Bunga bank di Singapore
Sebagai pekerja migrant, tentu saja kita berharap dapat membawa sesuatu selepas kita selesai bekerja nanti. Salah satu caranya adalah dengan menabung sebagian dari penghasilan kita di bank. Namun sayangnya, bunga bank di Singapore sangat rendah. Contohnya, DBS pada saat tulisan ini dibuat – bunga bank yang diberikan hanya berkisar antara 0.05% p.a sampai 0.1% p.a. (http://www.dbs.com/sg/personal/deposit/rates/default.aspx). Besaran ini tidak berubah jika dibandingkan dengan 2 tahun yang lalu.
Bayangkan, jika Anda memiliki tabungan sebesar SGD 100,000.00 maka dalam setahun Anda akan mendapatkan bunga sebesar SGD 50.00. Jika di-Rupiah-kan, tentu mata kita akan terbelalak dengan kecilnya return yang diberikan.

Bagaimana memaksimalkan uang simpanan Anda?
Untuk memaksimalkan “kerja” uang simpanan Anda, kita dapat melakukan beberapa pilihan misalnya dengan menyimpan di bank di Indonesia, melakukan investasi property maupun pasar modal. Menyimpan di bank di Indonesia, Anda akan mendapatkan return yang lebih besar tetapi dengan resiko selisih kurs. Sebagai contoh, BCA pada saat ini memberikan bunga sebesar 5% p.a (http://www.klikbca.com/individual/silver/ind/rates.html?s=2). Anda juga dapat membeli property untuk kemudian disewakan kembali, dengan harapan mendapatkan penghasilan bulanan ditambah dengan kenaikan property dikemudian hari.

Jadi sebenarnya apa yang harus dilakukan untuk memaksimalkan uang simpanan?
Dalam memaksimalkan kerja uang simpanan, yang perlu kita lakukan adalah:
1. Mengubah resiko menjadi profit
2. Mengubah waktu menjadi profit

Tulisan berikutnya akan mengulas bagaimana membuat uang dari ruang hampa.

Bagaimana cara mengkonversi SIM Indonesia menjadi SIM Singapore?

1. Daftarkan diri untuk mengikuti Basic Theory Test (BTT).
2. Pada hari-H, datanglah ke tempat ujian BTT dan selesaikan ujian. Anda harus menjawab minimal 90% dengan benar agar lulus.
3. Setelah lulus BTT, Anda langsung menuju kantor perwakilan polisi lalu lintas di tempat ujian, mengisi formulir konversi, menyerahkan kelengkapan dokumen dan membayar biaya.
4. Anda akan mendapat secarik kertas yang menyatakan bahwa Anda telah berhak mengemudi di Singapore untuk kelas kendaraan yang dibenarkan.
5. Sebulan kemudian barulah Anda akan mendapat SIM ber-pas-foto, seukuran kartu kredit; yang dikirim melalui surat tercatat ke alamat rumah.

Berdasarkan pengalaman pribadi, berikut ini tips yang mungkin bermanfaat:
1. Untuk menghemat biaya, pastikan bahwa Anda hanya mengikuti ujian tulis BTT.
2. Jika SIM Anda pernah diperbaharui di Indonesia, pastikan bahwa Anda mengantongi surat rekomendasi dari Kepolisian RI yang menyatakan bahwa SIM Anda telah diperbaharui dan memuat sejarat penerbitan SIM Anda di Indonesia.
3. Pada saat mengikuti ujian tulis BTT, Anda sebaiknya membawa Passport, Passfoto dan kelengkapan dokumen lain agar bisa langsung mengajukan aplikasi konversi. (Tentu saja setelah lulus BTT).
4. Jika Anda belum yakin bisa menjawab 50 soal BTT, carilah mock-up testing yang tersedia banyak di Internet. Anda juga bisa membeli dengan harga cukup murah, berkisar antara 2-6 SGD.

