Showing posts with label CALL CENTER MONEY TIPS. Show all posts

With you through thick and thin: A captivating story of love with Home Credit 

As a Dad Blogger in the Philippines, I know that finding the ideal gift amidst the whirlwind of wedding preparations is no easy feat, yet it's one task that’s filled with heartfelt intentions. I truly love this story from Home Credit where they turned a real life scenario into an AD.

For Diana Marie Mendoza-Zabala, a devoted high school Science teacher, this quest took on a new significance just three days before saying “I do.” to Joemar Zabala, a secondary Social Studies educator.

The perfect partner para sa love

Wedding preparations are usually hectic, and Diana and Joemar weren’t exempted from this experience when they started getting ready for their big day. Their schedules and calendars were so full that Diana almost forgot to buy a special gift for Joemar, a present that was intended to be a part of their vows.

Three days before their special day, Diana revisited the mall where they first crossed paths with a clear idea of what she wanted to give him—a watch that would perfectly symbolize their enduring, timeless love. She scoured the mall and found a variety of options, some more affordable than others, but a particular timepiece caught her attention.

“Noong bumili ako ng gift para sa wedding namin, sa SM Store sa Lucena City ako pumunta. Yung gift na gusto kong ibigay ko sa kanya is relo, pero that time, kapos na kami sa budget. Iniisip ko talaga paano ko ma-a-avail yung relo kung wala naman akong hawak na pera para mabarayan siya ng full payment. Buti na lang tinawag ng sales lady yung sales associate ng Home Credit at nasabihan niya ako na ‘Sakto, Ma’am, naka-promo kami ngayon, 0% interest.

Bago ko ibigay yung regalo kay Joemar, gumawa ako ng letter para sa kanya; pero sa dulo ng message, sinabi ko na bayad na ang downpayment ng relo, siya na nga lang ang bahala sa installment na three months, pero 0% interest naman,” Diana happily recalled.

(I purchased my wedding gift for Joemar in SM Store Lucena. I really wanted to give him a wristwatch as a gift, but at that time, I didn’t have enough money for it. I was thinking of possible ways to get it, even though I didn’t have enough cash on hand, when the sales lady assisting me called for Home Credit’s sales associate. The associate then went on to tell me that, as luck would have it, Home Credit had a 0% interest promo at that time.

Before I gave my gift to Joemar, I wrote him a letter, indicating in the last part that I had already paid for the wristwatch’s downpayment, he just needed to pay for the remaining three-month installment fees, but with no interest).

The lifelong companion in every chapter

And then, it was D-day. As Diana presented Joemar with her gift availed through Home Credit, videographer Bryant Nanez captured the heartfelt moment, where Diana even presented Joemar with the Home Credit care card as part of her present, in a sensational same-day-edit video. The sincerity and distinctiveness of the gesture caused the video, which was posted online, to go viral and quickly garner over 41.5K views. The unexpected attention from the public was a delightful surprise for the couple, who were overjoyed to see their wedding inspiring viewers.

“At Home Credit, we understand the importance of celebrating life's special moments, especially when it comes to love. As a trusted lifestyle partner, our commitment lies in delivering convenient and fast access to credit, empowering Filipinos to lead the lives they deserve. We are overjoyed to be a part of not just Diana and Joemar's beautiful love story, but also of the multitude of life stories that we touch through our services,” Sheila Paul, Chief Marketing Officer of Home Credit Philippines, expressed.

Joemar conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to Home Credit for consistently serving as a reliable partner throughout the various chapters of his life.

“Kung tao si Home Credit, lubos kaming magpapasalamat sa kanya dahil noong walang-wala ako, naging malaking tulong ito para sakin. Ngayon na nagsisimula na kami bilang mag-asawa, gusto naming makapagpundar ng mga gamit, at naisip namin na why not i-try namin gamit ang Home Credit.

Pero hihintayin muna namin na matapos ang existing loan namin dahil ang pagkuha ng loan ay isang proseso na kailangang pagplanuhan kung kailan dapat kunin. Ito ay isang responsibilidad at ang mga nagagamit natin na galing sa hiram ay kailangan nating bayaran dahil napakinabangan na natin ang mga ito, at dahil naging mabait ang mga nagpahiram nito at napakabilis lang din naman ang proseso,” Joemar remarked.

(If Home Credit were a person, we would thank them profusely because they were there for us when we had close to none. Now that we are starting our married life, we would like to build a home and try to use Home Credit for it.

