GCash

Navigating the Challenges of Mobile Payments: A Lesson from GCash Spam SMS

| Finance, Technology | , , , , ,

Paying bills has never been easier, thanks to the advent of mobile payment solutions like GCash and Maya. However, my recent experience with GCash highlighted a significant issue that needs addressing.

The Issue with Spam SMS

Recently, I was paying for my Globe Postpaid plan and decided to use GCash for the transaction. However, in the past few days, I’ve been inundated with spam marketing SMS from GCash. The frequency and irrelevance of these messages were frustrating, so I decided to block GCash in my Google Messages app.

The Unintended Consequence

When I attempted to pay my bill via GCash, I didn’t receive the OTP (One-Time Password) required to complete the transaction. It quickly dawned on me that GCash was blocked, preventing the OTP from coming through. I unblocked GCash temporarily, but the OTP still took too long to arrive. This delay was unacceptable, especially when trying to complete a time-sensitive transaction.
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Instapay now available in Security Bank mobile app

| Investing, Technology | , , , , ,

We have our salaries paid through our Security Bank accounts. Since I keep funds in my accounts with other banks, I need to do fund transfers now and then. And Instapay for Security Bank would have really helped.

Today I discovered that Fund Transfer to Other banks via Instapay functionality is already added to the Security Bank mobile apps.

 

Security Bank transfer to other banks
Security Bank transfer to other banks via Instapay.

Apparently, this functionality is available only on Android and iOS apps, but not in the web using your favorite internet browser. Nevertheless, this is a welcome development, especially now that GCash disabled cash-in via bank cards starting July 6, 2020.

Currently, as the whole nation is still technically on lockdown, all fees for Instapay transfers for all banks, including Security Bank, are waived. When things go back to normal, this fee schedule indicates that fees range from ₱10 to ₱50 among the different Philippine banks. Security Bank in particular will charge ₱15 per transaction, which is I would say is not too steep. I would argue that would be a cost worth paying for the convenience of not waiting some 30 minutes should you need to visit a branch of your bank.

Update: Read: Security Bank InstaPay Temporarily Unavailable

GCash and CIMB, Are We Really Ready for Purely Digital Banking?

| Investing | , , ,

GCash and CIMB have been aggressively promoting their new digital banking platform they call GSave, with high interest rates (as high as 4% p.a.) to lure in GCash users, especially those they described as unbanked.

But are we Filipinos really ready for digital banking?

Not if there are still glitches in the service by GCash and CIMB. Last weekend, I needed to transfer funds from my GCash account to my bank account at once. I didn’t have have enough funds in my GCash account, thus I needed to withdraw funds from my GSave account. The debit to my CIMB GSave account pushed through, but the credit to my GCash didn’t.

That’s the big problem. People wants to keep some of their funds in regular Savings accounts to cover for their emergency or immediate needs. But if those funds are not available when they need them, it defeats their purpose.

So, to GCash and CIMB, if you want people to embrace this new digital banking revolution, you need to make sure the platform is ready.

Interest Charges on GCredit

| Technology | ,

I have recently been approved for GCredit, with a credit limit of Php2,000. I thought that GCredit works like a credit card, wherein for as long as you pay for your purchases on or before the due date, you will not be charged any interests and/or penalties.

Apparently, that is not the case. For as soon as you borrow money when you use your GCredit to pay for purchases via QR or paying bills, you are automatically charged 5% pro-rated over 30 days until the day you settle your borrowing with your GCash balance.

For example, if you paid P500 using your GCredit on October 11, and eventually settled that purchase on October 16, that’s 5 days worth of borrowing:

P500 x 5% x (5/30) = P4.16 interest.

For me, I’m allergic to interests (regardless of amount), so unless I’ll have no other choice, I’ll stay away from using GCredit.

Read here for more info, and check out GCredit’s terms and conditions.

GCash vs. PayMaya – The battle for Philippine cashless mobile payment platform crown rages on

| Technology | ,

Globe’s Gcash and Smart’s PayMaya have both been aggressively marketing their platforms just to stay ahead of the competition. Customers benefit the most with the plethora of discounts, rebates and raffle promos being offered left and right. Fortunately for us consumers, it’s not a question of whether you should get aboard one platform over another. If you ask me, I’d say why not get both?

Let me list down my thoughts and observations in using both mobile payment systems. These are based on my personal experience, thus I’m mum about the features I don’t use. I’ll update this list as developments and/or improvements come to mind: …

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