Dalam satu bulan terakhir ini, KTKLN (Kartu Tenaga Kerja Luar Negeri) menjadi topik yang hangat diantara rekan-rekan yang tinggal di Singapore. Ada beberapa pengalaman tidak mengenakkan tentang KTKLN ini seperti

Saya dan istri pagi ini berencana berangkat ke singapore dari bali bandara ngurah rai, kita ditahan di counter imigrasi karena ga punya KTKLN dan akhirnya tidak diperbolehkan untuk berangkat. (Indosing – 22 Mei 2011)

Sampai-sampai pada tanggal 25-26 Juni 2011 lalu, KBRI Singapura pun perlu mengundang narasumber dari BNP2TKI untuk membahas masalah ini. Dan hasilnya? Nihil, karena KTKLN tetap meresahkan TKI di Singapura (Ketidakjelasan Tujuan KTKLN Meresahkan TKI di Singapura, Pedoman News – 28 Juni 2011)

Tulisan ini saya buat untuk melihat KTKLN dilihat dari sudut pandang penduduk tetap Singapore (Singapore Permanent Resident), sehingga dapat mengurangi keresahan rekan-rekan.

Apakah itu KTKLN

Definisi KTKLN merujuk pada UU Tenaga kerja, UU No. 39 Tahun 2004 (selengkapnya dapat dilihat disini), Bab 1 Pasal 1 uraian no. 11.

Kartu Tenaga Kerja Luar Negeri yang selanjutnya disebut dengan KTKLN adalah kartu identitas bagi TKI yang memenuhi persyaratan dan prosedur untuk bekerja di luar negeri.

Apakah TKI Mandiri

Hampir seluruh pasal didalam UU No. 39 Tahun 2004 mengatur tentang penempatan TKI di luar wilayah Indonesia, oleh perusahaan yang memiliki ijin di Indonesia; kecuali dalam Bab 14 Pasal 105 dan Pasal 106. Bab 14 memuat ketentuan lain-lain tentang TKI yang bekerja di luar negeri secara perseorangan. Kedua pasal ini kemudian dijadikan rujukan oleh Kepala BNP2TKI untuk mengeluarkan petunjuk teknis untuk TKI Mandiri melalui peraturan kepala BNP2TKI (PER.04/KA/V/2011).

Walaupun tidak dijelaskan secara eksplisit, namun TKI Mandiri dapat dikatakan sebagai,

TKI yang bekerja di luar negeri secara perseorangan

Apakah Singapore Permanent Residence

Definisi Singapore Permanent Residence (SPR) tentunya ada didalam Imigration Act-nya Singapore. Tetapi permanent resident itu sendiri menurut Wikipedia

Permanent residency refers to a person’s visa status: the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within a country of which he or she is not a citizen. A person with such status is known as a permanent resident.

. Jadi secara harfiah, SPR merujuk pada ijin tinggal/menetap secara permanen di Singapore yang diberikan kepada bukan warganegara Singapore.

Sejauh mana UU TK dan aturan BNP2TKI itu dapat mengikat WNI-SPR?

Pada prinsipnya UU TK tersebut berlaku dan mengikat WNI dan perusahaan yang tercatat di Indonesia yang melakukan kontrak lokal. Jangkauan UU TK tersebut dapat diperluas ke negara lain dengan perjanjian dan ratifikasi.

Oleh karena itu, jika UU TK ditambah peraturan Ka BNP2TKI tersebut adalah produk hukum yang tidak mengandung cacat hukum ; maka kategori TKI dibawah ini akan terkena dampaknya;

1. TKI yang mendaftarkan diri ke Departement Tenaga Kerja Kota/Kabupaten dan kemudian berangkat dan bekerja di LN secara mandiri
2. TKI yang diberangkatkan oleh perusahaan yang tercatat di Indonesia untuk ditempatkan di LN

, tetapi WNI-SPR tidak dapat dijadikan dasar pengenaan aturan tersebut.