However, we would wait first to finish our existing Home Credit loan, since acquiring loans is a process that needs thorough thinking and planning. Getting loans is a responsibility, and the things that we get to use and enjoy because of it need the right repayments since the creditor was generous enough to let us borrow, and the process of borrowing was also fast and convenient.)

With this touching wedding tale, how did Joemar discover the love of his life, Diana? To unveil the enchanting story that binds them, let's rewind to the very beginning.

A tale of love at first sight

Diana and Joemar's charming love story unfolded when fate intervened one day. According to Joemar, the magic began with a love-at-first-sight encounter. Sometime in 2017, while browsing through social media, he stumbled upon Diana's profile, tagged in a wedding photo shared by mutual friends.

“Social media talaga ang naging way para magkakilala kami nitong aking asawa. [Noong nakita ko siya], sabi ko, why not i-chat ko siya? Noong first time ko siyang na-meet, parang na-love at first sight ako. Na-realize ko agad na magiging asawa ko siya,” Joemar fondly reminisced.

(Social media paved the way for our paths to cross. When I first saw her profile, all I could think of was sending her a chat message. The first time I met her, it felt like love at first sight, and I already knew back then that she would be my future wife.)

Following their initial meeting, their love blossomed, leading them to officially become a couple. During the first two years of their relationship, they chose to keep things lowkey, recognizing Diana's parents' protective nature. They discreetly went on dates, always respecting her parents' wishes, and adhering to her 7 PM curfew, despite both being of legal age.

As a couple, Joemar and Diana share a simple yet meaningful connection, marked by common hobbies, interests, and values. They enjoy exploring different restaurants, savoring new experiences one venue at a time—and being practical about it. This love language formed the foundation of their relationship.

Seven years down the road, Joemar and Diana embraced the next chapter of their love story, deciding to exchange vows and tie the knot in 2023. After their union, Joemar and Diana were abundantly blessed. They acquired a new home and a car, and the blessings continued with the anticipation of a baby on the way.

Learn more about Joemar and Diana’s love story here.

To know more about the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website, www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Customers are also encouraged to download the My Home Credit App on Google Play to learn more about the latest promos and see what’s new in Shopping Mall Philippines.

Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

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About Home Credit

Home Credit Philippines is the lifestyle partner of every Filipino, providing access to credit through fast, convenient, and affordable financing in more than 15,000 partner stores nationwide. The brand offers a wide range of products from smartphones and laptops, home appliances and furniture, bicycles, and motorcycle accessories to electronics and hardware, sports equipment, and many more – offered at low or 0% interest rates in easy monthly installments.

In its 10th year in the Philippines, Home Credit has served over 10 million Filipinos. Beyond installment financing and related insurance services, Home Credit also offers cash loans, a virtual spending limit named Qwarta, and a credit card for its existing qualified customers. With the My Home Credit app, Filipino customers are just a click away to get the products they want for an elevated lifestyle.

More information on HCPH is available at www.homecredit.ph.

The Best and most affordable Insurance for Seniors in the Philippines (Over 65 years old)

Seniors in the Philippines are usually dependent on their children. We are not a rich country and financial planning and education are often ignored. That is why when sickness occurs, our families usually shoulder the burden of hospitalization and treatment.

This is why we must always plan ahead for our financial future. Health cards for seniors and health insurance for seniors in the Philippines is a need for anyone who is taking care of seniors. You must always consider the fact that no matter how restricted your budget is - when a senior gets sick, you will have to shell out large sums. That is why while your parents/grandparents are healthy - you should start looking for insurance.

More affordable Insurance for Seniors in the Philippines

Senior citizens are one of the most vulnerable sectors in the country. They may be old and frail, but they still have important responsibilities to fulfill. Due to the lack of financial education in our country, many people don't know what type of insurance is best for senior citizens in the Philippines. In this blog article, we'll explore everything you need to know about insurance geared toward older individuals.

PhilHealth coverage in the Philippines will NEVER be enough

PhilHealth is a medical insurance in the Philippines that is readily available for all senior citizens, however,you need to understand that PhilHealth only covers a certain amount and take it as somewhat of a discount card.

When you avail of inpatient benefits, PhilHealth is obliged to pay the accredited healthcare institution or HCI where you’re admitted. The amount that will be deducted from your total bill will depend on your medical case rate or condition.

There are free Government Hospitals in the Philippines, so I do not need Insurance.

While this again is true, you have to consider that free hospitals mean that everyone has access to it. This equates to long lines, a lack of doctors, and conditions that may not meet your needs. If you have a senior that has an emergency, and you rush to a free government hospital - you have to wait in line amongst other emergencies. You will simply watch your family member suffer before they get looked at, or worse yet - many people die before they can get a slot along the lines of government hospitals.

