This week I was notified by my cellphone service provider, Movistar Argentina, that my cell phone would be disconnected if I didn't pay my bill. Since I had already paid my bill I called and explained it to them and thought I had solved the issue. Yesterday, however, they cut my service.
After no less than 13 attempts to speak to a human being I finally got through to a fowl little Argentine wench who explained to me that I had NOT in fact paid my 'factura' (bill). In fact, the 200 pesos I paid went into my credit account.
A person of normal intelligence would wonder why, if I have credit in my account, would they cut my service. The answer was frustrating and not in the least surprising. After 30 minutes of battling with her I finally inisted that she explain to me the difference in paying my bill and adding credit to my account. The nasty, bitter little Argentine explained, in a very annoyed tone, that the credit account had nothing to do with my bill. WTF?
Apparently, the 'credit' is utilized for customers (victims) who have a "pay-as-you-go" account. I, on the other hand, have a normal monthly plan at a set rate. How it was even possible to make a payment on a plan I do not have is beyond me. Like a true gringo, I assumed wrongly that this would be an easy fix. I figured that either I could go to my online Movistar account and transfer my credit to pay my bill or the little witch of the South could do it. She refused, of course. Not because it couldn't be done but she couldn't be bothered.
Interestingly, my Argentine friends informed me that when I make a payment utilizing the "easy pay" station (pago-facil) that I am obligated to also make a phone call to my cell phone service provider, Movistar, and relay the receipt number and amount paid. That's easy?
Just when I think Argentines couldn't make things more difficult, a Spanish company seemed to outdo them all.
1 comment:
its a great reward
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