Other Areas

[Goferring]

When your card was rejected, was there any reason given? Or the generic "Card application failed"?

"Sorry, this card isn't supported in this country".

[Dashing Don]

The flaking part. So correct. You'd have to wait until the girl actually got to the pickup landmark (ie, Petron station), THEN order a Grab to go there for pickup. THEN tell the driver what she is wearing and tell her the vehicle plate number and color. THEN hope he says yes to you not being there. Risking the p50 fee for him cancelling is small, and risking a girl not coming to me is a PITA (for me), as I'd have to start with plan Bee.

You can share with the girl the map with the real time location and trajectory of the driver plus all the drivers info and car info. Its a button in the app. Then she has all the info she needs. It works almost all the time. The only time it doesn't is if she's late to the location and the driver takes off but that's rare. Then there's a 50 peso charge.

This Grab pickup also has the effect of adding urgency to the meeting I notice. They know the car can be there in minutes. The juices start flowing. On both ends. I reckon it has made more meetings possible due to the immediacy of Grab, as opposed to her taking a cab with no money and then being worried about you being there to pay and texting you every five minutes during the ride which can take an hour. Obviously you do need to go downstairs to pay when she arrives and interestingly, that seems to be the first inkling the girl has that you're paying cash, but by then, she's at the front entrance of the hotel.

Anything that makes the process easier is good and I love the Grab 'remote pickup'.

[Dashing Don]

Its good to hear that you were able to get Grab to remotely pickup or drop off your girl. I have had zero luck during pandemic. When drivers figured out that I was not going to be in the car, they cancelled the ride and I got hit with said fees for making the attempt. Back then, the charges went to my outside-Phils credit card! However I have not re-tried recently.

The name I use on Grab is Don * a Latin sounding surname and not my real name--I'm 100% Caucasian and can be recognized as such from a mile away, however, come to think of it, over the years, several drivers have mentioned when they picked me up that they thought I would be a Filipino due to my name and were surprised that I wasn't. I never thought much of it but perhaps this is the key to the remote pickups.

Although Don * is obviously male and the pickup is a female but I have never had a problem and use Grab routinely in Manila.

[WestCoast1]

I can't. I heard rumours that it would work if the card was added while still at home but that's not the case.

When your card was rejected, was there any reason given? Or the generic "Card application failed"?

[Goferring]

Good news. Anyone been able to add an Aussie or American CC?

I can't. I heard rumours that it would work if the card was added while still at home but that's not the case.

[Goferring]

Hello friends, often I don't post why my posts don't interest many people. I even stopped to post because some time ago, someone took the piss in my contribution. Now I try again.

I take interest only for regular girls and I like to get a girlfriend experience with every girl for 10 days or more.

Two weeks ago I went to Cagayan de Oro to meet my GF. I was with her for some days only in my rented condo because she got problem with her baby in Pagadian and she had to run away.

I was always alone in that condo for other 7-8 days because it was so hard to meet girls. Girls steal your money for the fare and after they don't come.

All the girls are kind, they talk, talk an talk, bla bla bla, but they don't come. I asked the reason and all told me that very serious things have recently happened with tourists in CDO and they are afraid, terrified of approaching them. The girls were kidnapped.

So I bought a flight to Leyte island. I'm in Tacloban now. Here the girls are very nice, even more so than those of CDO. When I ask if they want to meet me, I notice them are very happy, even enthusiastic. But then they all tell that they have school, they are busy because they have to prepare for exams. Etc. Etc. Many of them are far from Tacloban even if I see this city in their profile. I have been in Tacloban for 2 days and I am always on social networks, but I'm not able to mee, even here. This is the first time this has happened to me in my whole life. Yet I have been to the Philippines several times, from Davao to CDO, Palawan, Manila, etc. Etc. I have to say one thing for sure: the goodness of the Philippines is completely over.

Can anyone give me some advice where to go and what to do?

Anyway I will never rcome back even if someone gives me the flight, I will change country. Jejejeje.

JL, sorry to hear about your negative experiences here on the board and out in the provinces. I haven't been to CDO or Lyete yet but do enjoy other provincial areas. My first visit was also a disappointment until I found out that provincial meet ups are often very different to Manila, Cebu etc.

Girls are much more reserved and image conscious as all their friends and family will find out that they are meeting an old guy. Platonic first dates and bringing a security blanket friend are much more common.

Forget about doing any ground work online before arrival. Many will make big promises but then back out due to being scared of meeting a new westerner face to face. Many provincial girls have never actually met a white guy in person before, especially one who wants to fuck her 10 minutes after meeting.

