My 1st year: Things done, things learned (very long)

Very insightful, thanks for that.

@Larry Fisher You mentioned many things that merit their own threads but I can see what you are doing. Just the same, one thing that you wrote got my attention:

I had a wire sent from my US bank to the dealership account. This took one month to clear.

Really? One month? I did a wire transfer from my USA bank to Toyota in Dumaguete for around 2M php. That took 3 days to clear. Frankly I think that is unacceptable. They are getting free interest from your money as they gamble for a better exchange rate and build up their average dollar reserves. Also, I think the Toyota dealer here would not allow their bank to delay a business deal for so long. For me, I would get nervous because delays like that make it easier for pilferage to occur.

But I also realize this is a tiny amount of what you said and do not wish to take too much attention away from your other useful and excellent points.

Larry Fisher said. . . .To wit: I ordered a top of the line USA made KitchenAid stand mixer via Lazada. This comes from the actual KitchenAid store in Makati. It sat in the store for a week while they had my money (Basically $500 US) and hadn't shipped.

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Wish I would have know, I have two unopened N.I.B. Kitchen Aid Mixers (5 1/2 quart & 6 quart) 120V and I believe we even have the grinder attachments.

I sent these in Balikan Boxes years ago.

Fantastic write up, Larry - thank you for that. You have certainly accomplished a lot in this first year.

I brought our Kitchen Aid mixer over, lol. Heavy sucker. On sale for $250 at Macy's a few years back. Of course it is US voltage so needs a decent transformer, which added $50 to the cost.

    Fantastic write up, Larry - thank you for that. You have certainly accomplished a lot in this first year.I brought our Kitchen Aid mixer over, lol. Heavy sucker. On sale for $250 at Macy's a few years back. Of course it is US voltage so needs a decent transformer, which added $50 to the cost.        -@pnwcyclist

We brought ours over too. Looks nice on the shelf in full view. I used it mostly to make ground beef and ground pork. Have not tried that here yet. We bought ours at Macy's as well.

Well done Larry, I'm sure you will enjoy the next 12 months also.

Cheers, Steve.

Well done Larry, so glad that your enjoying life there even with the poor customer service and I am sure the first year must be the toughest so hope that things continue to go well.

I should have ended with a "Best advice": Post to expat.com when you need a Kitchenaid Mixer. There will likely be 6 offers to sell you theirs'

@danfinn I was making a lot of noise to the dealership. It was supposedly their bank holding it up to clear. I even was on the horn to the dealership's bank making noise. There was also some b.s. suggestion it was normal for money laundering prevention. yea, ok.

The lack of communication and transparency in the bank transaction was another indicator about the lack of customer service in the Philippines.

Yes Larry, banks. We have transferred 1.2 up to 2M from Australia to BDO here multiple times and 1 to 2 days we get a all from the bank,,, sir did you know etc. etc.

Buying a new car over 4 years ago we gave them a 100K cask deposit and same day wired the balance to their account, told the manager 2 max 3 days to clear. A week later he calls, no money sir, told him the funds cleared my bank on day one so go and talk to your bank, yes sir. Day 9, I called them, no funds sir. No problem return the deposit and we will purchase elsewhere. Day 10 they delivered the car and fine.

Turns out the branch we purchased the car from don't have their own bank but go through their head office in Pampanga,,,,, that's where the money was sitting and me saying we will walk away got the manager off his tardy derriere. LOL, then he had the cheek to ask for an extra 280 pesos for the bank transfer fees, sorry mate go talk to your bank as there are no fees bank to bank on the net.

I loved your OP Larry and I'm sure in the end you can add chapter 2, I could write a book but you can pick up my ups and downs with my submissions over the years and I'm sure most expats go through the same dramas.

As said the second year will be just as frustrating but us foreigners we slowly learn the ropes and it becomes easier and we learn to simply smile and generally take it on the chin unless a blow up is required.

Cheers, Steve.

@Larry Fisher ...I was making a lot of noise to the dealership. It was supposedly their bank holding it up to clear. I even was on the horn to the dealership's bank making noise. There was also some b.s. suggestion it was normal for money laundering prevention. yea, ok.