What Sets a Health Card Apart from a Health Insurance Plan for seniors?

Health Maintenance Organization/HMO for seniors usually deal with checkups, emergencies, and outpatient care. They cover the costs of check-ups and preventive maintenance for seniors.

You can get prepaid health cards for senior citizens online. Purchase the card, then activate it. Benefits are available for an entire year or until the amount included is consumed.

So what are the Best and Cheap Health Cards for Seniors

1. Maxicare Prima Gold ₱12,999

You get unlimited lab tests and consultation at Maxicare Primary Care Clinics or MyHealth Clinics.
ER coverage of 20,000 for Maxicare affiliated hospitals. Plus teleconsultations.
Dental procedures are covered.

Note: No Cardiologists

2. PhilCare Vida Care Premiere PHP13,270.00

My current card of choice. PhilCare Vidacare Premiere is a health plan that covers multiple-use benefits for unlimited medical and dental consultations to all accredited physicians nationwide and unlimited laboratory and diagnostics procedures available at Philcare-owned clinics only.

This also covers a single-use benefit up to Php20,000 for outpatient emergency care for viral, bacterial illnesses, and treatment of injuries resulting from accidents (except for stroke) in 500+ Philcare accredited hospitals nationwide.

My story: My mother had an accident and I had to rush to the ER. I just had to present the voucher to the attending physician and all costs were covered.

For checkups, they will give a link where you may search for an accredited doctor. You can print out a voucher and get unlimited checkups for free for any doctor and specialist.

Lastly, once you get requests for laboratories, you just have to call their hotlines and schedule a lab consult at their accredited clinics (Mall of Asia and Makati).

3. InLife MedConsult Seniors 3500PHP

Up to four (4) face-to-face medical consultations to all Insular Health Care-accredited general physicians, family medicine specialists, internal medicine specialists (with subspecialties in cardiology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, endocrinology, infectious medicine, nephrology, urology, rheumatology, oncology, hematology, and allergology), general surgeons, orthopedic doctors, ENT specialists, geriatricians and rehabilitation medicine specialists.

Cheap Health Insurance for Seniors in the Philippines (Over 65)

For Affordable Health Insurance for seniors, there are currently two providers in the Philippines with the cheapest costs.

1. Paramount Direct:

For as low as 300 pesos a month, you can get hospitalization benefits for seniors. They have several plans that actually give you cashback once hospitalization or critical illnesses are diagnosed.

Paramount Direct has the following plans below for Seniors:

PrimeCare Cash Plan - hospitalization benefits that give back to you per day of confinement, ICU and surgery.
PrimeHealth Cash Plan - health insurance that gives 100,000 PHP once diagnosed of a critical illness (Heart Attack, Stroke, Cancer, Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, and End-stage Renal Failure requiring dialysis) you are paid a lump sum cash.

2. Pacific Cross Premiere - 33237PHP

Pacific Cross Premiere is my current choice. For 33k, you get a 500,000 benefit for each diagnosed sickness. This is all through reimbursement where you shoulder 10% and Pacific Cross will shoulder 90% of fees. You also get an annual APE exam, plus ER reimbursement for up to 5000PHP.

Why I choose Pacific Cross Premiere?

The logic is simple, as seniors age, they usually have multiple sicknesses. One sickness amounts to hundreds of thousands, plus confinement costs, plus doctors. Pacific Cross covers all of these.

Don't wait until it is too late to get insurance. Start planning today.

To be honest, I would rather borrow money to pay for insurance rather than borrow money to pay for hospital bills.

For most of us in the Philippines, Insurance is something we get when we get extra money. In reality, we should set this as a priority. If your parents get sick tomorrow - how will you shoulder the costs?

Will you go with the usual indignity of borrowing money from friends and relatives? Everyone has their own family to take care of, and you asking for help from others means that you become a burden.

You also cannot predict what kind of health problems might befall senior citizens or when those problems might occur.

How much do you earn in a call center?

Are you planning to work in a call center? Did you know that average salary for a Call Center Agent is Php 15,000- 20,000 in 2022? Find out how much can you earn and increase your chance of getting hired by improving your skills.

In this guide, we'll look at the typical salaries for call center agents in the Philippines and highlight some of the perks that come with working in these jobs. We'll also give you some tips on where to find opportunities if you're looking to start a new career in a call center. We've got everything covered so keep reading!

Call Center Philippines Salary Revealed!

Call center agents are the face of customer service. They interact with customers, either over the phone or via email, responding to questions and concerns in a helpful manner. A call center agent salary can vary depending on where you work, but in general it’s pretty high compared to other jobs in the Philippines: around 15-20k per month is the usual average.

