The downgrading experience with PLDT

Mr X was a pldt land line and DSL subscriber, he paid around 800 pesos for the his residentail landline and 995 pesos for his DSL, all in all he was paying php1800 per month to PLDT, by 2008, he realized that he would have his account downgrade to pldt plan 990 (DSL + landline) since the lock-in period of his DSL plan 995 has already expired. Thus,

July 2008 – August 2008
Action taken: Informed PLDT to downgrade the DSL plan by dial 171
Response: The agent insisted that the subscriber have to write the letter of request for downgrading and it is still subject to approval. (Why subjected to approval, note the lock-in period has already expired)
Action Taken: Fax the letter of downgrading request with signature.

September 2008:
Action Taken: Dial 171 to follow-up the downgrading status.
Response: the agent said they didn’t receive any documents.
Action Taken: Write the letter again, and fax, and call 171
Response: The agent said they have received the fax, but before they would grant the request, the subscriber has to settle all the unpaid bills. (First Fool)

Action Taken: Pay the bills
October 2008:
- the subscriber received he bills again for October and the plan is still not yet downgraded.
Action Taken: Dial 171 to follow-up the downgrading status.
Response: The agent said they have received the fax, but before they would grant the request, the subscriber has to settle the unpaid bills again.
- the subscriber got irritated.
- the pldt representative (not sure if he is the supervisor) promise they will monitor the system, once the subscriber pay the bill, they will have the plan downgrade. (Second Fool)
- the subscriber paid the bill again

December 2008 – Jan 2009
- the subscriber received he bills again and the plan is still not yet downgraded.
Action Taken: Dial 171 to request to talk to the supervisor directly
Response: the supervisor is busy raw
- the agent asked to subscriber to settle the unpaid bills first.
- The subscriber got irritated, and tell the agent, if the pldt is not going to downgrade the plan, then disconnect it.
- The agent said they will monitor the system and asked the subscriber to settle the bills ((Third Fool)
- the subscriber paid portion of unpaid bills on Jan 16, 2009

February 2009
- Feb 9 2009, PLDT disconnect the landline
- The subscriber called PLDT to verify that the account is terminated.

This is not the end of story..
On Feb 12, pldt issue a letter together with the bill for February to subscriber. (They are asking to subscriber to pay the bill for February wherein they have already disconnected the subscriber’s account?)

So, why PLDT is doing it?
Because they are a monopoly company!!!

http://rtcolmenares.blog.friendster.com/2008/12/pldt-intermittence-and-fecklessness/

They should both come up with flat-rate data plans… wait, maybe that is Sun Cellular’s 3G plan!

Globe 3G is too expensive for internet browsing – P 0.25/kb. OTOH, Smart 3G charges a P10 per 30 mins flatrate.

Sorry a bit off topic here – I’m not from the Philippines but would like to ask about Broadband there. I’ve been told that there is a ‘low penetration rate’ but it could be that people are just not subscribing to it, not that it is not available to them. Is it generally available anywhere I go if I choose to have it, and are the speeds ok – or does it suffers from bad connection much of the time?

Thanks in advance!

And, Smart 3G backing up a down PLDT line? Would be more cool if it were a Globe 3G or Visiblity doing the job!

Almost two months now, the DSL is already is active but the Notebook and the PC have not been delivered. Every time I check, they are following up with their supplier. Is DTI watching this blog?

1. Call 171. They will promise a visit.
2. If you have gone tired waiting, go to the nearest PLDT office. The staff will make some calls and/or send emails. S/he will assure you the technician will visit.
3. Wait.

I’m still on the 3rd stage — 3 weeks and counting, without DSL connections. Would they refund? Start to step #1.

In the meantime, Smart 3G keeps me connected when needed.