Further to my horror at potential charges by RHB Bank for their internet banking service, I decided to wait no longer and called up the Internet Banking helpline to clarify the directive I saw at the bank yesterday.

The telephone consultant was suitably polite and helpful and she told me that all internet banking transactions are still FREE except for inter-bank transactions for which a fee is charged. But I knew that already.

I mentioned the directive I saw yesterday and that I was told it was coming into force next week. But she said that there is no notice to them as far as they are concerned.

So, as of today, the RHB internet banking service is still free. If they change their mind and charge a fee, I’ll be sure to let them have a piece of my mind and I’ll be sure to let everyone know too! So, no boycott lah!

Biasa-lah tu, kan? Esok Tak Ada

I just got back from RHB Bank where I do a lot of my banking. Its not my favourite bank but its convenient location-wise. Thus far, bar a few hiccups here and there they have served me relatively well. I too had been a loyal user of their internet banking since its inception.

So, imagine my horror when I went to the bank today and saw a new directive for New Service Charges by RHB Bank.

Right at the bottom under an obscure column called e-banking, were the words:-

Transfer between own accounts - RM0.50

Transfer from own account to 3rd party RHB account - RM1.00

I was stunned. Was RHB planning to charge me for using their online banking feature to facilitate online transfers between accounts?!

A check with the cashier told me that yes, it will come into effect next week. There was no date on the directive and no date of coming into effect.

I have shot off an email to the RHB Internet Banking centre to seek clarification. I also called up Maybank to see if Maybank charges for inter-maybank transfers and the answer was an emphatic NO.

If RHB decides to go ahead and charge me for using their online services, well, I’ll just stop using the bank altogether! Yes they are convenient, but I don’t think I should be made to PAY for an online transaction, do you?

I will update when I get confirmed news.

Actually, there is no secret

I wrote about having a windfall dropped into my lap last week and then as luck would have it, I fell ill. I also didn’t want to quite say what was happening until I got the tickets in my hot little hands

I spent the weekend quietly at home watching the Olympics and making snide comments at the lack of Olympic coverage on terrestrial tv, trying to figure out the problem I’m having with my food site and when nothing worked, deciding to change the look. If you haven’t visited recently, Pink Parisian or as it is now increasingly known as “Have You Eaten” is sporting a new look. I don’t know if its better but I feel better looking at it and I suppose if I feel better everyone else does too

So, yes a dear friend of mine dropped tickets to Macau in my lap, but I’ve been to Macau and I did not find it worth spending my time there so I’m bypassing it altogether and spending time in Hong Kong instead! Its been ages since my last trip there and I’m looking forward to all the FOOD and the SHOPPING!! The best part is that my family has lumbered me with their clothes and shoe sizes “just in case I see anything”. Don’t you love family?

If anyone has been to HK, how easy is it to get free wi-fi in Hong Kong? Assuming the hotel doesn’t have it? Hotels in HK are notoriously expensive and offer you the minimum for the maximum price. Its the biggest portion of my budget and I’d stay an extra day or two if not for the fact that it would mean less shopping!

Because its all a little last minute, I am unable to be my usual efficient self and source all the stores and food places to visit. Sigh… Oh and I hope there are no typhoon warnings too! I was caught in a storm the last time I was there - not fun I tell you. It literally sweeps you off your feet!

Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good

~ Sound of Music

Photo Credit: cblee

YES YES YES! :D

Once again playing bridesmaid to Lin Dan is our Lee Chong Wei with a Silver medal at the Beijing Olympics for badminton.

I watched the whole game, heart wrenching and cringe-worthy as it was but I have to admit that Lin Dan was by far the better player tonight, suitably aggressive, tricky at the net and powerful with his smashes. It did not help that the crowd was roaring his name throughout the game and with support like that it would be hard to fail them.

Chong Wei put up a decent fight but he was merely defending throughout and garnered most of his points through Lin Dan’s mistakes. I felt he could have done better and put up a better fight.

But hey, whatever we may say, it is not the time for brickbats. It is a time to be happy, well maybe not to rejoice but to be happy that he put up a fight and that we have a medal and are in the medal tally. We have a Malaysian on the medal podium and I think that in itself is something to be proud of.

Kudos Chong Wei. You did far better than any of the other athletes we sent to Beijing.

Maybe we’ll get a taste of gold in London in 2012 where the crowd isn’t as vociferous and where our players’ mental state may be better.

And maybe in 2012 we would have others on the medal podium for sports other than badminton.