but I can't access it because I don't have the security token, neither was I able to receive the SMS OTP. Then I called their customer service to ask them to record my mobile number down and use SMS as my 2FA.

Tuesday
First call: I don't know her name. But it was a female who picked up. Not super helpful, but still alright. Acceptable service. She helped me request for a security token and did not help me set SMS as my 2FA. Confused me a lot.

Second call: Very good service. Her name's May, I believe. It might not be spelled that way, but it's pronounced that way. She helped me by leading me to the eServices form, and told me what to do.

So I filled up the eServices form, and I put it in an envelope, and everything. I was about to leave the house to send it out when my mother received a call from the person that helped us open the account. Nicole. She asked us to go down to the branch to settle everything.

Wednesday
So we did, on wednesday. We went there, gave out mobile number, asked her to set my mode of 2FA as SMS, and we left, thinking everything was done.

I went home, I tried to login, but I can't. It gave me the message:


Dear Customer


You have not activated your New Security Token. Please click here to activate it now.

Click here to know more about the New Security Token.

So I thought, maybe she have not sent my form in yet, maybe I need to wait 1 more day.

Thursday
So on thursday, my mother asked me about my online banking and told me to try signing in. And I did. It gave me the same message again. So I called their customer service line.

Third call: Horrible! Her name is Vicky/Vivi (something like that). She wasn't very clear. She talked really fast, didn't listen to me and just went on and on. She didn't even bother listening to my full story and just assumed what I wanted. So I never got a chance to explain myself. I told her I wanted to use SMS as my 2FA, know what she told me? She said that I've already activated my account, so the SMS OTP is of no use to me. Like what? You mean I don't have to sign in anymore? She said I can only use the security token to sign in, not SMS. The SMS OTP is only used to help me activate my account.

After the call ended, I went online to search, to understand more about this SMS OTP and whether Maybank's one works the same way as DBS/POSB's. And it does! This is what it says on the website:

  1. If I have selected SMS as my mode of 2FA, when can I start using it?

    Upon registration, you will receive an SMS sent to your registered mobile phone number as a confirmation. Thereafter, you may login to Maybank2u.com.sg any time and the One-Time Password (OTP) will be sent via SMS automatically for login.
    For sensitive online transactions like 3rd party Funds Transfer, the OTP will be sent via SMS upon request.
  2. How does the 2FA SMS work?

    Every time you login to Maybank2u.com.sg as well as when you perform certain sensitive online transactions, you will receive an OTP sent via SMS to your registered mobile phone number automatically or as requested.
    The login process for 2FA SMS users is as follows:
    • Enter your Username and Password
    • You will be prompted to enter an OTP to complete the login process. Simply wait for the OTP to be sent via SMS to your registered mobile phone number. Once you receive it, enter the OTP and click "Confirm" to proceed.

So, doesn't that mean that I need the SMS 2FA to login EVERYTIME? I really don't understand why that lady on the line said that to me.

So I called again.

Fourth call: His name is Dillion/Dylan (don't know how to spell, but pronounced that way). He was really nice. He listened to me explain the whole story, and told me that he can help me reset my account, so that I can just use 'First Time Login' all over again. He explained the whole process to me, gave me correct instructions. He told me that I just need to login 30 minutes later and it should be fine.

BUT IT WASN'T!!!!!

I don't really think it was his fault, I think he just forgot to set my mode of 2FA as SMS? Because when he was explaining the process to me, he did mention that I was supposed to receive the 8 digit code to login via SMS. But I didn't.

So I called again.

Fifth call: This lady's name is Jonalyn. (definitely spelled this way, because my mother asked her for the spelling) She was really nice. When I called in, I asked for Dillion/Dylan. But he was out for lunch. So this poor lady had to help to fix the problem that the previous staff caused. She was really nice, she listened to my whole story and told me that she would call Choa Chu Kang Branch to ask if they have already sent in the form to set my mode of 2FA as SMS etc etc. And that she would call me back as soon as possible once she found out what is going on. And she did call me back around dinner time.

My father was around when I picked up her call and he asked me turn on loud speaker. He heard the whole conversation and told Jonalyn to get everything done by Monday so that I can use online banking as soon as possible.

I don't know if it will be solved soon. I hope so, otherwise I might just cancel the account because honestly? The interest rate isn't as attractive as it was anymore, now that I've been exposed to their nightmare service. 

Sigh. I never knew opening an online banking account can be so difficult. It wasn't that difficult with POSB, I just applied for online banking by filling up the form online and just sent it in (it was an eform, I didn't even have to print it out or send it via post). Then the token was delivered within 2-3 days.

Why can't Maybank provide that kind of service too? There's a chinese saying, 一分钱,一分货. I guess it is true. If I want them to give me a higher interest, I have to accept their horrible nightmare service. If I want good service, I need to compromise by accepting lower interest rates.

I think I prefer good service, because that would mean that everything would be more efficient. Who knows, it might take 10,000 years just to transfer $5 to another account using my Maybank account.

I know, I know, I am exaggerating. I just want to show how ridiculous everything is. Anyway, I will update when the issue is solved or if I decided to close my account.

P.S. I refuse to pay the penalty fee if I want to close my account. They have no right to ask for a penalty fee if they can't even provide good basic service. Hmph.