WNI-SPR

WNI-SPR merupakan bukti residensial/tinggal menetap atau ijin tinggal di Singapore. Status WNI-SPR tidak semerta-merta adalah Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (TKI). Agar bisa disebut sebagai TKI diperlukan beberapa syarat:

1. Warganegara Indonesia
2. Memenuhi syarat untuk bekerja di luar negeri dalam hubungan kerja untuk jangka waktu tertentu dengan menerima upah

Sehingga bisa saja WNI-SPR adalah pemberi upah dan tidak memenuhi syarat no. 2. Bisa pula WNI-SPR bekerja paruh waktu tanpa didukung oleh kontrak kerja, dan sebagainya.

Jadi kepemilikan status SPR tidak bisa secara langsung dijadikan alasan untuk meminta WNI-SPR membuat KTKLN. Petugas imigrasi pun tidak boleh mencekal WNI-SPR atas dasar ketiadaan KTKLN, karena bertentangan dengan UU Imigrasi.

Ada beberapa pembuktian yang harus dilakukan oleh petugas agar dapat mengenakan aturan tersebut kepada WNI-SPR yaitu:

1. Bukti bahwa WNI-SPR tersebut memiliki perjanjian kerja yang masih berlaku (kontrak kerja)
2. Bukti bahwa WNI-SPR tersebut terdaftar di Departement Tenaga Kerja Kota/Kabupaten
3. Bukti bahwa WNI-SPR tersebut memiliki visa kerja

Ketiga-tiganya harus dibuktikan secara bersama-sama, jika tidak maka KTKLN tidak wajib.

Meskipun didalam passport tertera kolom pekerjaan, informasi tersebut hanya dapat digunakan untuk menyatakan bahwa WNI-SPR pernah bekerja sebagai pekerjaan yang dimaksud.

So – WNI-SPR tak perlu resah dengan KTKLN.

Baru lepas beberapa hari yang lalu kami sekeluarga tiba kembali di Singapore setelah "liburan” selama hampir 2 minggu di Indonesia. Perjalanan yang cukup berkesan bukan hanya untuk anak-anak, karena mereka bisa mengenal para pendahulunya; tetapi juga merupakan kado untuk orang tua kami yang tidak sanggup untuk menempuh perjalanan jauh untuk menengok anak cucunya. Diluar hiruk-pikuk keberhasilan Indonesia yang kadang kami dengar / baca melalui media, perjalanan liburan itu juga memberi kesan bahwa gap ketertinggalan Indonesia semakin besar.

Disambut dengan kemacetan

Kami berangkat dengan menumpang pesawat langsung dari Singapore menuju Surabaya. Dari Surabaya kami dijemput untuk diantarkan ke Lumajang. Disinilah kemacetan pertama mulai menyambut. Sepanjang jalan dari Surabaya sampai melewati Porong macet. Kemacetan ini terutama disebabkan oleh bencana lumpur Lapindo yang pada saat itu sudah genap 5 tahun. Beberapa saat lepas dari kemacetan karena lumpur Lapindo, kami disambut oleh kemacetan berikutnya akibat kerusakan jalan. Kerusakan jalan yang cukup parah kami temui antara Pasuruan sampai dengan Probolinggo. Akhirnya perjalanan Surabaya – Lumajang ditempuh dalam waktu 4.5 jam.

Kami menghabiskan waktu beberapa hari di Lumajang, sebelum akhirnya kembali ke Jakarta. Di Jakarta, kami menemukan kemacetan dalam skala yang lebih besar. Bahkan di jalan tol lingkar luar pun terjadi kemacetan yang cukup parah. Jarak 50 km, antara Jakarta Timur – Serpong ditempuh dalam waktu 2 jam melalui tol lingkar luar.

Kemacetan di dunia maya

Selama di Indonesia, kami menggunakan nomor pra-bayar. Kami juga mengaktifkan fasilitas mobile broadband pra-bayar dengan harapan dapat selalu terhubung di dunia maya. Maklumlah tanpa facebook atau gmail, kami seolah-olah berada di hutan belantara. Dapat dikatakan bahwa mobile broadband yang ada pada saat ini telah jauh berkembang ketimbang beberapa tahun yang lalu, akan tetapi jika dibandingkan dengan Singapore kecepatan yang kami peroleh sangatlah kecil. Sangat kecil sehingga jalur ke dunia maya pun mengalami kemacetan.

