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Bubba

Jun 28, 2004, 8:57 AM

Post #1 of 23 (2473 views)

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Telmex Bills

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This morning, June 28th, we received a call at our residence in Ajijic from Lloyd informing us that, effective in July, Lloyd will no longer be paying our Telmex bill. We were told that if we had any questions we should address them to Telmex in Ajijic. Those of you who are out of town for the season should be aware of this. Presumably, you may find your telephone disconnected for non-payment upon your re-arrival if you are depending on Lloyd to keep you paid current.

As we find out more about what is going on we will keep you posted.

sfmacaws

Jun 28, 2004, 10:58 AM

Post #2 of 23 (2444 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Telmex Bills

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For any of you that may need this, I pay my Telmex bill from wherever I am online. There is both an english and a spanish site. Here is the english site http://www.telmexusa.com/pausca1000.asp I initially signed up on the spanish site but then discovered that it wouldn't accept my US Visa card for payment. So I then signed up on the english site and all is well.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Bubba

Jun 28, 2004, 1:52 PM

Post #3 of 23 (2421 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Telmex Bills

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We found out upon visiting Telmex today that what Jonna says is correct. Telex will allow you to pay on line but only with MC and VISA, not American Express. We only carry American express so that is not an option for us. Alternatively, we found that Bancomer in Ajijic will pay our telephone and electric bills for free from a savings or checking account. I believe other multi-branch Mexican banks will do the same.

If you travel out of Mexico often and have the right credit cards Jonna's solution may be your best bet.

It is strange undeed that an investment house with a large foreign clientele such as Lloyd allowed this sudden termination of an important service with virtually no notice when so many expats are out of town for the season. Maybe they had no choice but you talk about poorly handled.

Add this to your "only in Mexico" anthology of humor/horror stories.

mkdutch

Jun 28, 2004, 4:07 PM

Post #4 of 23 (2401 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Telmex Bills

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Is this something unique to TELMEX? They don't pay our phone bill, but the DO pay our electric. Did they mention if any other services were affected?

Kay

Marlene

Jun 28, 2004, 4:27 PM

Post #5 of 23 (2391 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Telmex Bills

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I was not aware they had another site si this is good information to know about. Just curious, when you are on the road, do you use internet cafe's or do you use your own system via laptop?

sfmacaws

Jun 28, 2004, 9:23 PM

Post #6 of 23 (2347 views)

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Re: [Marlene] Telmex Bills

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Yes, I do use internet cafes sometimes to pay bills. I don't think I've actually used one for the telmex bill yet as I just set this up when we left MX for the summer and I've only used it on my laptop since then.

It's a tough call, sometimes you just have to use an inet cafe to pay your bills if you travel alot. We do and I do.

I prefer to find one that will let me hook into their network with my laptop but that isn't always possible or practical. I look for cafes that will let me do that mainly so I can upload my web page easier. It's been hit and miss in Mexico, it's usually possible in a large city or tourist town and not easily done in smaller towns. I once bought beer and pizza in San Cris and was allowed to stay after closing and upload my site on their network - I think it is the universal geek currency <g>

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Kimpatsu Hekigan

Jun 28, 2004, 10:07 PM

Post #7 of 23 (2340 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Telmex Bills

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I, too, pay my TelMex bill on-line, but use my bank's Bill Payer service. While paying with a VISA/MC credits your account instantaneously, I've found it takes 7-10 business days for the Bill Payer payment to be credited and for the TelMex USA site to tell me I have no outstanding balance.

But has anyone actually been able to view their TelMex bill on-line? The link embedded in the note below seems to be dead...

From the TelMex USA "Pay Bill" web page:
__________
NOTA: Telmex USA does not provide detailed information of the mexican bill.
If you are the owner of the mexican line, please access for more information HERE, if you are not, please contact the mexican owner.
__________

Thanks!

-- K.H.

Before enlightenment: Chop wood, haul water.
After enlightenment: Chop wood, haul water.

sfmacaws

Jun 28, 2004, 10:20 PM

Post #8 of 23 (2333 views)

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Re: [kimpatsu_hekigan] Telmex Bills

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There is also a spanish Telmex site here http://www.telmex.com/...consulta_recibo.html which has bill pay service as well. I signed up for it but when I went to input the credit card, it refused it. I was told that it only accepts cards from MX banks. In fact, that may be on the site somewhere and I just missed it when signing up.