Well the way it should work is: You are the Customer trying to transfer many pesos into the hands of some dealership trying to make a profit. But the bank is holding up the transaction for an unreasonable time (BS on the money laundering. I have made such transfers many times in 4 days max). The battle should be between the bank, who is usng your moneyto make money, and the dealership who needs your money to make money but they act neutral and unconcerned.  You should be in the middle and let them work it out, that would be normal, but this is the Philippines where employees do not think like that. Instead, they are thinking that you want the car, but you can wait. We will get the bank's money when the bank is ready, no big deal for us. "Not my problem". And the business's remote management never does anything to correct these employee attitudes.

Funny thing about buying that car. I as many already know have a temporary plate on it from the dealership. Drive right out, it's all paid for right? And the registration is covered for three years. So no need to go to LTO for 3 yrs (that's a very good thing).

But when you buy a motorcycle you must wait 30 days to get it? And the plate is a different process too? I haven't purchased a bike here but just sounds all whacked to me.

*I have to refrain from using the term "scooter" like in the old days talking about our Harley's. Because ya, they're actually scooters here!

Larry, i have not bought a car in Pinas, not sure if i need to...how ever i have a Pinas licence which is 10 years from applying for it from LTO Alabel...you understand how i got it right *?*...anyways i also bought an RFI 175 from Gensan Rusi.

I received all the paper work 4 days later, insurance and 3 years LTO i suspect which is all apart of the new thingy they do here now.....but my licence plate is an authorised improvised plate number which i received on my paper work and put it on my RFI the same day i got my paper work for P200.

The actual licence plate could take 2 years for me to receive

I have followed up why it would or could take so long and the story line i got from both dealership & LTO along with the local police station that helped me out with my 10 year drivers licence plastic open legal licence card...im being cyrptic here...told me the same thing....the captain said to my wife..."dont hold your breath Mam waiting for it"

For banking transfers from where ever you are from HSBC Global Accounts will give you the floating rate...no other bank apart from the reserve bank of the Phillipines will give you such an exchange rate.

BPI is not that far behind although nowhere near as competitive as HSBC Global.

Metro is the only other bank that offers foreigners bank accounts without paper work.

Wishing you all the best with your new car.

Have fun fun fun

    Larry Fisher said. . . .To wit: I ordered a top of the line USA made KitchenAid stand mixer via Lazada. This comes from the actual KitchenAid store in Makati. It sat in the store for a week while they had my money (Basically $500 US) and hadn't shipped.
*****************************
Wish I would have know, I have two unopened N.I.B. Kitchen Aid Mixers (5 1/2 quart & 6 quart) 120V and I believe we even have the grinder attachments.
I sent these in Balikan Boxes years ago.
   

    -@Enzyte Bob

Well Bob, here's your chance! lol. So I got my refund from Lazada on the mixer. Then promptly ordered another one from KitchenAid, on sale, for LESS! I've kept an eye on it via tracking. It showed it was out for delivery today, this morning. This afternoon, I checked again as the guys that normally deliver to us are usually here earlier. But hey it's a big box so I understand delays on motorcycle. NOPE! Lazada shows REFUND SUCCESS! ....SAY WUT?

It looks like they are refunding because of a "bad delivery address". The same address that gets 2-3 Lazada orders a week at times! But Ninjavan still shows out for delivery today. So whodahell knows for sure. But I might be able to take one of those 110v mixers off your hands!

That's weird Larry, we have had big and heavy boxes of stuff delivered here with no problems. Last was 2 oscillating wall fans and a week earlier 3 x 52"  ceiling fans in one package quite large. perhaps contact Ninja and see what's going on or wait until your refund clears and reorder? Send a msg to the supplier?

Ben said to me the other day,,,,,,, let's get a blender and a coffee bean grinder, something else I can't remember and I said to him firstly we have a coffee grinder here from Australia that we never use and the other things you want we had in Oz and we left them there as never used. Forget it.

Sometimes dealing with some vendors on Shopee and Lazada is a breeze but some are totally dim.

Cheers, Steve.

@bigpearl, yea I'm waiting till the money hit's my account.

    @bigpearl, yea I'm waiting till the money hit's my account.
   

    -@Larry Fisher

Be patient Larry and hang with me on this:

When I was in Cebu City recently I stayed at the Seda hotel next to the Ayala Mall (  formerly the Marriot that I stayed in 10 years ago).

Requested a high floor quiet room on an advanced booking -1 month before.

They put me on a low floor over the loading bay where all the deliveries come in. I rolled with that as I was only checked in for 2 nights.

