She Rambles On

Maybank American Express Gold Card [Charge Card]

Cyberpartygal — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:32:13 +0000

A couple of days ago, I received a call from someone who said she was calling from Maybank-AMEX and I was offered their Maybank American Express Gold Card. I didn’t have to apply for it or anything, they just selected me for this offer based on my credit history with Maybank and the way I managed my credit card with them over the two years that I have been holding it.

According to the caller, I would receive the card for free and the annual fee of RM238 per annum for principal card for the first three years is waived. The best thing about this American Express charge card is that there is no spending limit which means that I could spend as much as I want and can afford to. However, the bank will be monitoring my spending and income flow and my payment, of course.

There is also a reward programme for this charge card but it’s separated from our usual Treat Points loyalty programme. This means that we cannot combine our points but then we will be receiving double the points for every Ringgit spent on the card.

I tell you, I was so tempted to just say yes and receive the card. However, I asked the caller to give me time to read through the card’s benefits on the website of Maybank2u and she offered to call me again the following day, which she did, and I declined the card.

The reason I declined, after much thought, is that although the card is free and without any spending restrictions or monthly quota, I would still have to pay RM50 per year Government tax. Moreover, it is unclear what annual fee I would have to pay after the third year. I don’t like ambiguity like this and get a shock later on. Although I can cancel my card anytime, I don’t really like to. If I like the card, I’d keep it.

If you have also been offered this Maybank American Express Gold Charge Card, did you accept or decline the offer?

Cruise Memories

Cyberpartygal — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:12:08 +0000

I told a friend that I didn’t really enjoy my three-day holiday to Singapore a month ago. Although I did get to see and experience different things, somehow, I was still looking for something more. My friend told me that perhaps, a holiday in a concrete jungle is not what I was looking for. She said that a cruise is perhaps what I need.

My friend has been on a cruise before and she said that she has awesome memories of it. She wants to go on a cruise every other year if her budget permits but so far, because of the economic downtown, hasn’t been able to fulfill her dreams.

I came across these cruise holiday packages by P&O cruises and marvel that one could hop on a ship for a wonderful cruise holiday for less than AUD$999 per person. That’s not expensive! Although the itinerary of these cruises would only be in Australia and the Pacific Islands, it would still be a great experience for me as I have never been on a cruise holiday before.

My friends think that I’m crazy for going on holidays as long as ten days each time. Well, with a cruise, ten days on board would be just nice.

*** This post has been sponsored.

PayPal Suspends Electronic Withdrawals For India Users

Cyberpartygal — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:19:37 +0000

PayPal has served a notice to users of PayPal with an India account to let them know that from 29th July onwards, they will not be able to withdraw their PayPal funds electronically and will have to request for a cheque.

While PayPal India was not able to comply to regulations of the Reserve Bank of India earlier this year and caused inconvenience to India users, this time, at least users would still be able to withdraw their funds in PayPal.

Requesting for a cheque previously had a service fee of US$5 but this will be refunded by PayPal for cheques made from 29th July, 2010 onwards.

I wonder how long PayPal will be able to resolve this issue.

TransUnion Owes YOU Money

Cyberpartygal — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:34:30 +0000

A few days ago, I read an article about TransUnion, a credit company in the United States that illegally sold credit information of their customers to marketing companies, hence inviting unsolicited spam messages from these companies. While I thought nothing much of it at first since I am not affected, I talked to a friend about it and discovered that she is possibly a victim, like the majority of Americans.

It is said that TransUnion owes money to the majority of people who applied for credit in America between the years 1987 and 2000. There is already a TransUnion Class Action Lawsuit, for your information. Contact O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath to find out if you have been a victim and if you are entitled to monetary damages.

Cloud-Based Phishing Kit

Cyberpartygal — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:28:35 +0000

I read with concern an article about hackers taking advantage of the new cloud-based technology, by letting other small time hackers to make use of their phishing kit that would allow these hackers to build lookalike websites and send out almost authentic email messages to victims, but the login credentials, passwords and other personal information harvested would be sent back to the authors of the phishing kit.

I know, this sounds a little complex but it basically means that big time hackers are making use of small timers by making them do the dirty work of harvesting, though they would not know that they would not be reaping their fruits of labour.

Phishing is a cyber crime and like any crime in this world, it doesn’t pay. Also, by being made use of big time hackers, it just looks like even in the cyber world, there is a pyramid system of hackers!

Amazon: US$1 billion Annual sales Through Mobile Devices

Cyberpartygal — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:21:58 +0000

I think it’s pretty amazing that Amazon, the popular shopping site, is pushing sales through mobile devices at the figure of US$1 billion per year. That’s a lot of sales if you ask me! And if anyone has been wondering if Amazon is a viable place to set up store, this should answer you.

Imagine, if sales through smart phones alone could hit so hit, what about others who are not as geeky, not as savvy, and not as technical, who are still surfing the web on their desktop computers and maybe these people don’t even have broadband, sales from these people shouldn’t be neglected too.

People who are not savvy do not translate to people who are cannot afford to shop online. They probably just don’t see why they should go mobile when they could surf more comfortably at home on their computers.

This admission by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos last week has made me think of selling on Amazon now too, though I have some paperwork to do before I could start selling online again.

Rare Coins & Gold Bullion

Cyberpartygal — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:18:39 +0000

A cousin told me that he would like to collect rare coins but he is not sure if it’s a good idea or perhaps he should buy gold bullion instead. I really don’t have any knowledge on both rare coins and gold bullion so I cannot give him professional advice on what he should invest in.

Ideally, it would be great if he has enough funds to invest in both but he’s still young and according to him, “poor”, so he has to take things one at a time. It would be enough to start investing in either rare coins or gold bullion.

While I have not bought any myself, if I were to buy, I think I will go with gold bullion. Rare coins sounds too complex for my liking with their year and everything! As for gold bullion, well, I just have to pay attention to its purity.