Okay so I complained about the spam text of some network provider in the Philippines last July.

But in less than a month I received another message or text or SMS whatever you prefer to call it from my network provider.
The message was sent from Smart communication, one of the largest network provider in the Philippines.

The content of the message was like this: (Date: 24-Jul-2009 7:07 am)
"2/2 Mag-FLEXIRATE Call na.P10 lng ang up to 30 minutes call sa Smart/TNT at P15 sa up to 5 minutes. Dial *88 mobile# (ex *8809191234567). DTI2668S2009 Ref:32019385338

The message means that they (Smart) have a promo which is FLEXIRATE where users or customers like us can call 10 peso for up to 30 minutes to Smart or Talk N Text subscriber and 15 peso for up to 5 minutes. We just have to dial *88 + 11 digit mobile number. Wow what a great offer, i said to myself as i read the message since the regular rate for calls is 5 or 6 peso a minute.

So that's it, so much for reading and sending messages I reload my mobile number and try their new promo which they call FLEXIRATE. But then as i listen to my phone it suddenly sound busy or tot tot tot tot... Then i received a text message from FRV(i don't know the meaning) dated 24-Jul-2009 7:08 am, I open the text message and started to read the message. It stated "Sorry this service is available to Smart Buddy subscribers only. This invalid SMS transaction is charged P1 (1 peso). RC:1072

What the? Are they sure about this? How come I receive promotional text messages which is not applicable or not available for me. Another thing, why am I charged 1 peso for these transaction? Oh come on...

The next thing I did was call their customer service hot line (I hope their hot line is free) and talk to the customer service representative and started to explain what happened and ask why. Why did they sent me that promotional message if i can't avail it and why am I deducted for trying to avail their promo which they broadcast to their consumers.

By the way let me explain something. I am a TNT or Talk N Text subscriber which is a sister company or something like that which is powered by Smart. Most of the promo of Smart is available on TNT and Viseversa. If your a TNT or Smart subscriber, calling to a TNT or Smart is just a local call.

Back to my topic I ask if they could do something about that and the customer service representative ask me to wait for two minutes, but after a few seconds the call was desconnected. Duh... Its a waste of time calling Smart, just like the Spam Text, it takes a senator of the Philippines to be a victim before they take action about it. Do i have to wait for a senator again for them to take action about this?

True its just a single Peso but come to think of it, how many subscriber do they have? About 90 Million? In just a couple of minutes i was deducted 1 peso for trying to avail their promo which is invalid as they said. Imagine if 90 million subscribers were deducted 1 peso. Its not just 1 peso, its more than what you think.