What are signing bonuses?

There are call centers that offer 20-40k signing bonuses. For call centers, they do this as a way to attract people. However, always note that no company will usually shell out a large amount of money when there has been no work done yet. This is why there may be certain conditions to receive that amount.

Some conditions are - you get half immediately when hired, then you get half when regularized. Other conditions are that you must finish training before you get any amount. There are certain conditions for signing bonuses for call centers. That is why you should always clarify this point.

Why should I work in a call center?

More importantly than just a paycheck, though, working as a call center agent will give you valuable experience that will serve your career well both now and into the future. Not only do they get plenty of practice communicating with others (a skill that’s key when applying for any job), they also learn how to work under pressure and deal with difficult situations at work—and these skills will come in handy no matter what industry you pursue next!

The requirements for becoming one aren't too strict: You simply need to pass an exam called "Basic Knowledge Test" which tests your ability to communicate effectively in English and be computer literate.

Call center agents can earn P20,000 per month. For a call center agent who has been in the industry for 3 years, this is equivalent to roughly P1,000 per day.

Work as a Call Center Agent Today

To become a call center agent, you must first apply for the position. The hiring manager will review your resume and if they believe it is a fit for the job opening, they will contact you for an interview.

During this phase of the process, the company will ask questions regarding your past experience in customer service and see if there are any gaps in employment history that would make you unqualified for this position. They may also ask behavioral questions so they can get to know more about who they're potentially hiring.

If everything goes well with this portion of their evaluation process, then congratulations! You've made it through one step closer towards becoming a part-time or full-time employee at their organization! If not then keep trying until eventually something does go right because eventually it will ;)

But before signing on any dotted line or accepting any offer letter from prospective employers there are some things worth considering: Is this company reputable? Are there other companies offering higher salaries? What benefits do they offer (health insurance coverage)? How often do employees get raises or bonuses? Is there room growth within their department?

You also need to consider that call centers may not be a career for the long term. You may consider this as a stepping stone and apply directly to other companies as a support desk.

Conclusion

The call center industry continues to boom in the Philippines, with hundreds of new jobs created every month for professionals like you. If you’re still looking for a career, then why not consider one that offers great opportunities and a good salary?

NOTE: This story is based on my own personal experience.

Owning a condominium is not an impossible goal for Call Center Agents. If you work hard on those promotions, and you get to a higher salary bracket, then it may be possible. Condominiums now have payment schemes that are easier to pay with more reasonable amounts.

However, there are still a few "things" we Call Center Agents should be aware of before buying that said investment.

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You see those sales agents in malls handing out flyers for Condominiums that are as low as 7,000 - 8,000 a month. Like outbound call center sales agents, their goal is to get their target hooked, with the terms of payment explained as vaguely as possible.

Metro Manila Condominiums are expensive - period. You will get cheaper deals if you buy a low cost house and lots in Cavite or somewhere farther away. If the deal seems amazingly cheap, then there has to be a catch somewhere.

Payment schemes for condominiums are like metrics for calls - a lot of computation is involved.

The down payment is usually 10% or 20% of the actual Condo total price. It is usually the down payment that is advertised as the low-monthly payment and not the amount you have to pay this afterward.

-- 'ang daming nabobola dito'

Let's say the condo unit you are buying has a total price of 1M. The down payment is 10% so that's 100,000.00 PHP. Divide the DP by 12mos - and you get the low low price of 8333.00PHP per month. WOW!

However, once you pay off the down payment after a year, you now have to produce the remaining amount of 900,000.00. You pay for this in cash or through a bank loan.

Since you are a call center agent and not a millionaire, I am assuming that you will opt for a bank loan. The amount you have to pay off may have a 6-10% interest from the bank (which could also increase every year). Your original monthly 8333.00php can go as high as 10k - 15k a month.

'Never think of banks as charitable institutions.'

Factor in also the fact that the banks approved Loan may not be the full amount at all. After paying for the down payment, banks will give you a loan based on your income and age. So if you ask for a 900k loan, the bank will assess first and offer you different amounts. For the 900k request, the bank may only approve a 600k loan - so you have to get the remaining 400k magically. - 'parang mga goals at incentives na di mo alam sang kamay ng Diyos huhugutin...'

What happens to your down payment then if you are unable to continue paying for the Condominium? Some developers give back a certain amount only, some have clauses in their contract that if you fail to pay - 'nganga'.

So what to do?

