In Manila right now. I have a Smart Bro SIM which I use in my Galaxy Tab for internet.
I wanted to do something very, very simple..... reload my balance. Having been away, it's now all expired and I have zero balance... Here's the story.
1. Purchase a reload card.
2. Follow instructions on the reload card to send a txt to RELOAD....
...except the text will not go.
So I ring up the FREE help number ....
"ring ring, ring ring...
Automated voice tells me to press 2 for accounts.
Press 2.
Automated voice asks for my phone number.
Input phone number.
Automated voice asks for my PIN.
...er... what PIN?
Automated voice tells me to log onto my account online to get a PIN.
..er.... I can't logon I have no load so no access to internet
Automated voice tells me I have not given it the right answer and hangs up.
Great. Try again....
"ring ring, ring ring
Automated voice again. Try pressing 1 for sales and promos.
Eventually get through to a woman and explain the problem.
She goes away and comes back 5 minutes later.
"please ring the automated helpline for help with account balances"... hangs up
This is tedious. Try again.....
"ring ring, ring ring
Automated voice. Try pressing 3 for technical support.
Eventually get through to a man and explain problem.
"Oh, you cannot send a text to reload until you have some load on your account....
...go and reload your account in a shop".
"BUT I HAVE A RELOAD CARD AND IF I WERE IN A SHOP I WOULD NOT BE RINGING YOU.
"Sorry, you cannot send a text unless you have 5php load on your account. Goodbye. " Hangs up.
WHAT AN F'ING CRAZY SYSTEM!
Go and purchase a Globe SIM and start surfing ....... now online.
I have not had to try and reload the Globe SIM yet so no idea if they are just as bad