DIY Platinum key ring | Vivekananda Kadukuntla.
After forwarding this link to Standard Chartered Support 56 times, my name is finally updated in their records.
DIY Platinum key ring | Vivekananda Kadukuntla.
After forwarding this link to Standard Chartered Support 56 times, my name is finally updated in their records.
Will Google Hang Up on Voice? | Gadget Lab | Wired.com.
I too really liked Reader. And PLUS really sucks.
Google Voice was never launched in India – so, it doesn’t hurt here if it’s hung up!
Four years and two iPhones (3G and 4) definitely changed me for the better. Without any doubt, iPhone was the best gadget I used so far.
I’m now on a Windows Phone 8. Nokia Lumia 820.
There is an irony here. I always have thought that the only reason I would move away from iPhone could be price. Premium quality is good, sophistication is great but premium price is not my (or, my guess, anyone’s) cup of tea.
The irony is- I CAN afford an iPhone now. That too, within my set limit of less than 30K. But, it’s iPhone 4. 26K.
iPhone 4S is now 34K and iPhone 5 is 45K.
When Apple finally made it easy to go buy an iPhone in a normal store (as opposed to pleading friends and cousins coming from US/ UK), I just can’t buy one! It’s not wise to buy T-2 models.
Samsung smartphones are on Android. For some reason, the OS never impressed me. I don’t hate an android phone but it feels very uncomfortable to use one. Further, I always saw Samsung as a panel manufacturer, not mobiles. May be I will consider it when the flexible screen models are out. That too, if Samsung comes out of that too rounded corner shapes. What is it, an awfully shaped egg??
Email – It’s surprising that ActiveSync being a baby of Microsoft works better in iOS and Android than Windows Phone. This is one of the few instances that make me hate Microsoft. The alert that should come up on the phone when you have a notification is called “toast” in Windows Phone and it’s not available for email. Phone vibrates and makes a sound but nothing comes up on the screen for new email. It does for SMS, though. We have to unlock the phone and look around to investigate the alert. Bad.
Stupid flash – It took more than a while to figure this out and now I use it right. I can now turn it ON and OFF as required. But until I got to the bottom of this setting “assist flash” (like in DSLRs) did annoy me a lot. Flash and “assist flash” have different settings. Once you know the individual purposes and controls to change settings, it’s great!If I get a chance to change few aspects of Nokia Lumia Windows Phone 8, I’ll start with these:
So far, the most ridiculous promo offer I ever saw was from HDFC. It was something to the effect of “Spend Rs. 1,20,000/- and get an assured cash back of Rs. 200/-”.
I think Getty Images can compete with that. Rs. 2,50,000 to win a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.
I woke up this morning and was dejected to realize that only one of the speakers was working when I connected my Nokia Lumia 820 to Altec Lansing desktop speakers to play music.
I sincerely hoped that the problem was my speakers as those are 2+ years old but my Lumia is less than a month old. Also, Lumia costed me 27 times the speakers! So, I quickly connected the earphones that were shipped with Lumia and concluded it was in fact Lumia that has the problem.
As it is said, great ideas come to us either at 3 am or when in shower. So, after my shower, I was able to fix the problem in a snap.
Resolution: Reboot.
After all, it’s a Windows Phone.
Dear Buffer,
I like you.
I like the primary functionality of Buffer – buffering my feed to release at set times to Twitter, for example.
And when we have Twitter come into picture, we are aware of the number 140.
Then there is a Chrome extension(?) I use to “buffer”.
Of course, I love to hear from you from time to time; so, I have a subscription to your newsletter. “Joel from Buffer” sends me some interesting emails often.
And, what do I do when I like the article? I buffer. => I click on the extension to feed it to Twitter.
I know I can select some text and then “buffer” it to set context. But “Joel from Buffer” uses a heading for a reason. There is also some description about the Buffer blog.
Now, the total text doesn’t fit well for a tweet, does it?
If it’s other blogs/ sites like mine, I understand. While I like to have my articles shared, I always don’t think of Twitter, for example.
Now, at Buffer, I think you should consider that point. Don’t you think so?
No big deal- but if posts on Buffer blog are easy to buffer out of the box using it’s own service, it’s just clean, isn’t it?
Thank you.
“Status is often associated with the rarest of metals”
Post type: rant
Inspiration courtesy: Standard Chartered
Why: Standards shatterred
Action Plan: you’ll see
Key ring, then?
Promise will be kept; read on.
“And Platinum, the rarest of them all, awaits you.”
“We invite you to the world of the Standard Chartered Platinum Credit Card.”
I bet you feel privileged to read those lines now, while completely aware that you don’t have a card waiting for you. Imagine the glitter in my eyes while I opened the black plain envelope on which these lines were printed in elegant white letters. There’s no better way to please me than with a killer presentation and simplicity. Why do you think I’m hopelessly stuck with the iPhone?