The link above is where you would log in and check your bill. I'm afraid to try it with the old pin in case it ruins my working account on the english site. It might be what you are looking for though.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

sfmacaws

Jun 28, 2004, 11:39 PM

Post #9 of 23 (2321 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Telmex Bills

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OK, I couldn't stand it, I had to try logging on to the spanish site. It didn't have any effect on my english logon, it uses a different set of info to verify you including a password sent by Telmex, not chosen. I had that part backwards. The english site asks for the phone number of the bill you want to pay, your US phone number (more about that later) and your customer number. It's the customer number that you have to get from Telmex before you can pay online. The US phone number seems to be just a way to verify who is paying the bill. I used a US cell phone number and a friend in MX used her daughters number. I've never gotten a call from Telmex on my US number and I doubt it is used for anything but verification. Remember that the main purpose of the english site is to allow relatives or friends in the US to pay for a phone for someone in Mexico. It's another form of remittance.

The spanish site has a form to fill out. It wants the amount of the last couple of bills and some other info - I can't remember it all now. Then they send you an email authorizing you and giving you a password.

Unfortunately, when I logged onto the spanish site my bill was there but without any real detail. No numbers called or any of that, just the amount and the tax.

Anyway, hope this helps.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Bubba

Jun 29, 2004, 9:57 AM

Post #10 of 23 (2250 views)

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Re: [mkdutch] Telmex Bills

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Dutch:

Lloyd says it will continue to pay the electric bills. On the other hand, they never inferred that they would suddenly, and without notice, stop paying the telephone bills. These services only have value if they are absolutely dependable, especially for part time residents. Nobody in Mexico is ever responsible for anything and this sort of thoughtless and arbitrary behavior is typical. As I stated earlier, Lloyd is a private investment house and is doing this to their customers. Imagine dealing with the bureacracy.

Now, the question is, will those expats returning in November, whose bills have not been paid through no fault if their own, have a telephone or even a telephone number? Time will tell. The lines at the Telmex office should be interesting.

gpk

Jun 29, 2004, 10:03 AM

Post #11 of 23 (2250 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Telmex Bills

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I've had my phone turned off for non-payment (in the state of Guanajuato). There was no re-connect charge, I kept the number (actually, the number belongs to the real estate, not to the individual), and I had my phone back 30 minutes after paying--AT THE TELMEX OFFICE.

song_of_joy

Jun 29, 2004, 10:19 AM

Post #12 of 23 (2246 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Telmex Bills

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For what it's worth, I can pay almost all services online from my peso account with Banorte -- telephone, lights, cable TV, LP gas, internet (Terra) and more. In addition to the confirmation number that appears on the screen when the transaction is completed, the bank e-mails me confirmation of each payment.

I pay 15 pesos a month for this Internet access with Banorte. Believe me, it's well worth it for the time, gasoline and hassles I'm saved.

I understand this is possible with most any Mexican bank. My son speaks highly of Bancomer; my employer uses Serfin.

sfmacaws

Jun 29, 2004, 10:34 AM

Post #13 of 23 (2243 views)

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Re: [gpk] Telmex Bills

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Until this year, our bill also just lapsed in the summer and I would pay it when I returned. The manager said they did it all the time and it was not a problem. It made me nervous though, just my gringa paranoia I guess. Also, in our area, there are not enough lines and it is not easy to get one. They are often sold when someone leaves, I bought mine separately from the person I bought the condo from 5 years ago and I've had numerous offers to buy it. That upped the nervous factor for me so I'm very happy that I've found a way to pay it.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

johanson

Jun 29, 2004, 1:17 PM

Post #14 of 23 (2213 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Telmex Bills

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I talked to the manager at Lloyd's about TelMex. She felt really bad about the situation placed upon her and her employees and said that they would do their very best to contact each impacted person individually, ASAP.

I'm sure she doesn't like the situation she was put in any more than those of you who have to find a new way to pay your phone bill.