Acara infotaiment yang tidak bermutu

Sejak hari pertama mendarat di Jakarta, hari-hari kami disambut dengan acara infotaiment yang tidak bermutu. Mulai dari subuh hingga hampir tengah malam, semua acara infotaiment menyajikan berita yang serupa. Semuanya beramai-ramai menceritakan tentang radang payudara Melinda,  perawatan tubuh, operasi plastik, liburan Yuni Shara dan hal-hal yang serupa dengan itu. Terus terang kami sampai jijik mendengar berita-berita seperti itu. Tidak adakah muatan yang lebih bermutu?

Mungkin sebaiknya para orang-tua di Indonesia segera beralih ke TV kabel dan memblokir siaran TV-TV swasta dari pesawat TV mereka.

Film-film yang tidak rasional

Yang tak kalah seru adalah judul film-film yang beredar di bioskop. Terus terang kami geli dan sekaligus prihatin dengan judul film “Kuntilanak Kesurupan”, “Hantu Joged Goyang Pinggul” dan lain sebagainya. Serasa kami kembali ke masa lalu pada saat film-film tidak rasional semacam itu sedang booming.

Apakah penulis cerita atau sutradara sudah kehabisan akal untuk membuat cerita? Bukankah mereka bisa “mencontek” dari film-film Hollywood – dengan penyesuaian budaya dan kebiasaan di Indonesia. Nah yang contek-mencontek ini mungkin juga ada “Serdadu Kumbang”. Meskipun belum pernah melihat/membaca resensinya, saya rasa film ini menyadur ide dari “Laskar Pelangi”.

Sinetron TV ala film India

Salah satu ciri khas film-film India pada tahun 1980-an adalah suara musik yang mengayun tinggi/rendah, mata melotot, zoom-in kamera ke satu atau dua objek. Ciri-ciri khas ini rupanya diadopsi oleh sinetron-sinetron TV. Film-film India pada masa kini sudah meninggalkan teknik-teknik kuno diatas, tapi anehnya sinetron TV kita malah tetap menggunakannya. Menurut saya, teknik ilustrasi musik film-film Rano Karno, Dedy Mizwar pada jaman dulu masih jauh lebih baik ketimbang film India di era 80-an.

Semua kesan diatas tentu bisa muncul karena kami pulang ke Indonesia sebagai wisatawan. Kita semua mestinya segera menyadari bahwa masyarakat kita sedang dibuai. Dibuai dalam ketidak-rasionalan.

Rekan-rekan yang pernah bekerja di Indonesia pasti sudah kenal dengan Jamsostek (Jaminan Sosial Tenaga Kerja), dengan salah satu pertanggungan yang disebut dengan Jaminan Hari Tua. JHT ini berfungsi seperti tabungan investasi, yang bunganya cenderung lebih besar ketimbang bunga deposito di bank. JHT bisa dicairkan jika masa keanggotaan sudah lebih dari 5 tahun dan kita tidak bekerja lagi (atau menjadi PNS/ABRI, pindah kewarganegaraan dsb).

Mudahkah proses pencairannya?

Menurut papan pengumuman di Jamsostek, prosesnya cukup mudah – meskipun demikian Anda harus bersabar mengantri dan tidak tanggung-tanggung, Anda mungkin butuh meluangkan waktu 1 – 2 hari untuk mencairkan Jamsostek. Untuk mempersingkat waktu pengurusan, berikut ini tips yang bisa Anda gunakan. Tips ini dibuat berdasarkan pengalaman pribadi pada saat mengurus pencairan Jamsostek di Jakarta pada awal Juni 2011.

