Somewhere in 2005, since Ikhwan has grown up and enjoyed watching cartoon, we decided to have another Astro account. So, there we were, having 2 astro disc and 2 astro decoder in a house. We paid nearly RM100 for both accounts per month. Basically one of the astro was conquered by Ikhwan for him to enjoy. We also thought that by watching cartoon, his brain can be stimulated with the colours, story line and english language. Maybe that’s why he has better English comparatively than his friends.

Day by day, month by month, year by year, Astro increased it’s fee. It became more and more expensive due to whatever 1001 reasons. I don’t give a damn about it because I wanted the sports package and also I want to have the cartoon for Ikhwan. But when the price looks ridiculous, we stopped one account. We then take turns to watch our favourite program. We made a rule… No cartoon at evening and night. That time will be solely for the parents (us).

Then last year, when the fee increase to RM85-88 per month (cannot remember exactly the amount) for a basic package, I got fed-up! This cannot be going on. They are sucking our money as they wish.

I also recalled in numerous occasions that when ever we have decoder problems or other technical problems that require some repaid work for them to come to my house, Astro will charge some money up-front. That means before even repairing or servicing, they already charge us. Then we still have to pay the service or repaid cost. This really pissed me off. Luckily I have 2 sets of Astro decoder and 2 set of disc but using only 1. So, I decided to repair, adjust, modify myself until I solved my Astro problem.

I don’t want to keep on paying lots of money to Astro. Not that I don’t like the programs served by Astro, but I hate the fact that they keep on increasing the subscription rate. So, something must be done by the authority to keep the Astro fee on lower side.

Just imagine how much we have to pay per year? Since I cannot remember my last Astro bill, let’s assume it was at RM85 per month. Multiply RM85 with 12 months and you will get RM1020 per year. There you are… that’s the amount of Astro commitment that we have to pay for a basic package.

Imagine if we can keep RM1020 every year in Public Mutual Unit Trust account or purchase gold every year worth that amount for the past 5 years, we will have substantial amount of money in growing without us having to monitor. With unit trust compounding rate and also the price increase of gold per ounce every year, we have a steady income. But, if we keep on paying that high for Astro, I don’t think it is a wise decision. Paying that much for an entertainment that we only can enjoy after daily work or only during weekend. I just hope Astro can reduce its price and make it more affordable.

Luckily we live in JB, so we have additional channels from Singapore and Indonesia to enjoy besides the one served by Malaysia. So, last year around October, we canceled our Astro account. I felt really good cancelling the account.

Unfortunately, it was really interesting and sad because although we were cancelling our subscription early October, they said we need to give them one month notice!!! So, we still need to continue another month with Astro and pay another extra month before Astro really cut off our account.

Wow… I don’t know what to say. I’m naive. I don’t know Astro’s rule.

I don’t have any choice, so I have to follow the rules and obliged for the one month notice. I also felt like they are using the employment rule – Need to give one or 2 months notice before quoting job!!!

It did not end there. We need to return our Astro card to the nearest Astro center. I don’t know why? Last time we cancelled our first account, we don’t have to do this. However, now we have to take the trouble (take leave from work) and return the Astro card to Astro center which is 35 km from my house. Failure to return the Astro card will be penalized with RM80. If I’m not mistaken they give us 3 months to return the card.

What is the rationale of returning the card?!?! Do they want to squeeze our last penny for the last time?

I rest my case… I’m sorry for making this article. I don’t want to blame anybody. I just want Astro to be more reasonable in its pricing. I hope the authority can help and play their role. Plenty of Malaysians want to enjoy Astro…but many cannot afford it now.

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Today, after Solat Jumaat prayer, after sending my eldest son to his school, my friend @ business partner for our homestay called me and reported that his house TNB fuse meter has been stolen!!! As a result, there’s no power in the house. No lights can be switched on. No fans can propel. No energy at all. Damn those bastards!!! Is there no other beneficial activities to do rather than no benefit themselves by stealing the fuse and make other people’s life miserable. I quickly called a friend who is an electrical experts, but then he said that this problem should be reported to TNB (Tenaga National Berhad). If you are from outside Malaysia, TNB is the national electricity / power provider for my country, Malaysia.

So, I quickly went to the house and check out the damage and straight away called TNB. I called 15454, not sure whether it is toll free or not… I don’t care. I just need to fix this problem as soon as possible. We have a guess coming to our homestay tomorrow and this nonsense must be settle once and for all.

The TNB guy in the telephone responded to my complaint and promise to sent a technician within 1 to 2 hours. After that, I waited with my friend at the house for the TNB technician. The phone call took place at 2.30 pm. At 4 pm, I called 15454 again to double check with TNB whether any technician is coming or not. While I was waiting to be connected to the operator, an incoming call came in, and I answered. Wow…the TNB technician is calling. He apologized and said that they tried to come but due to lots of queries and lots of house to entertain, their shift (team) could not come to our house. Their shift ended at 4pm. But they say, the next shift, whom started at 4pm is on their way to our house.

