Little victories..

Over dinner the other day, I was recounting how I made a card centre pull out an entire year's transactions and had them reconcile the entries line by line.

All because I didn't know what was going on in the account.

To me, it was a legitimate request. And that was also why the bank obliged.

But the folks around the dinner table seemed surprised at this 'concession'.

That was a surprise to me instead. Of course, you don't just call up the bank and ask them to do this that and others. You must position yourself properly so they'll listen and do what you want.

Perhaps it's because I knew what buttons to press, being in the industry.

Like with all other companies, banks and their various departments have their own Achilles' Heels.

You just need to know what they are, to get them jumping *wicked smile*



On a separate note, I just won a mini battle with an insurance company.

Said company wrote to me, telling me that my group policy contract's definition of critical illness will be superceded by the new ones issued by MAS in 2003.

I was horrified.

How can they change goal posts like this? MAS new critical illness guidelines issued in 2003 were lauded as aligning differences in the industry, but also known to be more difficult to put a claim on as by their definitions, insurers pay 'only when you're about to die'.

I told them I do not agree to the changes. Nevermind if this is a bad move. I'll live with what I'd bought.

Insurance company replied that

Under the group structure of Portable Term Life / Critical Illness, it has the advantages of aligning with market changes and industries practices for the whole group of policyholders to keep their policy current to the market updates/changes and no one individual is left behind on old policy wordings, unlike the individual policies.

Okay. That sounds like it's for my benefit, no?

'keep my policy current', 'no individual left behind', 'advantage of aligning with market changes'...all sounds like some feel-good election talk.

But, given that I've had no less than three insurance agents informed me (one of whom from the same company that wants to make the changes) that post 2003, the definitions for critical illness are tougher to claim under, I'll stick with my old policy, thank you.

Not that I was expecting them to agree. Afterall, mine is a group policy. Change one, change all. That's how it works.

But I was quite prepared to be nasty about it and give them some pain, (actually, a lot of pain!) since I'm likely to make a claim on this one day, heh!

Hey, can't allow them to arbitrarily change the terms, afterall, that's why I need insurance. To eliminate uncertainty. Can't have insurance companies adding to that after all the years of premiums I've been paying.

After a few days of email debates, surprise!

Insurance company replied they'll make an exception and let me keep my policy's old definitions.


David 1 Goliath 0

NDP

I know. I'm so lucky. Got picked at the ballot for this year's National Day Parade!

Woohoo!!

Out of the 350,000 people who balloted for 27,000 seats, I have a coveted two. *hysterical laughter*

For that reason, NDP tickets are priceless, everyone says. Though would anyone chide me if I try to put a price tag on them? Yes? A bid someone?

Anyway, picking up the tickets were, apart from a long walk, uneventful. Till I got to the collection point.

First, I was accosted by a group of 5 young men, who cheerfully herded me along some barricades into the building.

Then, I was stopped by another 5 young men, who asked for my ID card, before directing me to a table to fill out some forms.

Puzzled, and irritated by now over the long long walk I had to make in the humid weather, I glared at the piece of paper that the recruit handed to me.

In a monotone, he asked 'do you have facebook' 'are you on twitter' 'please fill in the form'

The said form asked for my name, ID number, handphone number, facebook account and twitter account. Then followed by two questions, the exact words I can't remember, but essentially to ask what National Day means to me.

I frowned.

I hate giving out my handphone number.

And don't see why I should.

Me : must I complete the form before I can collect my tickets?

Boy : yes

Me frowned some more. Don't like being arm-twisted.

Me : *with a small smile* I can't think of anything to write.

Boy : write anything

Me : *smile gone* but my mind is a blank

Boy : don't have to think too hard, just write anything, one sentence also can

Me : but I cannot just write anything. I must respond seriously.

Boy : then just write something

Me : but I need to think first before I write, I cannot just write something without thinking, and my mind is a blank now

Boy : ??

Me : so can I collect my tickets first? and think and write later?

Boy : oh, okay. please proceed to the next counter for your tickets

Me : thank you.


So much for his initial 'must-complete-form-before-collecting-tickets'.

Pity this person gave in. He was luckier than me. Got 4 tickets!

Efficiency measurements in the absence of real KPIs

When you're not measured by actual revenue generated, and need to substantiate your existence...this is the kind of competition you engage in.

Below email came as a result of a recent employee survey initiative. Leading up to this, there had been no less than 8 emails over the last week on the same subject.