1. Pilihlah kantor cabang Jamsostek yang sepi pengunjung.
    Kantor cabang Jamsostek yang cukup sepi pengunjung di Jakarta adalah yang berlokasi di Gedung Menara Mulia. Di gedung ini terdapat 3 cabang Jamsostek, Gatot Subroto I – III. Ketika Anda memasuki ruangan bertuliskan Jamsostek di gedung ini, Anda sedang berhadapan dengan Jamsostek Gatot Subroto I. Agak lebih kedalam, Anda bisa menemukan Jamsostek Gatot Subroto III – dan di lantai 2, Anda bisa menemukan Jamsostek Gatot Subroto II. Jadi pilih salah satu yang cukup sepi pengunjung.

2. Bawalah dokumen persyaratan secara lengkap.
    Dokumen yang dibutuhkan adalah a) Kartu Jamsostek   b) KTP    c) KK    d) Surat Referensi Keluar dari Perusahaan peserta Jamsostek; buatlah salinan (copy) dokumen-dokumen itu. Anda juga wajib mengisi formulir pencairan JHT yang dapat diperoleh di satpam.

3. Jika perlu, bawalah dokumen pengganti.
    Pada saat saya mengurus Jamsostek – KTP dan KK sudah tidak berlaku lagi, karena saya sudah lama tidak bermukim di Indonesia. Kedua dokumen diatas sedang dalam proses pembaharuan. KK kemudian saya ganti dengan Passport, dan KTP saya ganti dengan SIM / IC.

4. Tidak ada dokumen pengganti untuk Surat Referensi Perusahaan
    Sayangnya surat referensi perusahaan hukumnya WAJIB. Surat ini harus berasal dari perusahaan yang mendaftarkan kita ke Jamsostek, jika tidak – maka Anda harus mendapatkan kembali dari perusahaan tempat Anda pernah bekerja. Jadi kebayang kan, jika dahulu perusahaan itu berada di Surabaya dan kemudian kita pindah ke Jakarta – kehilangan surat referensi ini berarti menambah panjang proses pengurusan.
Untuk rekan-rekan yang baru saja mengundurkan diri, jangan lupa untuk menyimpan baik-baik kartu Jamsostek + surat referensi perusahaan.

Jadi mudahkah proses pencairannya?

Menurut saya pribadi prosesnya serasa berbelit. Surat referensi keluar dari perusahaan, mestinya tidak diperlukan lagi jika iuran Jamsostek sudah tidak dibayarkan selama lebih dari 7 tahun (kasus saya). Bayangkan betapa repotnya untuk mengurus surat itu dari perusahaan yang ada di luar kota. Bayangkan pula jika kita adalah mantan pegawai perusahaan abal-abal, yang memberikan Jamsostek – tetapi tidak memiliki catatan administrasi yang teratur.

Mestinya Kartu Jamsostek, 2 identitas diri dan catatan iuran terakhir sudah cukup untuk pencairan. Atau lebih baik lagi jika dana Jamsostek langsung masuk ke rekening tenaga-kerja secara otomatis setelah 5 tahun tidak membayar iuran. Dalam bayangan saya, ada banyak tenaga-kerja yang lupa tentang simpanannya di Jamsostek. Hal ini terutama karena syarat pencairan adalah setelah kepesertaan lebih dari 5 tahun dan sudah tidak bekerja lagi.

Since the past few days, I become baby sitter for my son’s (baby A) – as well as his personal advocate. This article is dedicated to praise his patient, courage and spirit to battle with the disease. It is also a lesson learn for other parent, who supports their beloved one during time to find the cure.

A fever may or may not be serious

On Wednesday 12 days ago, my son reported that he was feeling unwell. Measurement taken on his body temperature show 37.5^oC, a mild fever. As usual, since this was the first day fever – we just gave him vitamin C, water and suggested him to take more rest. In fact, he looked tired – and nap easily. Two, three, four days passed easily and he just showed mild fever. No coughing, runny nose, or vomiting – everything was ok; except that he has annoying fever. We hope that his antibody will cure himself – and got additional immune as a reward.

