Globe Bayantel Landline

Before this lockdown thing happened, I used to order our household needs (mineral water, LPG, food takeouts, etc.) through our landline, 414-48-24. No prefix 8 yet at that time.

Then in late July, 2019, the phone had no dial tone. I thought it couldn't have been due to non-payment, as I have religiously paid my monthly bills since the phone was installed.

So I called up the Bayantel Customer Care to report the out-of-order phone. She was very nice, assured me that the my report is properly recorded and will be endorsed to their repair contractor for scheduling.

I waited for the repairman to come. Nobody came. Then maybe I just forgot about it. In mid-August, I wanted to call our gasul dealer to order a cylinder. No dial tone.

Then I remembered that I already reported the phone. Obviously, nothing was done about it. I called Customer Care again to make a follow-up. Same scripted courteous reply.

On August 18, 2019, a Sunday, I received 4 text messages from GlobeAtHome. Take note of the timeline:

Was I glad to receive the first text! But after waiting the whole day, nobody came. Then I received the second text. Same message, but less reassuring this time.

Just as I expected, the third message came. Speed bumps? Speed bumps slow you down but don't stop you from getting there. Misplaced metaphor, maybe.

The fourth message clinched it. I knew nothing will come out of this again. And was I right!

Please click on the GlobeAtHome image to see the text messages in full.

For days thereafter, I received the following text, sometimes two or three times a day.

Every now and then, a collection agent called to remind me of my unpaid account. I told them how can I pay when there was no service rendered? I was told my phone was temporarily disconnected due to non-payment of bills.

If I wanted it repaired, I have to pay my amount due and later request for rebate for the period it was out-of-order. It didn't make sense to me so I just gave up. Totally gave up. I wanted to forget this sad experience.

But Globe will not let me forget. It keeps reminding me by sending the same text messages, once or twice a day. The latest of which was today, April 28, 2020 at 10:11 am.

I'm curious about the following:

But it's only me. What do I know about repairing phones.

I shared my previous blog with an old friend, a top executive of Globe. She commiserated with me and although she has retired for almost a year already, she offered to endorse my unresolved issue with Globe. I was happy and hopeful that maybe, with a little help from a friend, my nightmare will come to an end.

Indeed, the following day, I received these text messages:

The text messages are self-explanatory. As are the sarcasm and the exasperation. But hope springs eternal. May bukas pa naman.

After my blog on May 4, 2020, nothing much happened. On May 5 up to May 17, I again received the perennial text message (shown below), 2 or 3 times a day. Nothing much I can do.

Then on May 18, I received a text with a different tenor this time. I was pleasantly surprised and ecstatic that now I "may continue making and/or receiving calls again". So I rushed to my phone, lift the receiver hoping to hear the long-missed dial tone. But to my disappointment, there was none. No dial tone - high and dry. Before sending the text, did they even call my number to check if it rang and somebody answered?

That would have been the prudent thing to do before saying that the issues affecting their landline services have been fixed. Well, they have an escape clause anyway, that if I still have trouble and need assistance, I should text RPR YES so they can reschedule(?) a visit. And I was given an hour to do that. So I dutifully texted as instructed. As of today, nobody visited.

But on the same day, five hours later, I received this text again. It's as if the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing.

Add to the mix this friendly reminder: The bill represents the 10 months I have not been paying because there was no service.

At least Globe is consistent in sending me the usual text message below the right: Until next time. Not giving up hope yet. Still have 2 months before the first anniversary of this of this odyssey.

It's been more than a year that I've been receiving these texts from GlobeAtHome. It's hard to believe that a simple landline phone cant' be repaired after a year. This could be a record for Globe. And sadly, for me too.

After receiving these texts for about a year and a half, Globe sent its final text on March 17, 2021. Maybe they have given up on me as I have given up on them a long time ago.