Making contact when you are in town and organising to meet today after work or school is much more effective. It also saves you wasting time on chatting to girls that can't or won't meet. Don't be afraid to chat with civilian girls in malls, markets etc and ask if they want a coffee. This gives them a chance to see your not a psycho kidnapper before meeting again.

A wingman who knows the area really helps. Research posts here and you may find someone who lives there and is willing to meet you or show you the better pick up places in town.

Don't rush things. All aspects of provincial life, including the girls, are far less point and shoot than the big cities.

Good luck. G.

[WestCoast1]

But can we use Gcash easily there? If yes, then we can credit Gcash from our Credit Card with Worldremit or any other money transfer (with some fees.) and then pay locally anything with the Mobile phone app, including Grab or others?

Gcash account is easy to make, cash-in, and verify (takes 24 hours or so to verify your identity). I can confirm that you can WorldRemit to your GC account -- and no sending fee! Many vendors accept GC as payment, and you can GC from your account to your girl's account easily. There are now cash-in (deposit) convenience fees at some places, including 7-11 (1%) and some kiosks. There is a 2% cash-out (withdrawal) fee at all cash-out locations (Cebuana, SM).

However I don't see a GC payment method on Grab. These are the listed methods in the Grab app: Cash, GrabPay Wallet, Credit / Debit card, and a linked Phils bank account (BDO, Union Bank, and BPI).

GCash would be a quick way to send your girl taxi money quickly from a phone app. However, the same warning applies: If she doesn't come, you can't get the money back. I have used my GC account to pay taxi drivers by sending the payment to their GC right there in the taxi. Hence you could GC your girl a few hundred pesos for her taxi, and she could in turn GC the metered amount to the driver (no Grab driver needed). I don't know any pinay who doesn't have GC.

BTW can tourists get a bank account in Phils?

But is it easy to get a Gcash account for small duration like 2 weeks? Or 3?

I believe your new account must simply be associated with any Phils SIM number.

[WestCoast1]

I had no problem adding my European MasterCard in the Grab app when I arrived last week. Been using it for cars and food.

Good news. Anyone been able to add an Aussie or American CC?

[WestCoast1]

Jones Lover, clear your inbox.

[JonesLover]

Hello friends, often I don't post why my posts don't interest many people. I even stopped to post because some time ago, someone took the piss in my contribution. Now I try again.

I take interest only for regular girls and I like to get a girlfriend experience with every girl for 10 days or more.

Two weeks ago I went to Cagayan de Oro to meet my GF. I was with her for some days only in my rented condo because she got problem with her baby in Pagadian and she had to run away.

I was always alone in that condo for other 7-8 days because it was so hard to meet girls. Girls steal your money for the fare and after they don't come.

All the girls are kind, they talk, talk an talk, bla bla bla, but they don't come. I asked the reason and all told me that very serious things have recently happened with tourists in CDO and they are afraid, terrified of approaching them. The girls were kidnapped.

So I bought a flight to Leyte island. I'm in Tacloban now. Here the girls are very nice, even more so than those of CDO. When I ask if they want to meet me, I notice them are very happy, even enthusiastic. But then they all tell that they have school, they are busy because they have to prepare for exams. Etc. Etc. Many of them are far from Tacloban even if I see this city in their profile. I have been in Tacloban for 2 days and I am always on social networks, but I'm not able to mee, even here. This is the first time this has happened to me in my whole life. Yet I have been to the Philippines several times, from Davao to CDO, Palawan, Manila, etc. Etc. I have to say one thing for sure: the goodness of the Philippines is completely over.

Can anyone give me some advice where to go and what to do?

Anyway I will never rcome back even if someone gives me the flight, I will change country. Jejejeje.

[El Ted]

I'm very interested about hearing from European users about this issue. Europeans have had so-called two-factor authentication for online purchases via debit / credit card for the better part of a year. I had no problem adding my European card and using it for Grab in Thailand, as well buying other stuff online while there. But seeing as I'm going to the Philippines soon, it would be good to get some on-the-ground intel. It feels like some kind of two-factor issue, and I'm not sure all American banks have implemented this yet. Do you have to verify your transaction when you buy something from an American website, WestCoast1? Typically the verification involves getting sent a text with a code, or approving it with some kind of bank app.

I had no problem adding my European MasterCard in the Grab app when I arrived last week. Been using it for cars and food.

[Albert9989]

I tried inputting 2 outside-Phils credit cards, and 2 outside-Phils ATM cards, all from 4 major banks. All failed for the same reason when I contacted Lazada and Grab.