On Sunday, we leaved him with baby K  for shopping. We went to nearby shopping center to buy some groceries and other stuff. My mobile phone rang, but the battery drops as soon as I tried to reach it in my pocket. When we reached home, I knew that it was a call from my son.  He was trying to call us, telling that his nose bleed; unfortunately he couldn’t contact us. So he grab tissue paper, sit down and holding phone to make a call.

It is important to stay calm and decide properly

He was so patient and calm, waiting until we arrived. He followed our instruction for an emergency situation, stay calm, sit-down with the phone and try to make a call.

We were not panic but begun to clean the blood. We explained to our sons that “Nose bleeding is normal as long as it stops – it can be caused by high temperature”. We also explained the position to stop the bleeding effectively. Everything was ok – until we started our dinner. In the middle of our dinner, his nose started to bleed again. I instructed my son to take the position to stop the bleeding, and wipe the blood using tissue paper.

Child Emergency Readiness

 

Readiness	Main plan	Secondary plan
Emergency contact number (Parent, FireFighter, Ambulance)	Educate, and ensure that they remember the number	Prepare reachable emergency contact list (phonebook, reachable printed list)
First Aid	Educate the location and usage of first aid	Educate the location and usage of first aid
Emergency procedure	Educate different emergency situation and procedure	Educate single procedure for all emergency situation (you have to define your safe heaven)
Emergency bag	Every child must have dedicate emergency bag	Common emergency bag

Always ready with emergency bag or checklist

After short while, my wife alerted me that we have to worry because the bleeding happened twice. I agreed with her, and asked her to prepare emergency bag. I helped my son to stop the bleeding, while my wife checked the document in emergency bag. The blood stopped, and we explained to him calmly that we were going to bring him to hospital, “We need to check if anything is fine, and hospital has more complete instruments to do it”.

I booked a taxi and we arrived at National University Hospital (NUH) about 20 minutes later. In the child emergency department, they took my son’s blood and measure his temperature. From the complete blood count, they decided that there was nothing serious with him and we can return home. They had prescribed Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Paracetamol was given for mild fever, while Ibuprofen was given for high fever. We went home, and … to be continue in the next part

Emergency Bag Checklist

1. Child Identity (copy of following Birth Certificate, IC / Re-Entry Permit, Passport)
2. Financial support (Insurance Card, some cash, parent account)
3. Parent Identity (name, contact number)  and contact books
4. Basic health information (allergy, blood type etc.)
5. First Aid (bandage, betadine, paracetamol)
6. Survival support (small towel, socks, plastics, raincoat, tissue paper, matches, torch, compass, small radio)

You may have visited ICA website (http://www.ica.gov.sg) to submit e-Appointment for Permanent Residence (PR), Student Pass, or Long Term Visit Pass (LTSVP). But do you know that nowadays you can check the application status online through iEnquiry? So what are importance eServices from ICA?

1. e-Appointment , make appointment for almost all services with ICA.

2. iEnquiry , check status of application (including Permanent Residence, Long Term Social Visit Pass etc.)

3. Electronic Re-Entry Permit (e-REP) , renew or transfer REP. For example, if you change your passport, you can visit this link to transfer old REP to the new passport.

4. Identity Card Checking Facility (iCheck) , if you want to make a deal with unknown landlord or having new tenant; you can visit this link to check validity of their identity (NRIC or FIN)

5. Online Pre-Notification of Change of Address (OPAD) , you have 30 days to report change of address. Don’t wait too long, visit this link to send notification mail to the new address.

For other services, you can check directly in List of eServices and Form in ICA website.

This story started about 1.5 month ago, when I sent my 1.5 years old laptop for service to HP service center. The fan suddenly stopped working and the battery was faulty. Lucky for me, to have extended warranty up to 3 years compared to original 1 year standard warranty.