"We are currently leading in the divisional race (I didn't know we were even in a race!) and close to the previous year's response rate of 91%.

Actual figures:

Bank overall 76%
Division PB 78%


PRIVATE BANKING ASIA 86%
NORTH ASIA 88%
PB JAPAN 73%
PB ASIA PACIFIC COO 91%
PB-SEA MARKETS AND AUSTRALASIA 84%
ASIA PACIFIC 87%

Tomorrow will be the last day of the survey. Please complete survey if not already done so."



Sigh.

I wanted to say 'bo liao' but better not, in case bad karma comes round to bite me in the form of 3Q retrenchments.

Achievements

I did 2.4!! Woohoo!! Happiness!

How many calories are burned with a 2.4km jog?



Separately, I received *ahem* an order!

For an almond butter cake!! :)

From 'pian jia' banker to 'pian jia' baker! *gleeful laughter*

Moving up the ladder...

Guess what?

Someone actually asked me if I would sit on the investment committee of some society!

Wah!! The 'pian jia' banker turned finance authority!

*head swell*



Separately, I stepped on the weighing machine in the gym over the weekend and found that I'd gained a mind boggling 8kg between Mar 08 - Jun 09.

Yes, 8.

E i g h t.

Averaged about 0.5kg per month. Or excess intake of 3,500 calories.

Or translates to

7 packets of Indonesian prawn crackers
9 packets of Myojo instant noodles
6 packets of large fries
15 slices of bak kwa
4 servings of fish and chips
5 servings of gado gado
5 servings of chicken rice
5 servings of hor fun
4 servings of char kuay teow

too many each month.

And why did I step on the weighing machine? Cos I wanted to have chwee kueh for breakfast.



How yummy is that....drool...

I'd assume you've guessed correctly, there was no chwee kueh for me over the weekend.

Instead, I formulated a strategy to shed that 8kg.

Sigh. This is going to be one lonesome battle.

My pants are already stretching at the seams, so much so there's actually a little white line adding some colour down the sides of my black pants. Why they'd use white thread for black pants I've no idea.

Since times are bad, liposuction is not an option available.

I've decided to do it the old fashioned way. Wake up @ 5am each morning and jog round the neighbourhood track.

*applaud the effort*

Status so far?

Day 1 : I made it past 600m before collapsing in breathlessness and aching muscles.

Day 2 : I made it past 800m before collapsing in breathlessness and aching muscles.

Day 3 : not here yet...but aching muscles are petitioning for a rest

Should I listen to them?

Weight lost so far? .....next question?


Guess petition's overruled.

ps. sidebar song changed :)

Writing to our civil servants...

Last Sunday, feeling a little outraged that the loss of SGD6billion (est) was swept under the carpet so easily (I mean, have you heard anything more about it since??)

Sigh...even Fann Wong's ROM got covered more thoroughly than this scandal.

Anyway, as I was saying. Feeling outraged at the local ponzi scheme loss of our CPF monies, and doubly feeling like I would like some accountability and kick up some fuss, I did the unthinkable (for me) so far.

I wrote to the Finance Minister.

Yes, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam himself.

I told him I felt very puzzled over the decision to cut loss on Bank of America. Especially since I was told, along with the rest of the country that this is a long term investment.

I also told him I felt very disappointed over the less than glorious track record of Temasek - think Chartered Semicon, ABC Learning, Shin Corp, Barclays, Bank of America, etc.

And how the amount of losses gets larger by the years.

Is our kitty getting so large SGD6B is child's play?

And how by some coincidence, my retirement / CPF withdrawal age gets pushed back further.

No lah...the last two statements I didn't say. Secali gave ideas where none existed, not that I doubt this is not top of their mind right now.

How to sell the idea that we need to push back the withdrawal age, they must be thinking now...like from 85 to 90...*wail* I'm never going to see my CPF monies :(

*sobs* *sniffles*



Separately, I also wrote to the editor of Sunday Times.

Yes, I was in that kind of mood on Sunday.

I asked him why he thinks a subscriber to the national news daily would be more interested in a pair of celebrities' ROM that it had to be headlines worthy, than the fact that SGD6B of our monies had disappeared overnight.





It's now end of Thursday. Almost a week.

Even if it's civil service, it should be enough time?

All over again...

Starting all over again...the dreaded R word.

Sigh...