Monkey Boy

The Virgin Wars

After my complaint yesterday Virgin replied on Hello Peter. But have not fixed the problem or even offered a solution. I am exactly where I was at this time yesterday morning. At my desk, PINless and frustrated...think I will go and bash my head against the wall...at least there I will get a result.

In their reply they said:
"The reason we have been sending some of our clients to the Absa branches for their pins, is for them to get the pins quicker if they wish to withdraw money from their cards , if you are willing to wait for your pin via post that is still an option you have."

I told them the first time I phoned at the end of August that I was willing to wait for my PIN but I still don't have it. Come on guys our postal service is not that bad!!

"We did try to get hold of you on the number provided and could not get through."
They tried once didn't get through for whatever techno-cellular reason (call went straight to voice mail) and left a message. I couldn't hear the callers name and they left NO contact number.

"I will get one of our client services consultants to call you again this afternoon, to give you feedback."

They phoned later and said they would "look into it". This is what they said the very first time I phoned so I am back where I started.

"Should you require any assistance in future please email us on services@virgin money .co.za"
Well we already know how useful a mail to that email address is - see below.

Blingless 2

So apart from my post on Hello Peter I also emailed services@virginmoney.co.za and got this automated response:

"Hi there

Thank you for getting in touch with Virgin Money - we’re always happy to hear from you. Expect a mail from us in the next day or two. If you’re desperate to speak to us, please call us on 0860 VMONEY (866 639).

blah blah blah blah blah"

To which I replied:

"Dear automated response,

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly but this is about as helpful as a kick in the teeth. I emailed you BECAUSE YOUR HELP DESK DOESN'T HELP ME, why would I want to phone them. So where to now Bob."

Does anyone have Sir Rick's email address?

No "Bling" for me!

I have only used my blog once before as a forum for complaining about customer service (okay apart from my on going gripe about Telkom). Funnily enough last time was about a bank as well. Come on guys how hard can it be to offer acceptable customer service???

Cos I am lazy I'll just paste what I posted on the consumer complaint site Hello Peter

"I opened a Virgin Money credit card 3 months ago. Due to the huge demand it was a little late in arriving but I really didn't mind because it was delivered to me where and when I wanted. I was so thrilled in fact I told all my friends and family to get a bling card and I know a few of them did.

But something went wrong when they issued my PIN and I didn't get it. I still don't have it and everytime I phone looking for it I am told the only way to get one is to visit an ABSA branch. Am I being unreasonable refusing to go to an ABSA branch? In the original conditions it was never mentioned I would have to visit a bank. I actually opened this account because I hate visiting banks.

I feel like I am being punished even though I did nothing wrong. It is a feeling I am used to because it is the same feeling I get when phoning Telkom, City Power or any other large South African corporation who willingly take your money but make their mistakes your problem. So I gave them till 10:00am today to phone me back. It is 10:45am and still no call. So as promised here is my complaint.

Sir Richard I think a foot is needed down here in South Africa to administer an a$$-kicking"

First Female Space Tourist

  ISSpressConf.jpg 
  Originally uploaded by Space Explorer.

Wow...wow...wow...

I'm absolutley gobsmacked. The first female space tourist , Anousheh Ansari, is blogging from space and even posting pictures on flickr. You have to go and see the pictures taken from her "bedroom" window. WOW.

Oh and Anousheh...if you happen to pass by and read the Monkey Boy blog...I am kinda sorry about the Horny Old Goat post now.

Markhor

Every now and then the animal of the day link throws up something very interesting. Today it is the Markhor (Capra falconeri). Interesting name.....interesting picture.....but what really cracked me up is that it is the national animal of Pakistan. Now I gotta be careful here...don't want to tramp on any Islamic toes...but come on guys...it's a Horny Old Goat and check out the bin Laden beard on the dude.

I reckon as the British colonialist were pulling out of the region in 1947 one of the outgoing government officials pulled a fast one on his newly elected counterpart when he suggested the Markhor as the national animal. The Queen and Prince Phillip must still chuckle about it over tea and marmalade at breakfast.

...heh hee...sorry all this....titter....titter....giggling....shew....I think I'm going for a little lay down.

Suitable Catch-phrase

I know I had promised to change the catch-phrase on my blog quite a while back....but I just couldn't find anything suitable....until I remembered this suitably unsuitable quote from Black Adder

"A man may fight for many things. His country, his friends, his principles, the glistening tear on the cheek of a golden child. But personally, I'd mud-wrestle my own mother for a ton of cash, an amusing clock and a sack of French porn."

Gotta love that piece of wisdom coming from a man in tights.

One of the quickest cars in the world.

What's faster than a Volkswagen GTI 2.0T, a Lamborghini Murcielago and a Porche 911 GT... dum, dum, dum... the Mini Cooper S mmmhhhh I wonder if that's with the ice-trays in or out (see post below).

Anyway that's the red one...my bloo one averages 69.5 down main street (if the traffic lights are against me)!

(Hey you have to follow the link if you want this to make sense so go back and press it.)

Why?

Why put stripes on your fridge?
Why do you need a fridge that does 0-100kmph in 7 secs?
Why must your fridge match you car?
Why buy a fridge made by SMEG?
Why is such a big fridge called a mini fridge?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

BECAUSE

It would look real nice next to my car and I could get a truck load of beers in it.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/07/chillin-with-mini/

Remember the 3,000

Today is Sept 11 and you are going to see many blogs reminding you to remember the 2,996. While I can empathise with people who lost someone 5 years ago I really do think it is time for American to get over themselves. So I say remember the 3,000.

Who are the 3,000? It is the number of children who will die from malaria today and while Bush is spending uncounted billions on avenging the 2,996 no amount of money will bring them back. In contrast spending some of that fortune on malaria may help the 5,475,000 children who will die from malaria in the next 5 years.

http://www.amref.org/index.asp?PageID=50&PiaID=1
http://www.unicef.org/health/index_malaria.html

Careers I would rather have pt1:

Can you believe this guy is getting paid to do this.