At 1 am in the morning on the 2nd night the hotel staff started vacumming the room next door. Complained to reception who said they would investigate. Cleaning stopped. 30 minutes later the goddamn bedside phone woke me up again apologising for the inconvenience caused and ' is everything ok' - no you could not make this up if you tried.

I said I want a meeting with the General Manager ( not the duty manager) the next morning dont call me again.

By the time I checked out the GM had not made contact. I subsequently posted an excoriating critique of the GM (Miss Gwen Dela Cruz) on Trip Advisor.

Later that day a groveling response to my post by the GM stating that a full refund would be made for both nights. Her secretary emailed me for my IBAN account details. Transfers this route are immediate. 3 weeks later the refund hit my account.

Moral of the story. When any Filipino or Filipino corporation says they will refund you be patient. It’s akin to the western expression ’ the cheques in the post’

bigpearl said. . . . .That's weird Larry, we have had big and heavy boxes of stuff delivered here with no problems. Last was 2 oscillating wall fans and a week earlier 3 x 52"  ceiling fans in one package quite large.

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Kitchenaid  mixers weigh a ton, A motor bike would have two flat tires on the way to Larry's.

    bigpearl said. . . . .That's weird Larry, we have had big and heavy boxes of stuff delivered here with no problems. Last was 2 oscillating wall fans and a week earlier 3 x 52"  ceiling fans in one package quite large.
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Kitchenaid  mixers weigh a ton, A motor bike would have two flat tires on the way to Larry's.
   

    -@Enzyte Bob

I lol'd. The first one, which we returned because of a broken bowl upon arrival was delivered by one of our regular delivery guys on MC. He knows I have a battery powered tire pump with digital dial  -in psi.

It’s akin to the western expression ’ the cheques in the post’ -@Lotus Eater

We also say in another language:

"The check is in the mail"

😀

Lazada has always been pretty quick to refund my bank card. Usually 1-3 days.

With regard to ATM fees, etc. Does anyone here ever consider a Charles Schwab Checking Account?  At least for Americans.

It's free to open and no minimum deposit. A balance of just $100 and they send you a debit card.  Can be done 100% online.

It refunds all ATM fees worldwide and there are no foreign transaction fees.  Seems like a no-brainer for the expat lifestyle.

         Charlie Schwab sounds easy enough, except many places require cash.  We have made some major purchases (fans, airconditioner)  that gave us a 2% discount by paying cash.  In Hawaii we were charged an additional 3% for using a card .

             Charlie Schwab sounds easy enough, except many places require cash.  We have made some major purchases (fans, airconditioner)  that gave us a 2% discount by paying cash.  In Hawaii we were charged an additional 3% for using a card .
   

    -@mugteck

Yes exactly.  That's the beauty of the Schwab Checking.  I don't use it as my go to card when paying for things electronically, it's meant for pulling cash at ATMs.  Since it doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee and refunds 100% of ATM fees, you get the exact exchange rate on the day and whatever fee the bank tries to charge you, Schwab refunds it back to you.  It also has a decent daily limit of $1000. 

I live in basically a 100% cash based society now, and it's my go to for pulling local currency without penalty.  No remitley or wire transfer fees. 

@MustacheScience

With regard to ATM fees, etc. Does anyone here ever consider a Charles Schwab Checking Account?  At least for Americans.

Thank you for pointing that out. I was aware of the outfit but did not realise that overseas ATM charges are refunded. I'm with Chase UK (part of the US owned JP Morgan Chase) They don't charge transaction charges  but I do get hit on the ATM charges.

Moreover I was not aware that Brits could apply for the card - they can.

Even though I'm not resident in the Philippines I will apply for this card next week after talking with the London office.

A question I raised before and is still unanswered. How do you make a deposit into your Schwab account?

For example I bank with Citibank, my SS is directly deposited into that account. So if I was to have a Schwab account, I would have to transfer money from Citibank to Schwab. Would Schwab reimburse me the fee from Wise in the transfer to them?

So that doesn't work out for me, I'll just have Wise transfer to BDO.

    A question I raised before and is still unanswered. How do you make a deposit into your Schwab account?
For example I bank with Citibank, my SS is directly deposited into that account. So if I was to have a Schwab account, I would have to transfer money from Citibank to Schwab. Would Schwab reimburse me the fee from Wise in the transfer to them?

