The End of F1 GP for Lot 10!

Mon 270709

What can I say? This morning was to have marked the end of our subscription to the Sports package in our local satellite tv service provider, Astro. And yup, it was found to be not value for money by continuing to subscribe to it considering the rather steep further increase in the subscription for this particular package. (Pls check out my earlier entry re the latest price increase.)

As it was, both inmates of Lot 10 had a truly enjoyable time watching our "last" & "final" F1 GP race Live @ Hungaroring in Hungary last night, our time (2pm in Hungary). To add to the nostalgia, the race was watched on the BIG screen! And this time around, there was more than the usual excitement...more thrills & spills...even with Alonso losing a whole wheel after a pitstop!!

And yup, Lewis Hamilton won the race! As the pics above show...

However, the disposal of the Sports package did not turn out to be an easy simple task...as it should have been.

To cut a long story short, the first call to Astro Customer Service line @1 300 82 3838 just after 10am this morning. Arrangements to have the switch-over from Sports to Variety mini package went smoothly...so it seemed at the time.

Then the wait...the long wait began. Previously, such changes transacted over the phone were effected after the call was over. That was previously....

This time around, it was different. By 5:30pm, there was no sign of any change. All the Sports channels were still available. There was still NO sign of any of the the Variety channels though! Kinda expected, right? Cos the Sports channels were still there! Correct? No changes. Period.

Made a second call. And, of course, the hassle of pressing this number key & that number key...for this and for that...as common in all automated phone reply systems nowadays! This time around, I was told that there was a system problem and the personnel who took my call, told me she would activate the switch-over there & then. And she even confirmed to me as such at the end of the call. Was it so? Nope. Pls read on...

Back at my tv & trying all those channel numbers, trying as hard in whatever way I knew how & could, I still could not access any of the Variety channels! Even went through the rituals of re-downloading the List of Services...to the extent of switching off & back on the receiving MM console a number of times. No way!

Made one more call...kinda out of desperation! And frustration...

This time around, the guy who answered literally went through all the various checks in their system & confirmed that changes have been made as per my request. I then asked, "Then why is it that I still cannot access the switched-over channels?"

Cutting a long story short again, this guy got me to go through a list of checks including what I'd done before (as stated above) and finally asking me to remove my Astro Smartcard & putting it back into the module.

That did it!! Phew!

That made me wonder...why didn't the earlier 2 staff members tell me that the Smartcard had to be removed & reinserted before such a change would be effective? Even if so, I do NOT remember having to do so during those few times previously in the past that I had requested for changes to be made my subscribed packages. What gives?

If an answer given by the said guy applies, I would say that it truly serves Astro right! Yup, Astro asked for all the confusion & hopefully, subsequent losses, too! The answer? Their system is encountering problems cos of the heavy traffic due to the latest price increase of the Sports package!! Ha ha!

Does anyone know the true story? Maybe a delaying tactic by Astro to keep unhappy subscribers still in the Sports package...as long as possible? Maybe in time for bills to include the new increase & thus make some millions out of it?

Frankly it doesn't matter now. My switch-over is now officially in place and I will start saving some hard-earned $$ in the months ahead. That is what matters most...to me, at least!

To end this entry on a happier note, here's a very recent pic of our fav grandaughter, KL, taken by her mom on her brand new N97...

Nice?

Pic was sent via MMS. Haven't seen her for already more than a month. Kinda thinner...slimmer if you guys prefer that term.

Well, what's more important is her health. Agreed? As is, size does not matter...haha!

My best wishes to all for a great new week ahead!