By Manuel L. Morató
There are billings for credit cards and skycable that are not sent in hard copy. Para po sa hindi marunong sa computer, malaki pong perwisyo ng service companies to send bills – electronically.
I’ve been requesting that we be billed via hard copy for my accountant who takes care of paying the bills depends on the hard copy billing due to the fact that he does not know how to use the computer – neither do I.
There are times that we are lucky to get the billing in hard copy with ample time. But more often than not, the hard copy of the billings of the credit cards, and Skycable as well, arrive too late that the penalties are already imposed; past due date. Services are cut and it takes time to re-install.
It is particularly annoying to have the Skycable services cut off just because of the late delivery of billing through hard copy.
No doubt it is more convenient to bill customers through online. But aside from the fact that not everybody ay nakatutok na lang to a computer, there are many as I’ve said who are not knowledgeable about online billing – especially those friends who are rather active in getting in touch with their friends, many friends, who have the luxury of time to play with their computers. Nababaon yung billing and takes time to locate sa computer.
I have experienced on many occasions non-payment of Skycable (the most important service many of us can’t accept to lose even for a few days) – just because my office waited and waited for the billing in hard copy; and more often than not, delivered after the deadline and services cut. Siyempre delayed ang bayad kasi delayed din dumating ang hard copy billing.
Ang depensa ng mga credit card-oriented businesses is to protect themselves that they have sent the billing earlier than the due date through electronic billing. But that’s not a good defense for customers who’ve requested for hard copy billing which is the more acceptable way of billing for it can be attached to the voucher. ‘Yong original hard copy billing is the best attachment.
I am one of those who’ve requested, over and over again, for hard copy billing for my accountant prefers it that way. I do too. But said hard copy billing must be sent before due date. More often than not, we get the billings past due na. Sinasadya yata. Intentional and premeditated ba?
Call us old “foggies,” but hard copy billing is more reliable and a more credible way of billing. It’s the original. In case of wrong billing, or tampered billing, in case of complaints of double-billing or whatever, it’s easier to locate.
Not everybody are able to catch up with the advances in technology. Not everybody have the habit of just watching the computer screen 24/7. Makaligtaan mo lang, nabaon na ‘yong electronic billing at natabunan na ng more recent messages by the hundreds.
How hard it is to search for online billing. One has to watch every minute of the day because if you don’t, nababaon na sa dami ng ibang messages. It’s easily “buried” in the computer and tracing said billing is time-consuming, a big bother and time lost.
On the contrary, when the hard copy arrives, it goes straight to the accountant in-charge and takes it at face value; no time wasted searching in the computer; and customers are spared from the inconvenience of not being able to watch TV, most specially on holidays when the only “entertainment” is to watch the latest news, to keep up with recent events.
For example, these past weeks, parts of the country were terribly hit by unexpected earthquakes of significant force. Serious damages on properties and loss of human lives suffered from the said strong tremors. It is only on the daily news on TV that we are kept abreast as authorities manage to account the extent of what our brothers and sisters suffered in Cotabato and other places affected by the earthquakes.
If I am not mistaken, there were three earthquakes that hit the same area in a span of two weeks. That’s unusual, but so it happened.
We mourn and empathize with those whose family members lost their lives, including those who lost their properties as well.
Please include me among those praying for those who suffered from the tragedy.
For comments and suggestions email at mlmorato@yahoo.com