Start to submit new case problem

I logged-in to HP website and submit new case problem about the fan and battery. Response from HP global support suggested me to send the laptop to the service center. To avoid long queue, I started from home at 08:10 AM and reached HP service center at about 09:00 AM. After taking the ticket I explained about the faulty fan and battery; the staff said that battery was out-of-warranty. It’s been more than 1 year, so no more warranty for the battery – he added. I insisted that I have opened a case about faulty battery, 2 weeks before 1 year anniversary. Then without having too much argument, he said that he will try to raise the issue. But could not guarantee that I can get free replacement of the battery.

Negotiate and find the win-win solution

To ensure that my battery problem was taken into account; I logged 1 more case about the faulty battery. The target is free battery replacement. Five days later, I received a call stating that fan service has been completed – but none care about the battery. I explained to the engineer that there is one more case about faulty battery and I want free battery replacement.

It takes many hours of negotiations, and mail replies – until one of sales rep started to offer me 20% discount for the battery price. I insisted that I have made all necessary report, but receive lack of support from HP. Fortunately, I have all of the evidence in their case management system – and copies in my email. Since I understand that in normal situation the battery is out-of-warranty, I was asking 50% discount as I wanted HP to be responsible for insufficient support and information. The sales-rep finally agreed to give me 50% discount and arrange thoroughly test for the laptop.

Written evidence is the most important

Three days after the negotiation, I receive another call for the delivery. She said that the laptop was ready for delivery and everything was ok.  I thought to myself, its still fine for me to pay 50% for the battery; until two hours later, I received another call from customer relation telling me that they will send one-to-one replacement of the battery for free. Offer the phone, I reconfirmed again that the replacement is free of charge – without saying anything about the previous phone. She replied, “Yes, it is one-to-one replacement and free of charge. However, you must surrender the old part.”.

Since there are two different information, coming from the same company; the first thing in my mind is to create an evidence. I logged a new case, to reconfirm that the battery replacement for previous case number is free-of-charge. The staff called me and reconfirm with the customer relation department – and reconfirm that battery replacement is free of charge. I printed this confirmation, and bring it home.

Kiasu Singapore is the key

On the day of the delivery, the delivery man was bringing my laptop with new battery and SGD 99.00 invoice for the battery. I showed him the printed confirmation, and refuse to pay. With no much discussion, then he called his coordinator and bring the laptop back to HP service center. Then, next day ; I received a call from HP – asking why I refuse to pay. I explained to her that the battery must be free of charge. I give her the case number that confirm the statement. After about 2 weeks, I received another call to arrange the delivery. I asked her whether all the problem has been settled ; she said everything has been settled. However, when the delivery man arrived – the same problem arise. They invoiced me for the battery.

I let the courier brought my laptop back for the second time. I wait two weeks until a new delivery arrangement phone call again ring my mobile phone. This time, I asked her whether or not, I need to pay any amount. She said, that there is SGD 99.00 charges. I lost my patient, and told her the case number that confirm no charge for the battery. I added that I need her to settle down everything immediately.

Since I didn’t receive any update for the next two days, then I started to logged 3 new cases everyday. I promise to myself, that I have to push them to solve the issue quickly. When they said to come back to me in 30 minutes for more information but they didn’t , I logged new cases. Apparently, it creates awareness to the staff that they have to serve customer better.

I lost my patient, because there was no progress for 1.5 month. I am thinking to sue them to a small claim tribunal court for the losses during 1.5 month; but fortunately they finally release my laptop with new battery for free.

So, do you think that Kiasu is annoying? Perhaps not, when you use it at the right time. It will help you.

Credit-card a-holic is anybody who has at least 80% of offered credit card in a country. But who defined credit-card-a-holic? Its me, at least for the purpose of this writing –:D; when you have at least 80% of offered credit card in a country, then you’re credit-card-a-holic.