So, I told my friend that the TNB technicians are already on the way. I wanted to leave and head to my office. Then my friend highlighted that maybe the technician and fuse replacement may cost some money. To confirm this, I called TNB number 15454 again. The friendly TNB operator answered that all charges will be presented in the bills. The TNB technicians will not ask for any money. That is a clear straight cut procedure that they practice. So, if the TNB technicians ask for money, do not oblige.

We are very pleased to hear that because in our pocket, both of us have combine less than RM50. It will be quite troublesome for us to go to the nearest bank and withdraw some money because the bank is not within 5 km. So, after knowing that no money is required, I left my friend / biz partner and headed to my office. As soon as I reached my office, a TNB staff from JB, not sure where exactly, called me and ask whether the problem has been resolve or not. Not sure, I just answered, the TNB technician have not arrive. Maybe they are on the way. They just switch shift.

I then immediately called my friend and he said that everything is normal. The TNB technician has replaced the fuse and power is back to normal. He already locked the access to the power meter with a reasonable size lock, which I supplied to him earlier.

Moral / Gees of the story:

1. There are bad evil people out there who’s main activity is stealing fuse plus other valuable things.

2. Lock and protect your TNB power meter because the fuse are in great demand and is of high value. That’s why this nasty people want it very much that they don’t mind stealing them.

3. TNB are a very professional, efficient and effective company. They responded via the telephone call very fast (not like AirAsia care / telephone service which is VERY VERY poor). TNB telephone service clearly inform us our turn or number of waiting list, so we can guess / estimate when they will entertain us. They continuously update our turn and the number keeps geting smaller and smaller until we speak with the TNB operator.

Their (TNB) inter-communication is very fast. No communication breakdown. They act very fast. They serve us very fast. They ensure that there is a staff to follow up with us to ensure that their technician is doing their job. They do not allow their technicians to collect money from customers as all charges will be presented in the bill (not like TMnet/telekom… the technician ask money…to repair my streamyx. Their telekom staff followed up by calling me and when I asked, they admitted that they allow their technician to charge us, on what basis, what standard rate I don’t know!!! The receipt was also not an official telekom receipt).

OK, back to the story… So, within less than 2 hours, the TNB technican arrived and replaced the stolen fuse and our problem was solve and we are happy.

Other service / utility companies should follow TNB work style ethics. I’m very impressed and amazed.

I can say Telekom is OK, but they can improve by implementing the system like TNB. Astro is OK but they need to speed up their technicians to come to the customer house and avoid saying their technicians will come within 1-2 days. If Astro is not ok, should we still pay the full amount of monthly package when we are not getting the ASTRO service!!! They should pro-rate… give discount in the bill.

But AirAsia is the worse of the worse… Very bad, very poor telephone customer service. Must improve. Don’t just focus on cutting budget… I’m not sure what is the priority or strategy implemented here.

Please, please…don’t get me wrong… I’m highlighting this to make and trigger AirAsia as well as the others improve their customer services. I’m a regular user of AirAsia and my family as well. We do support AirAsia but please, we don’t want to wait for AirAsia operator for 1 hour plus in the phone… If we waited for 1 hour plus and get to talk with them, that’s fine…bu the worse thing is in most cases, we got fed-up waiting for the AirAsia operator and hang up.

Please, please take the positive side of my writing. I want everything to improve, all services to provide the best services to their customers… Look at TNB for good example .

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Usually, on average, I reach home between 7.00 to 7.30 pm. I consider that late compared to my wife’s flexible working hours. Some other people will have to stay late at office or their work place simply because their nature of work is just like that. Here, I would like to share with you guys 8 things that I always do as soon as I return home from work:

1. Open the gate and park my cute Kancil.

2. Hug my kids and carry all of them for few minutes in the house. Sometimes I have to carry all of them at the same time. That is more than 45 kg. Oh yes…salam with my wife la…

3. Unbutton my uniform shirt so I will feel more at home

4. Switch to Astro ESPN channel 812 – “SportCenter” – to get hold of the latest sports news especially soccer news. My son and wife will have to make way for me. He he….

5. Check out my email, Adsense account and blog. Answer all comments as soon as possible. Those comments occasionally made me smile. I could not answer them at my office because of two reasons: No time and the IT department is watching us…

6. Take my bath and perform Magrib prayer.

7. Teach my kids “ngaji” or assist them with their homework.

8. Enjoy my wifes home made dinner. She’ll always call me before I return home, asking me what i want to have for dinner. She’ll then cook accordingly and she cook with some love

Well, that’s just a little bit something on my routine activities as I return home from a long day work. So, what about you? What will you normally do after returning from work? Or from studying (I know a bunch of you are students… ho ho…. ?

p/s: Check out the New Toyota Altis price HERE

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