Update:
The lady, Jonalyn, has helped me settle this issue.. Thank God! I received the token that was sent to me via registered mail today (27 June) and also received an SMS from Maybank telling me that I am now able to login to the online banking using SMS. Yeah! I have also tried login in and it works!

:D

Monday, June 16, 2014

Bell Pepper, Tomato and Cucumber Plants & Garden updates!


My side of the garden

Hello! I'm back here with an update on my garden! As you can see from the picture above, that's my side of the garden at my dad's office..

I went to my dad's office today to plant two different types of cucumbers and two types of bell peppers - yellow and red/green.. I also moved the tomatoes into the white tray.. It fit about 16 seedlings.. Hopefully I don't have to shift them anymore. But I read up some where that I'm supposed to leave at least 1.5ft between each one, oops!

The tomato seedlings in a tray.

Tomato Seedlings

I even moved one of the seedlings over to this beautiful pot that I bought from daiso.. It's cheap, but it has a very clean and modern look.. As you can see in the picture below, I added some compost..

Solo tomato seedling with compost around it

I planted some bell peppers in some recycled bottles and  containers..

Bell Peppers Day 1!

I told my dad to help me label while I was gardening cause his hands are clean.. I told him, "Label the bell peppers one as BP". And I only realised afterwards that he misheard me.. Haha look what he wrote!


Here are the other cucumbers that I planted...

Cucumber (short)

Long Cucumber

Remember that cucumber plant from weeks ago? We moved it to a bigger pot and it has been growing really well! I'm really excited.. Although I'm really sad cause I just found out that cucumbers are pollinated by bees and I really hate bees...

Cucumber Plant
It's really interesting how the leaves have different shapes.. And the crumpled leave actually developed before the butterfly-like leave, but it didn't open.. Weird..

My roses bloomed too! Look:


Sorry I was too lazy to crop/edit any of the photos :(

That's all for today!

Anddddd... I updated my nail tumblr a few days ago and tried to take some pictures with my DSLR.. I don't know why I never thought of this earlier, but anyway, the pictures look awesome! Although I had a hard time trying to balance the camera with one hand and posing with the nail polish bottle with my other hand.. HAHAHAH I had so much fun adjusting the settings..

Ok bye!

Monday, June 9, 2014

My rose plant at home

I bought a pot of rose plant from a local garden sometime back.. After all the flowers died, there was no more flowers anymore, and there seemed to be no new ones growing :(

I was so scared my rose plant was gonna die. So one day, i thought, why not just trim my rose plant? Make it look nicer, and have a shape.. I mean, if it dies then so be it, there are no flowers anyway..

So I trimed it. And guess what?

It grew flowers!!! Like a few weeks later :D< Look:




The camera couldn't focus so i had to use my ugly and rough hands to help it focus.. It's still quite blur though :(

Ok, bye!

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Blogging again

I say this all the time, but I'm really going to try this time.

I'm going to try to get back to blogging. I didn't blog for practically the entire year and I feel like I've lost a part of myself. My blog used to be where I expressed my thoughts and feelings without caring about what others think, so that I don't have to keep everything bottled up inside.

But after some time, I realized I was blogging for others and began to lose interest in blogging. Then everything went weird. I wasn't myself anymore. I became nicer and happier but honestly? I prefer being alone and emo sometimes. I really missed it when all I had to do was be myself.

A lot of things happened these two years. I became the Vice-Chairperson of my CCA (SmartsMedia Club) and that's when everything started to become different. I learnt to think before I speak, and be nicer and more sensitive to other people's feelings. At the same time I've also learnt that being a leader doesn't always mean that everyone will like you and admire you. There are people who will hate you for what you're doing and gossip about you, spread rumors about you behind your back.

Together with a bunch of friends, we were 'promoted' and became a leader in our CCA, class and other stuff etc. It's a really great experience and we had many opportunities to lead, and were constantly forced to step out of our comfort zone. And because of this, our priorities changed, and people changed.

Not that I regret being given the opportunity. I loved it. But sometimes I wonder what would happen if my friends and I were not leaders, would our friendship remain the same?

I am glad that I was not one of those people that became worser. In fact, I'm really proud that I'm a better person now. I'm being told that I'm more open and friendly to others. I also realized that I'm no longer scared to try new things and I can speak to an audience without stuttering. In fact, I can speak firmly and loudly. I'm super proud of myself for that.

Do I regret this? Nope. I love it.

I just miss being myself again. Which is why I'm going back to blogging, listening to classical music, reading books, and doing devotion.

Even though this year is an important year because I'm taking my O levels. But whatever. I need myself back, then I can excel.

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Growing tomato plants!

About a few days ago, i went to my dad's office to grow some tomato plants. I brought some cherry tomatoes with me and some plastic bottles to plant them in.. A few days later






We also planted some cucumber plants using the seeds that we bought from a local garden.


TADA!!

I'm so excited for them to grow bigger! I've just moved them into a plastic bottle that my dad cut so it's like a tray..


I'm also growing some bell peppers..


(The one at the top with a white cap has bell pepper seeds, fresh from bell peppers. The one with a blue cap has honey tomatoes..)

I can't wait!!