A credit-card-a-holic should extend the maximum benefit of credit-card and minimize incurred charges. So here is the Secret of Credit-Card-a-Holic in Singapore.

a. Build your credit rating
Bank will be happy to give credit to anybody with high credit rating. Credit-card-a-holic must has high credit rating. If we associate a bank as a retail store – then credit rating is a customer’s charisma. The higher credit rating you have, the higher charisma you are; and you’ll be the king to ask credit facilities.
You can build the credit rating by using credit facilities regularly and always pay the bill before due date.

b. Buy a credit card collector book
In Singapore, almost every retailer has different promotion for different credit card. For example, currently Golden Village offers discounted price for transaction using DBS Live Fresh (credit card by DBS) and at the same time ISETAN offers 5% discount of the final price for transaction using American Express Prvi (credit card by UOB). And many more.
In order to use those promotion, you have to bring lot of credit cards ; and thus make our wallet thicker and thicker. So the idea is to put those credit cards somewhere else, for example in a collector book.

c. Say No to Annual FEE!
The bank have taken convenience fee from retailer, and retailer will include that fee to the bill that we pay. Even though, they never reveal this as separate bank charges – but I believe that retailer have included the charges as production/service cost. So, at the end – we have paid the charges.
In Singapore, bank offers 1 year to life time free annual fee , but actually we should get lifetime free annual fee. If your card offer only 1 year free annual fee; it doesn’t mean that you have to pay annual fee in the second year. What you need to do is, SAY NO TO ANNUAL FEE. When you see annual fee charges in you bill , call customer service immediately and ask them to waive the fee. Usually the bank will give approval in 1-3 days, but sometimes they will offer other promotion before giving their approval. Its your own decision to accept the promotion, but FREE ANNUAL FEE should come without any obligation, period.
If they don’t approve close that credit-card and ask for refund, there are lot of banks which are happy to offer new credit card.

d.  Say No to Too Early Late Charges
Usually there are 3 days grace period, starting from the due date of the bill. It means that you still be able to pay the bill after due date + 3 days (max). However, some banks will immediately impose late charges on the due date. If you see this kind of charges, call customer service immediately and ask them to waive the fee.

e. Maximize Fund Transfer
Some banks also offer fund transfer to other banks account. Fund transfer is facility where issuing bank will transfer at max allowed amount to the target bank. So in this case, you will receive cash instead of stuff – and pay it later. During promotion period, some banks will offer 0% fund transfer for 3 – 6 months. So, if you have large charges – you should look into this option to reduce the interest amount that you have paid.

Finally be a credit-card wise user. Don’t use beyond your everyday lifestyle. It only tools to delay payment, but not the tools to buy anything.

Recently, uncle Lee announced a shock changes in minimum occupation (MOP) period for HDB. It rules out that MOP increase from 3 to 5 years , and disallowing concurrent ownership of private property during the MOP. With the new rules, current private property owner (such as condo) must sale their private property within 6 months after buying an HDB. (http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10296p.nsf/PressReleases/895204E2295BDC394825778E007FA919?OpenDocument)

So, if you’re property investor type; you have to change the strategy based on current status and plan.

1. Currently own private property and willing to buy HDB
   The most important thing is, the private property should not under your possession. So you have to create a legal body to own the your private property. For example, you can register a small company and change the ownership of your private property to that company before you buy the HDB.

2. Currently own private property and willing to buy another private property
   Continue with your plan since the rules doesn’t affect to this scenario.

3. Currently own HDB and willing to buy private property
   You must wait until the MOP expires (5 years, after completion of the sale process). During the waiting time, you can use your money in other investment instrument – such as gold, stock or unit trust. After MOP expires, you can buy the private property.

4. Doesn’t own any property
   You should check your pocket to be able to decide whether to buy private property or HDB. Since buying an HDB requires eligibility status, you may been enforced to buy private property instead of HDB. 
   I know that some people may choose to buy only private property since they have lot of capital for investment. However, from my point of view, buying HDB should be put in the first option. The reason, HDB price is controlled by the government – and it is “subsidized”. And the more important is, you don’t have a risk of property disposal when you’re ready for the second property.

Finally beyond all the strategies, the government has power above anybody; so beware! Be prepare with contingency plan.