Ask ask ask and ASK. Factor in all the points from the down payment to the monthly amortization, to the loan amount you may get with your current salary.

Get a credit check - some banks will not offer loans to Call Center/BPO employees. Go to a bank first and ask if you will be granted a loan.

You are a call center agent, so you know how agents should work - and IF the condo sales reps cannot or will not cater to your inquiries, then walk away or ask for another sales rep.

You have the right to know what you are getting yourself into.

Once you get all the terms clearly - then you go and compute your finances. Factor in all your expenses and see if it's feasible or not. Contact a bank and tell them that you are planning to buy a condo and what is the "loanable amount" you are to get in the future.

'If hindi talaga kaya, wag mo ipipilit. Wag mag pa pressure or madala ng sales-talk. Hindi naman si condo sales rep ang magdurusa pag di mo kaya bayaran ang binili mo...look for other options...'

Call center agents are supposed to be smart. So practice due diligence and pursue your dreams.

'Bawal maging tanga...'

Can you share other condo buying tips?

TIPS ON - EARNING EXTRA INCOME
http://www.callcentersurvivalph.com/2011/10/tips-on-getting-extra-income.html

TIPS ON - SAVING MONEY AS AN AGENT
http://www.callcentersurvivalph.com/2011/06/tips-on-saving-money-as-agent.html

The posts above are my tips on getting extra cash as a call center agent.

This post my actual experience in using oDesk to earn extra money.

UPDATE: oDESK is now Upwork. Check out their site here: Upwork

oDesk (now Upwork) is a company acting as a global job marketplace and a series of tools targeted at businesses that intend to hire and manage remote workers. - wikipedia

Sa tagalog at sa mas maka-masang termino - ang oDesk e parang Facebook pero trabaho ang pinaguusapan. Mag hahanap ka ng tao na me gusto ipagawa sayo, tapos babayran ka nila sa serbisyong nabigay mo -- lahat nito e sa internet nagaganap.

A current colleague of mine told me how oDesk helps her get a little extra money every month. My curiosity got the better of me, so I then tried to try oDesk. The end result was, I got 3k in a month with minimal effort.

The skills needed for oDesk like English proficiency, familiarity with MS office, and knowledge of the web, is already strengthened by the call center environment. This makes oDesk an ideal sideline for us call center reps.

So how was my actual experience?

I signed up for oDesk and created an account -- I just Googled oDesk and followed the instructions.

I then created a PayPal account - just login to Paypal and follow the instructions. I used the personal account and was asked for a legitimate credit card to pay the Paypal processing fee – it’s like a test charge - I think is was 500 Pesos (you get this back after a while). I also needed to link my own Bank (Metrobank ATM Savings) to PayPal.

I then went back to oDesk and created a profile for myself. This is like an online resume.

I then put in my asking price of $2.00.

Then I proceeded to see the list of jobs that were easy to do.

oDesk has literally thousands of jobs to choose from - from cutting and pasting excel values, to writing articles. There are job filters called "categories of interest"that you select. Jobs will return based on the categories.

I chose the filters below and applied for several jobs that appeared.

Blog & Article Writing
Creative Writing
Data Entry
Web Research

After 48 hours, I received an email that an employer would like to have an interview with me, and the employer gave his Yahoo Messenger.

My interview was just a simple chat session using YM. The employer needed 5 articles to be written for random topics that he would give. Each article would have 450 words, and he would pay me $2.50 for each article.

I had 1 week to finish all 5 articles.

He then asked if I could do this and I agreed.

The employer then asked me for some sample articles first before we sealed the deal. I emailed him some written work and after a few hours, I saw that he had hired me on oDesk with and emailed me with the article topics as well as instructions.

The employer emailed me everyday and checked on my progress. I honestly reported to him everything I was doing.

I managed to finish the articles in 5 days, spending about 1.5 hours for each article. I was immediately credited $12.50 upon submission.

I looked for more jobs, and the money I had on oDesk slowly accumulated. I then used oDesk itself to transfer the funds to my PayPal account. I then used PayPal to send to money to my Metrobank account.

In a month, I made 3,500k Php - I only used up 1 hour of my time day sitting in front of my computer. It may not be a big amount, but considering that I just use that time for Facebook, this was something worthwhile.

Conclusion:

oDesk is real and it works. If you are really serious in getting some extra income, then this one should definitely be one of your top options. All you need is a computer and some dedication and you really will make money with this.

This blog article just aims to share my experience to encourage my fellow agents that oDesk is a realistic way to earn extra income. Try to study and learn more about it, there are so many how-to's from fellow Filipinos that give detailed instructions with the whole oDesk process.

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