ish...The celcom scam.

When I was heading my way to ktm station at kl central, I was approached by a celcom guy. He was holding a Celcom SIM card, handing it to me as I passed through the gate, as predicted, he was going to promote something on celcom. He told me the SIM card is free, ha I thought “oh free stuff, that’s not too bad” so I grabbed it as I go, not even have a second thought that ‘there is no such thing as free lunch’. As I was about to hop on to the escalator, that guy asked me to spare a few minutes to register if I decided to take that SIM card with me. I refused, afraid that my train will arrive anytime soon. Thinking that I cant afford to miss the train ( well u know it took ages for the next ktm to arrive), so I just handed the SIM card back to that guy, telling him that I am in a rush. While he was still trying hard to persuade me to have it, he even told me I can give that SIM card to my siblings. Oh well, I was determined enough, he got me no choice and let me go. I managed to escape. Weee:) When I was down at the platform, I just realised that I still need to wait for another 15 minutes ..ish… I hate waiting train. Then I began to feel bit guilty. I thought I should have help that guy. Hmm… thinking he might need it for hitting his sales target(maybe?..)

I met my friend at mid valley. I told her about that incident. I was really curious—“ why is Celcom being so nice, giving free SIM card..” She gave me a sigh “hngh..i also kena just now”. She faced the same situation, she was also thinking to help them so she agreed to sit down and filled up the form for registration. Soon later she found out that once u register with Celcom, they will automatically change your current hp service provider to celcom!! So basically they are not giving you free number or anything, they just persuade you to register without telling you that your current hp number going to be 'devoted' to celcom! they just snatched those Maxis n Digi customer away. Wooo~! I just realised how daring they could be.. Nasty marketing strategy:(

My friend did escaped since she ran away while halfway she was filling up the form.. at least not kena tipu…

The following week, I met another friend at mid valley. I did not mention anything about the Celcom thingy to my friend, thought its nothing very serious. Unfortunately, when he was on his way back home, he was approached by the Celcom staff. My friend, being nice, did filled up the form completely without realising it was a trap. Only till the next day, he realised that it was a post-paid SIM card and his 012 number no longer belonged to maxis. Only after he went to digi centre to terminate the celcom line and change his 012 number to digi instead. He was charged a day of usage by Celcom even he didn’t use it at all and the existing credit remaining at his previous maxis line all gone!!!

I no longer feel guilty. Well at least they should inform the people beforehand what going to happen next after registration. They can’t just be that way!

BEWARE of what i called the celcom scam vis-à-vis asymmetric information in the market.