TriNetre - Archive for December 13, 2002

(no longer updated)

There have been several attempts to create lists of Indian bloggers. Anita Bora has one and so does Kamat and Diarist.Net. Though Anita's list is static, Kamat's is a user updated dynamic list. My question is, why can't anyone create a XML RPC server for creating a dynamic list and thus create something similar to Weblogs.com ?


My paper titled Analysis of Defacement of Indian Web Sites is online at First Monday. Any feedback will be appreciated.


This has to be the lousiest customer service experience in my short life. It started off a month or so ago, with a call from one of their telemarketers to my office. They asked whether I will be interested in an Am-ex blue card. Since I was in a situation where I wouldn't mind a larger credit limit, I said sure. The girl noted down the details and told me to expect a guy in the evening who would come to get my signature. I was impressed (for the last time), when the guy came with all the details filled up and all that was remaining was my signature, which I put.

About a week later, a letter (of one of the lowest paper quality I have seen a company use) came from Am-ex stating that my application has been rejected after considering all the information they had on me. Now, unlike in US, we in Singapore cannot force the credit card companies to divulge the source of the credit report. So when I called the Am-ex line and complained that they were the one who initiated the process and should have checked my eligibility, the lady said she can't do anything and as per the response seen in the database, my application was rejected due to "Management reasons". I was very surprised, since my credit history has been pretty good and I do have 3 other cards and the income criteria had been met.

I re-read the rejection letter and to my horror, found that my name was mis-spelt! So I wrote a strongly worded mail stating my case and asking for an explanation. Two days later, a lady called from Am-ex saying they are sorry for the confusion. It seems there was some system problem and that my application will definitely be approved. I thought, all is well that end well. How as I to know....

Yesterday, I got the promised card, and guess what? My name was again mis-spelt in the letter and on the card! There was a number on the card which I was to call as soon as I got it, so I called that. The lady told me that she will not be able to process my complaint and asked me to call the credit card division the next day during office hours. Great customer service so far ain't it? I told her that I cannot wait till the next day since I will be leaving Singapore for a month the next week and I need my card before that. Then, she was condescending enough to give me the customer service hotline. Surprisingly again, she did not put me through directly, rather she asked me to call myself, which again is a unpardonable sin for a customer service representative.

So, I call this new hotline and the lady listens to my whole story. I confess I was very pissed by that time and did blast her a bit for no fault of her's. She promises me that I will get the new card by next Monday. Then, a shocker again. She asked me when I can come down to collect the card! Uh? Why the hell should I come down to collect the card?I told her she can't expect me to come down to collect the card, and asked her to send it. Finally she agreed to hand deliver it to my office on Monday.

Until next Monday, hoping against hope.

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