BPI Express Credit Card Detailed Timeline: From Application to Delivery

I have been wanting to have a credit card since a year ago just for convenience sake and I also want to build my credit history just in case I have some business ideas that might need funding in the future. I already gave up applying for credit card since I was  denied a couple of times. This time, I got approved and it was, I think, because I talked to the right person.

Note: I don't think credit card is for everybody. This thing is dangerous when it's not used properly. I already have a good grip when it comes to finance that's why I don't have any doubts that I will be able to use this to my advantage.



BPI Super Metro Lapu Lapu GMC (Denied twice)

I don't know why but I always don't have luck when it comes to this branch. Read my experience here. One time, I went there armed with my Mutual Fund statement of accounts, land titles, stock certificates and all but they denied my credit card application. The horror! I was very shocked! They told me that they need "Employment Certificate, Income Tax and three months pay slip". ( I even showed them my properties and paper assets to no avail.) They didn't even consider that I am a long time BPI costumer with good records. I was humbled, yes! I went there the second time armed with all the things they asked  the last time, but they denied me anyway. I gave up!

Note: The problem is they just look at the requirements, they don't even look at your bank account history. Incompetent af or maybe they know that I blogged about them. Ha!





BPI MEPZ 2 Pueblo Verde Basak Lapu-Lapu City
 

BPI Tamiya Branch (near Mactan Outlets)

I went to this branch a month ago to ask for  statement of account and bank certificate, which were some of the requirements for my visa application to France. I nonchalantly asked  the teller about "secured credit card" since I've heard that this is a sure way to get credit card with no application needed and if you maintain good records for few years, you will be granted real credit card. While she was processing my bank certificate request, she was talking to the manager and I they were looking at my bank account history and voila, they said I got approved for express credit card. NO REQUIREMENTS NEEDED.




Timeline:


March  17, 2017-  I was informed that I was eligible for Express Credit Card (The same time I requested for Bank Certificate and bank statement). The manager said that she will e-mail me about my credit card limit.

Note: I didn't  get any e-mail from her so I just let it go.I thought I was denied.


March 31, 2017- I received this text:

April 6, 2017: I noticed that there was another tab added in my online bank account and that's how I found out how much is my credit card limit.

I was expecting Php 10,000 credit card limit. They really want to trap you, huh?

Note: My friend told me about this, that BPI just automatically added a new section in your online bank account without any warning.


April 10, 2017: I called BPI Tamiya because I haven't received my credit card yet so the girl I was talking to told me that she is going to e-mail the main office with regards to my concern.


Twenty minutes later, I received this:

 

Note: 

BPI Credit Card Courier is Air21

Note: They have to waive my annual fee or I'm giving this credit card up. No way I'm paying Php 1,500 for something I don't even need. 

March 2017: Income and Expenses

March 1-15 : Php 10,798

March 16-31: Php 11, 512

Total Income: Php 22, 311.00
Total Expenses: Php 16, 243.70


Europe Trip Savings= PHP 62,186.85 + 6,067.30= PHP  68,254.15




 

French Embassy: Applying for a Tourist Visa (PHILIPPINES)

I went to Manila and went back to Cebu in just a day. Feeling rich lang ang drama ko kahapon! heheh!

• Had a morning flight but was raining like crazy in Cebu. After I arrived in Manila, it was hot as f there. Nevertheless, I still prefer Cebu to Manila. No offense to all people who are from Manila. I am just a creature of habit and I like familiarity. Manila is too crowded for my liking.
• Arrived at NAIA around 9 AM and went straight to VFS Global:
   

France Visa Application Center 

Unit MO2 Mezzanine floor Ecoplaza Bldg.
Don Chino Roces, Ave., Extension
Makati City 1231, Philippines

• I used GrabTaxi to get to VFS Global and it costed me Php 185.
• VFS Global is located at the second floor of Ecoplaza.
• You are allowed to get in 15 minutes before your schedule.
• You will be directed to the locker room. Locker room fee is Php 75. You have to pay after the interview.
• You can bring your phone inside, but it should remain off. I saw people texting though. I didn't bring my phone with me inside because I thought it wasn't allowed. 

Things you can bring inside:

-pouch/small bag
- phone (but should be off)
- documents
- snacks (I saw people eating chips and biscuits inside so it must be allowed. I think you should bring a snack or two because I was there for 2 hours and I definitely got hungry.) 


My documents included:

-  Appointment (You can set up an appointment through their website beforehand.)
- Cover Letter ( I saw someone writing her cover letter. She must have forgotten to make one in advance.)
- SECPA/ Live birth
- Passport
- Photocopy of previous visa
- Aerosmith and Guns N' Roses concert tickets
- Plane reservations 
- Hotel reservations
- Eiffel Tower restaurant reservation 
- Bank Certificate ( I requested mine at BPI. Fee: Php100)
- Bank Statement ( 3 months)
- Letter of Acknowledgement from my current company with three moths salary 
- Leave of Absence  

Other supporting documents I included were: 

- 3 land titles
- 2 mutual funds statement of account

• My appointment was at 11:00 PM, but I waited for about  1 to two hours. I was nervous as heck and I don't even know why I was nervous in the first place!
• The girl just checked my requirements. She didn't even ask me anything! She had this checklist and she checked my documents one by one and she let me signed the checklist.
• I got the receipt and I proceeded to the cashier.
• Here is the detailed list of all the fees I had to pay:

Short stay Visa Fee- Php 3,140
Logistic Fee- Php 1,361
Courier Fee- Php 330 (You can choose to pick it up, but I chose this one since I am living in Cebu)
SMS Fee- Php 110 (Had I known that there is a fee for the updates, I wouldn't have opted for this.)

• Wait for your name to be called for Biometrics.
• Biometrics took about less than 5 minutes. She took my fingerprint and my picture and she told me about what to expect in a few days (like the texts I will receive, the courier thing and all)
• My passport will arrive in 2 to 5 business days, but it might take longer because I live outside Metro Manila.
  
  
  
  Waiting game nalang! If ma approve, okay! If hindi, then I will be Php 100,000 pesos richer by June.