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Avoiding bill shock and shopping online without a credit card
[November 10, 2012]

Avoiding bill shock and shopping online without a credit card


Nov 11, 2012 (The Manila Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- For many Filipinos, shopping at online US stores is almost like getting a US visa--complicated and almost impossible. Besides the need to have a credit card, online shops such as Amazon, often require a valid US address. And even if you do have relatives in the US, having your items shipped to the Philippines can be quite costly.



Now, with the Black Friday sale just a couple of weeks away, Pinoys can finally enjoy shopping for apparel, electronics, and toys online, or buy the coolest apps, music, and videos from iTunes Philippines and US Store, Google Play and Blackberry App World with the new GCASH American Express Virtual Card.

The new GCASH American Express Virtual Card is linked to the user's existing GCASH mobile wallet allowing customers to use their GCash to pay for purchases conveniently and securely at online sites and app stores that accept American Express.


"With the GCash American Express Virtual Card, you simply need your GCash wallet to pay for your purchases. We provide you with a personalized US address where your goods can be delivered and from there, you can have them shipped to the Philippines right to your doorstep at very low shipping rates" said Paolo Baltao, President of G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), a fully-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, and American Express.

To get the Virtual Card simply register your GCash wallet and email address online at www.globe.com.ph/gcash-amex. Once the account is validated you will immediately receive your virtual card number, your personalized US shipping address, and other pertinent information via e-mail.

First-time subscribers get a one-month free trial. After the trial, subscribers can continue with the subscription by paying as low as P250 per year via GCash or charge it to their postpaid bill. Monthly and semi-annual subscriptions are also available. To find out more about the GCASH American Express Virtual Card, visit www.globe.com.ph/gcash-amex.

Unlimited roaming Besdies its new virtual card, Globe also recently introduced another innovation that guarantees a worry-free mobile connection outside the country without the fear of bill shock! Globe All-Unli Roam, is the world's first-ever all-unlimited roaming service covering calls, texts, and mobile internet, protecting its roaming subscribers from billshock, or the high surge of charges on a postpaid bill.

Postpaid subscribers on roaming can subscribe to any of the three unlimited roaming combo services to enjoy worry-free mobile connection. Unlimited roaming mobile Internet is available for $10 for the one-day variant and $27 for the three-day variant. The unlimited roaming calls and mobile Internet combo is offered at US$30 for the 1-day variant and US$90 for the three-day variant. Finally, the unlimited roaming calls, texts, and mobile Internet combo is available for $40 for the one-day variant and $120 for the three-day variant.

The all-unlimited roaming services will initially cover Globe postpaid subscribers on roaming in Thailand, as it is one of the favorite places of Filipinos who travel abroad. This will benefit subscribers as they don't have to manually latch on to a specific partner-operator because the promo covers all local operators in Thailand.

"One of the reasons for bill shock is that many people are not aware that when a wifi signal is low some mobile phones automatically switch to mobile data services that incurs additional charges," said Rizza Maniego-Eala, Head for International Business Group at Globe. "With this new service, our subscribers, no matter where they are, can expect value-for-money offers that give them seamless and hassle-free connectivity across the world, allowing them to stay connected with people who matter most to them." To register to the Globe All-Unli Roam promos, postpaid subscribers can dial *143# (toll-free even while on roaming), select "ROAMING PROMOS" and then select "All UNLI". An SMS confirmation will be sent to the subscriber with the terms and conditions applicable to the promo selected.

___ (c)2012 The Manila Times (Manila, Philippines) Visit The Manila Times (Manila, Philippines) at www.manilatimes.net Distributed by MCT Information Services

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