So that doesn't work out for me, I'll just have Wise transfer to BDO.
   

    -@Enzyte Bob

Schwab doesn't charge anything to transfer money to them. In the U.S. I bank with Wells Fargo and just have an auto transfer from them to Schwab that clears in a couple of business days. I transfer enough to cover whatever cash needs I might have for the month. It's pretty straight forward.

My wife uses Citibank and does the same. Very easy, no fees.

    A question I raised before and is still unanswered. How do you make a deposit into your Schwab account?
For example I bank with Citibank, my SS is directly deposited into that account. So if I was to have a Schwab account, I would have to transfer money from Citibank to Schwab. Would Schwab reimburse me the fee from Wise in the transfer to them?

So that doesn't work out for me, I'll just have Wise transfer to BDO.
   

    -@Enzyte Bob

Also not sure why you would be charged a fee for a bank to bank transfer from Citi to Schwab.  Don't need a middle man like Wise.

             Charlie Schwab sounds easy enough, except many places require cash.  We have made some major purchases (fans, airconditioner)  that gave us a 2% discount by paying cash.  In Hawaii we were charged an additional 3% for using a card .
   

    -@mugteck

I may be wrong but the way I read this is that if you have the Charles Schwab account and you are willing to and have the time to make multiple withdrawals since 10,000 pesos seems to be the limit for one withdrawal, there are no ATM charges. So let us say you need 200,000 pesos, then you would need to make 20 withdrawals and would save the ATM charge which i seem to remember was 250 pesos per transaction. You would therefore be able to save 5000 pesos on ATM fees and still pay for your major purchase in cash and  get the2% discount for paying with cash.

           I do not have a Schwab account, was just stating how it is to one's advantage to do mostly cash transactions here in the Philippines.

    @MustacheScience
With regard to ATM fees, etc. Does anyone here ever consider a Charles Schwab Checking Account?  At least for Americans.


Thank you for pointing that out. I was aware of the outfit but did not realise that overseas ATM charges are refunded. I'm with Chase UK (part of the US owned JP Morgan Chase) They don't charge transaction charges  but I do get hit on the ATM charges.
Moreover I was not aware that Brits could apply for the card - they can.
Even though I'm not resident in the Philippines I will apply for this card next week after talking with the London office.
   

I think us Brits could just transfer sufficient funds into the Charles Schwab account a week or so before we leave the country and take a second card just for emergency use. I may consider doing the same. I currently bank with the RBS but also have an ISA with the Halifax Bank and their Clarity Credit Card. Like you I do get stung for the ATM fees overseas but not for transaction charges.

    -@Lotus Eater

@Cherryann01

Precisely

Many banks over here have a very low  maximum amount you can withdraw at one time china bank allow me up to 40 thousand pesos at one time. just press other amount and enter 40 thousand and confirm. costs 250 pesos.

        @MustacheScienceWith regard to ATM fees, etc. Does anyone here ever consider a Charles Schwab Checking Account?  At least for Americans.Thank you for pointing that out. I was aware of the outfit but did not realise that overseas ATM charges are refunded. I'm with Chase UK (part of the US owned JP Morgan Chase) They don't charge transaction charges  but I do get hit on the ATM charges.Moreover I was not aware that Brits could apply for the card - they can.Even though I'm not resident in the Philippines I will apply for this card next week after talking with the London office.   

I think us Brits could just transfer sufficient funds into the Charles Schwab account a week or so before we leave the country and take a second card just for emergency use. I may consider doing the same. I currently bank with the RBS but also have an ISA with the Halifax Bank and their Clarity Credit Card. Like you I do get stung for the ATM fees overseas but not for transaction charges.    -@Lotus Eater
   

    -@Cherryann01

Just checked with Charles Schwab London office. You have to be an American based account holder to benefit from the refund of ATM charges. You can apply for a standard debit card which would be linked to your share trading account in the UK.

However CS do have plans to offer the full US service in the UK but the guy (who was most helpful) could not go into anymore detail. So watch this space. Will update you by PM as and when

Wish I would have know, I have two unopened N.I.B. Kitchen Aid Mixers (5 1/2 quart & 6 quart) 120V and I believe we even have the grinder attachments.

@Enzyte Bob. I believe you can get a rotor and field kit upgrade that to 240vac.