Last February 22 was our despedida for Myles and Liezel. We ate dinner in Hai and I decided to pay for the bills using my credit card. It took around ten minutes before the guy returned with my card and receipt (note – there were only two tables occupied that night) but I didn’t think anything was wrong then except for exceptionally slow service. We left after that and settled in Pier One – that night went on getting us tipsy after a few bottles of alcohol. I enjoyed it.
Back home the following morning I checked my HSBC account and found out I got floating transactions worth 9000 pesos. I did not recall spending that much so I emailed HSBC to inquire about where and when those transactions happened. Grabe they replied after three days pa to think I used their Personal Banking facility’s contact form. I thought it would bring a sense of urgency. By the time they replied, the floating transactions have already been approved and posted to my account. They were from Hai Resto and Bar. A stupid staff swiped my card multiple times. Stupid me – I didn’t call Hai about it immediately. Why? I thought, since I did not sign any receipt worth more than what we consumed that night, those transactions would NOT be approved by HSBC. No signed receipt, the other transactions should be considered invalid. And therefore, anything that was not right would be automatically undone and things would be fine again. Anyway… I was wrong. Now I think they don’t really check those receipts unless a dispute is filed.
I’m now in correspondence with HSBC and Hai Resto and Bar. But since Hai operates mainly at night, I could not talk to anyone who knew what to say to me about the situation for the past two days. I’m usually out of the office by 6PM and I can’t use the phone in the academy. HSBC, on the other hand, is consistent in calling me about it. I’ve faxed them a dispute form with the necessary documents but their latest email said that it normally takes 45 calendar days to process a dispute. Tagal. And I hope they’ll do the rest for me and not ask me to call them again for reversal of whatever thing regarding my account. I hate waiting on the phone that’s why I had them deactivate my phone banking facility.
