265: First Obstacle in the States!

WARNING: Long post below, without any images.

This is my first obstacle faced in the US as an international student. In the first week of my arrival in the US.

I've signed up for 3 mobile phone lines from AT&T for myself and my friends because it's cheaper when we all enter the family plan. And within the next two days, another two of my friends wanted to join the plan, so we proceeded to sign up for 2 more mobile phone lines.

And then later that afternoon after I signed up for the two lines, I received a phone call requesting to verify my identity. I answered all the questions truthfully, about my email address, housing address, mobile phone number, phone account number and all that to the representative. She thanked me, and then within five minutes, I couldn't even make a call and contact my friends.

"Hello, thank you for calling AT&T for your wireless blah blah blah (i forgot). You have reached the Fraud Department. To continue in English, press 1."

"Fraud Department"? Did I hear that right?

Indeed, I heard it right. It's "Fraud Department". Fraud. F-R-A-U-D.

Now then, what sort of fraud did I just commited?

Great, now my mobile phone has been rendered useless because every call I make was redirected to the Fraud Department.

I don't like the sound of the "Fraud Department"! I don't like the name at all! It made me sound like a criminal. Which I am not. I'm just an international student demanding for a mobile phone service! What wrong have I committed?

Alright. After a few checks from my Internet Mobile Phone Account, I've discovered the reason:

Billing Email Address: ASDQW@QWEQASC.COM. (An email address with random characters.)

House Phone Number: 555-555-5555.

Alright, so that makes sense why I am treated as a Fraud when the person tried to verify my identity through the phone. My proper email address and the billing email address doesn't match, obviously.

Apparently when I signed up for the service, the sales representative mentioned that if I am an international student without a social security number, the personals from AT&T will disregard all the information because most international students do not have a house phone number within the first week of arrival. I believed him and thought everything is settled. But I didn't expect that someone would call me, "verify", and suspend my account.

Then, I travelled back to the place where I used to signed up my mobile phone lines, consulted the sales agent and he helped me to sort the problem out. He understands my situation and admits that it was his mistake to assume that the email address is not important when I'm an international student. He called AT&T for me, and spoke with them for a long time.

According to the officials from AT&T, they require two types of identification from the US, such as a US driver's license, US ID Card, etc-- which I do not possess as an international student. And they do not accept other forms of identification. What should I do? The sales agent then helped me to fax every single document I possess in hand-- Malaysian Driver's License, Malaysian ID Card, I-20 Form, US Visa, Passport, EVERYTHING and hoped that AT&T will accept two of these documents and life the suspension off my line.

I waited... and waited. A day has passed, and AT&T hasn't reactivated my phone line yet.

The next day, I called the Fraud Department again. This time they wanted a Utility Bill under my name. What the heck? I'm an international student on my first week in the US! And then, Iowa State University pays my utility bills! So how the heck do I have my utility bill?! Their response: "I need your university ID card and your Passport faxed to this number. xxx-xxx-xxxx."

So I went to photocopy my stuff and have them faxed. And it's freaking expensive to fax stuff. I've spent $10 to fax these stuff. 10 dollars! 10 USD!!! It's like 35 bucks MYR to do all this!

Alright, faxed the documents. Few hours later, the line's still not activated. I called the Fraud Department again. This time, another guy reached for the call.

"We can accept the passport with the visa, but we cannot accept your University ID Card."

What's the matter with them? One tells me to fax them ID Card, while the other says they do not accept University ID Card?!

Great, I'm pissed off. I'm really the account holder and I just needed a mobile phone to contact my friends in a foreign place. What sort of fraud would I commit?! If I do anything illegal here, I will not be able to graduate from the US at all! That's crazy!

I couldn't hold it anymore. I was desperate. I raised my voice and started fighting to convince them that I'm indeed the account holder. I asked them to throw me a bunch of security questions which will verify that I am the owner, since I possess the printed copy of the contract with all the information in it--including the ASDSDVAS@ASDASD.com email address. They didn't asked me more. Finally, after a long battle-of-words with the staff over the phone, he agreed to summon his supervisor and discussed the matter with him.