But can we use Gcash easily there? If yes, then we can credit Gcash from our Credit Card with Worldremit or any other money transfer (with some fees.) and then pay locally anything with the Mobile phone app, including Grab or others?

I did that in Kenya with Mpesa and it works very well.

But is it easy to get a Gcash account for small duration like 2 weeks? Or 3?

[WestCoast1]

Do you have to verify your transaction when you buy something from an American website, WestCoast1? Typically the verification involves getting sent a text with a code, or approving it with some kind of bank app.

For example, online purchases (amazon or other). I can't recall getting an OTP while I am in the home country making a purchase. However if I am in Phils, the system seems to detect that I am not in the home country, an on occasion I get an OTP from the vendor.

That's very annoying for short term travellers, but is there a way through Gcash on mobile for example to be able to paty grab and others via mobile phone?

Or we will be obliged to carry cash all the time.

I tried inputting 2 outside-Phils credit cards, and 2 outside-Phils ATM cards, all from 4 major banks. All failed for the same reason when I contacted Lazada and Grab.

I assume you are only talking about online apps etc only?? Surely a foreign card can still be used to buy a shirt at SM, a room at a hotel etc.

Could be fun if not and makes a "Travel" debit card pretty worthless.

Good clarification. My CC's still work for making in-store purchases. And some recent good news on that front. More of the stores that accept CC payment are now utilizing CC devices that are "Touch" or "Tap", versus "Insert". This prevents skimming, which is not uncommon in NCR.

Wrt to original post, pinas flake so often I'd be reluctant to use time, effort and $$ to organise a Grab for a new girl anyway. It sounds great in theory but it's hard to imagine one who would have her act together enough to turn up at the allotted time and place and actually find the driver. Perhaps I need to source better quality girls but if she can't get to me in an agreed hour or two window then it's the end of the discussion. This allows me to get on with my day and then just walk down stairs if and when she arrives. No more sitting around planning and waiting all day for a girl for me.

I still give jeep money for fare. I stopped the taxi game some time ago. I still taxi (if raining) for girls departing my place, especially if she doesn't have an umbrella. But I walk her out to get a taxi with my umbrella, and I pay the driver directly w / tip at the start of the ride. Too many times before I saw one of my girls depart, step into a taxi, the taxi moves 10 M and stops, she steps out (keeping the money), and she heads to a jeep.

The flaking part. So correct. You'd have to wait until the girl actually got to the pickup landmark (ie, Petron station), THEN order a Grab to go there for pickup. THEN tell the driver what she is wearing and tell her the vehicle plate number and color. THEN hope he says yes to you not being there. Risking the p50 fee for him cancelling is small, and risking a girl not coming to me is a PITA (for me), as I'd have to start with plan Bee.

[Goferring]

The credit card. All of the large Phils organizations have stopped allowing CC use if the card is from outside of Phils.

I assume you are only talking about online apps etc only?? Surely a foreign card can still be used to buy a shirt at SM, a room at a hotel etc.

Could be fun if not and makes a "Travel" debit card pretty worthless.

Wrt to original post, pinas flake so often I'd be reluctant to use time, effort and $$ to organise a Grab for a new girl anyway. It sounds great in theory but it's hard to imagine one who would have her act together enough to turn up at the allotted time and place and actually find the driver. Perhaps I need to source better quality girls but if she can't get to me in an agreed hour or two window then it's the end of the discussion. This allows me to get on with my day and then just walk down stairs if and when she arrives. No more sitting around planning and waiting all day for a girl for me.

Obviously, a past acquaintance with known reliability is totally different.

Enjoy. G.

[Albert9989]

The credit card. All of the large Phils organizations have stopped allowing CC use if the card is from outside of Phils. FoodPanda, Grab, Lazada, Shoppee, etc. , will no longer accept your CC from the US or other outside countries (assuming you are adding the outside CC as a new card on your account). In emails with these organizations asking why my outside-Phils CC was no longer allowed to be added to a my new account, I initially get different excuses. "Just you get a Phils credit card sir and it will work".

K

Its good to hear that you were able to get Grab to remotely pickup or drop off your girl. I have had zero luck during pandemic. When drivers figured out that I was not going to be in the car, they cancelled the ride and I got hit with said fees for making the attempt. Back then, the charges went to my outside-Phils credit card! However I have not re-tried recently.

That's very annoying for short term travellers, but is there a way through Gcash on mobile for example to be able to paty grab and others via mobile phone?

Or we will be obliged to carry cash all the time.