“Wow”, I thought.
Anyways, there are two reasons why I applied for this credit card:
Now, I have a habit of skimming through the paperwork that comes with every freakin’ package I receive. Let it be a gadget manual, flipkart shipment, FedEx box or even the Zinda Tilismath 5ml bottle. I’m not saying I’ll digest all the fine print but I’ll try my best to see what the gist is.
Trouble started few minutes after I was “invited” into the envelope.
While point 1 above makes me happy, point 2 had a contradiction in the paperwork I received. It said I will be charged INR 844.00 as annual fee. Not even conditional, straight-forward debit.
[Conditional = "If you spend more than 30,000 in a year, then there won't be any annual fees. If you don't spend minimum 30,000 then there will be 750 INR annual fee, and Service Tax on that fee" types.]
Well, when you have a doubt, you clarify. I had one, so I did.
While I exchanged numerous emails [and I still am exchanging], let me give you the summary in simple phrases. Every line below is an email, either to or from Standard Chartered Platinum Support, that hires a dedicated resource to investigate into every question for complete seven working days and then, most probably asks for more information.
-I applied online. I confirmed with the person who collected my documentation. I confirmed with the lady who cross-verified my information over the telephone. I was told this is a ‘free for lifetime’ card. Why do I see annual charges in the paperwork I received?
-It is a “fee” card, not a “free” card.
-I applied online. I confirmed with the person who collected my documentation. I confirmed with the lady who cross-verified my information over the telephone. I was told this is a ‘free for lifetime’ card. Why do I see annual charges in the paperwork I received?
-First year free sir. From second year, you will pay 844.00 INR as annual fee.
-I applied online. I confirmed with the person who collected my documentation. I confirmed with the lady who cross-verified my information over the telephone. I was told this is a ‘free for lifetime’ card. Why do I see annual charges in the paperwork I received?
-Who told you so? Is there any written communication? Is there a reference number??
-I applied online. I confirmed with the person who collected my documentation. I confirmed with the lady who cross-verified my information over the telephone. I was told this is a ‘free for lifetime’ card. Why do I see annual charges in the paperwork I received?
-Unless I see a written proof, this is a “fee” card.
-I applied online. I confirmed with the person who collected my documentation. I confirmed with the lady who cross-verified my information over the telephone. I was told this is a ‘free for lifetime’ card. Why do I see annual charges in the paperwork I received?
-Only in December we had that offer. If you had applied in December, you would have gotten that offer.
-I applied in December!
-Your card was “generated” in January. So, offer not valid.
-Open Standard Chartered India website. Click “Internet Banking”. Check the banner that says “Free for life”. If you want a written proof, write that down. And once you’re done, please confirm that the card I received is a “free” card. AND, it’s not December anymore.
-Oh that!! Yes sir, it’s a free for life card for you.
Phew!
Isn’t that sweet!
In between those email messages to and fro, because it takes 7 working days for each response, I called their support number as well.
Arun (my SC phone buddy) and Prakash (last email guy) both initially told me it was a “fee” card. Now, Prakash came around but am not sure what Arun thinks. So, just to be sure, my email exchange continues.
-Thanks for confirming that this is a “free” card. Now, send me written communication. May be a printed letter.
-I confirm this is a lifetime free card for you.
-I would prefer a laminated copy. What if you, Arun or someone else from SC asks me in the future the same question I was already asked? “Do you have a written communication? Is there a reference number??”
-I confirm this is a lifetime free card for you.
-And make sure there is a reference number attached to the communication. Apparently, that’s important!
- <awaiting response>
Simultaneously, there is another topic in discussion with Standard Chartered Platinum Support. They spelled my name incorrect [on the account, not card] and when asked for correction, they need (1). School leaving Certificate (2). Birth Certificate (3). Driving License (4). Passport (5). PAN Card copy.
I ask- who is the basta*d who typed my name into the database in the first place? Where did he get it from? Where did the documentation I provided go? Was it sold to some terrorists to get fake SIM cards? AND, because some dumbo cannot type my name carefully into the system, I send you all that information (self-attested, btw)?
I say- Send me a passport size photo of that idiot who entered my name into the system. Of course, self-attested. Attach his passport in original and send in “normal post only” without stamp. No registered post or couriers entertained.
Okay, now DIY key ring:
Material needed:
Instructions:
Ta-da! There you have a 1,16,000 INR worth key ring! Elegant, heh?
Optional:
Action plan:
I send this link to Standard Chartered Support every freakin’ day until my name is corrected.
If you charge me extra (annual fee or any other charge), I will fight, argue or break up. But if you spell my name incorrect, you’ve gone far. Too far. If you don’t correct it when pointed out, you don’t deserve to live. You die.