While he put me on hold for 8 minutes, I prayed that everything's gonna be alright. I do not want to have the line suspended and still billed monthly for 2 years because I have a two-year contract with them. And it involves the money of my four other friends in the family package too. I just want a peace and quiet and happy life during my study in the US.

Finally, after a discussion with the supervisor, the staff said: "We have researched onto the information that you have provided me and verified that you are indeed the account holder. We will restore all five of your lines later."

In disbelief, I confirmed with them: "So I can use my line again by tonight?"

"Yes, in fact we will restore your lines after you hang up and reboot your phone."

I asked again: "So you are going to reactivate my lines AFTER I hang up and reboot my phone?" Basically repeating what he just said.

"Yes."

Thank god.

Finally. All that trouble due to a mistyped email address by the sales agent. It has cost my sleep and made me wonder about my life in the US if the phone line is suspended without any chance of reactivation because of the lack of documentations. And it may even spawn legal issues and mess up my F visa. That's seriously gonna suck!

And now... my phone is back up. My US number is usable again. No more redirection to the Fraud Department. Thanks Buddha! I called one of my friend who is under my line too, and she said that she was really happy when she saw me appearing in her Caller ID screen--because that means her phone is working! I am also very satisfied to have accomplish something that might have turned into legal issues and handled all these things all by myself, besides with one of my friend who spent the $10 on faxing the stuff (who is also under my line).

Bottom line: Check your information when you register for a phone line, and have doubts even when the sales agent are confident about what's he's doing. That's gonna suck if someone wants to verify your account and you give them your proper information when the registered information is just a bunch of random words.

I have also learned to make calls and express my ideas effectively through this incident. One of the first things that I've learned in the US! It's only the first week!

- Kingwn.

264: Life in the US

Yep. About a week ago I departed to the US from Malaysia.
It was a sad day for me that day, knowing that I had to leave my family and friends behind while I advance to America alone. And that day... my family went to send me off in the airport.

Aunt, Uncle, Dad, Me, Cousin, Bro, Mom. My sisters were here too, but they aren't in this picture.

I am very touched that my friends came to send me off. Kam Wei, Sze Hou, Kien Hor, Tzia Tshen, Mervyn, Zhe Zeng, Hui Yeng, Daryl, Kar Foong, Shen Ting, Hui Xin, and Hui Ching. You guys are so awesome that I'm almost stunned when I see some of the guys because I never expected that they would come!

The guys.

It was 45 minutes before departure and the boarding gate is about to close soon. It was the time for us to separate. I gave everyone a hug, including my family and every single friend who came for me, before going through the security check down the elevator. As I turned back and waved to everyone... it was very saddening for me, realizing that I will be treading on the steps ahead alone in a strange environment.

Not really alone, though. These two guys will be travelling with me. They're from ADP too.

So, after all the tiring transfer flights totaling nearly up to 30 hours, from Kuala Lumpur to Changi Singapore, and then to Tokyo Narita and Chicago Ohare, before boarding an internal flight from Chicago to Des Moines and finally taking the express bus from Des Moines to Ames, Iowa. Tiring journey.

In front of the Bank while setting up the Bank Account. The broad roads and neat streets with all the good sceneries are what I really like about Ames! The people there is SUPER FRIENDLY and they say "Hi" and ask you about your day whenever they pass by you. Even the cars yield to you when you cross the streets although it's green light for them.

Kwang Shiong trying to challenge to cold weather. He managed to endure for a few minutes before he had to put on his winter jackets again.

I'm starting to like the environment here as I met a lot of friendly people. And it's super peaceful over here :)

- Kingwn

263: The Final Night

It's 2am in the morning now.

I am nervous. I couldn't sleep; for this is the final night for me being in my comfy room for the time being.

Room cleaned, baggages packed...

Yet my heart keeps beating wildly and prevented me from sleeping.

I woke up, took out my camera from its case, and started snapping pictures at everything in my room: the queen sized bed, the black study table that has accompanied me through many examination revisions, my toilet bowl, the rubbish bin, and even the mark on my ceiling.

And the clock shows 2.30am now... I shall sleep and prepare for the long flight tomorrow!

Hopefully everything will go smoothly without delays!

- Kingwn.