Did I misunderstand? I thought it was TelMex that told Lloyd's that they could not continue to make the payments for their customers.

Bubba

Jun 29, 2004, 2:40 PM

Post #15 of 23 (2196 views)

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Re: [johanson] Telmex Bills

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Who is responsible for this? Lloyd or Telmex. We are due an honest explanation. You went down to see Lloyd management in Ajijic and they blamed it on Telmex. Well, maybe! Bubba is a good customer of Lloyd in Ajijic, at least for now. Nobody has called me to express regret for this irresponsible action.

Let's hear from Lloyds' management about who is responsible for this debacle.

Incidentally, Pete, I am not attacking you and I appreciate your asking Lloyds' management about this but this is really fishy. No investment bank I have ever dealt with anywhere has treated their customers so frivolously.

I am seriously thinking of moving my account. There are some very good investment alternatives. In a thousand years, my U.S. investment bank would not leave me out on a limb like that.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Jun 29, 2004, 3:24 PM)

johanson

Jun 29, 2004, 4:21 PM

Post #16 of 23 (2172 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Telmex Bills

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I remember last summer, once I got back to Seattle, when all of a sudden Lloyd's made a change in the method needed to transfer funds from my account in Ajijic to those who paid my bills and gave almost not advanced notice. I was just as angry. I'm guessing high level management made a change and the poor workers had to tell me after I got back to the states that the arrangement that was made no longer worked.

Yes, let's find out what really happened.

Let me correct what I wrote. I knew that the manager and her staff had been told of a policy change. I assumed that it was the result of something TelMex had done, not Lloyd.

johanson

Jun 30, 2004, 8:52 AM

Post #17 of 23 (2116 views)

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Re: [johanson] Telmex Bills

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I talked to two employees, cashiers, at Lloyd's. They both said it was TelMex that would no longer allow Lloyd's to pay. None knew the reason why.

jshrall

Jun 30, 2004, 9:46 AM

Post #18 of 23 (2108 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Telmex Bills

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The story I heard from a friend who visited Lloyds was that Telmex wants to increase foot traffic into their office so they can sell more telephones, Internet services and whatever else they have for sale.

Having waited in line to talk to one of their indifferent agents, one can only wonder what they are thinking. Perhaps when an extra thousand or so people show up each month, they'll reconsider the plan.

Bubba

Jun 30, 2004, 10:46 AM

Post #19 of 23 (2095 views)

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Re: [jshrall] Telmex Bills

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I went to Telmex. Telmex employee told me after checking with the manager that this was due to a change of policy from Loyd but that we could pay our bills via Internet or via our bank, Bancomer.

It sounds like Quien sabes to me.

Bubette

johanson

Jun 30, 2004, 11:15 AM

Post #20 of 23 (2087 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Telmex Bills

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I talked to the assistant manager at Lloyd's who told me that it was TelMex that had made a change in policy and that TelMex suggested that those who were inconvenienced by the move could pay on line by going to www.telmexusa.com and pay on line. I just went to the page and they have a link for those in the US and Canada to pay on line.

With both sides saying it was the other who made the change, it would be interesting to learn the truth.

juan david

Jun 30, 2004, 4:32 PM

Post #21 of 23 (2038 views)

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Re: [johanson] Telmex Bills

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Finger pointin' at it's finest! It will take a dedicated soldier of truth to dig out the scoundrels. With internet option and walk in(1-5 minutes) service available, we may all survive this crisis.
" let sleeping dogs lie"

Bubba

Jul 1, 2004, 7:15 AM

Post #22 of 23 (1993 views)

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Re: [ian] Telmex Bills

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Ian:

There are, indeed, options to the lloyd bill paying service. The problem here is the way this was handled not the discontinuance of the service.

johanson

Jul 1, 2004, 2:22 PM

Post #23 of 23 (1938 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Telmex Bills

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Bubba: (Oops and the rest of you)I just learned this morning that a friend of mine went into TelMex several days ago with a Lloyd's check made out to TelMex for the correct amount, and that it and all other Lloyd's checks were being turned down by TelMex. If I understood him correctly, he and others to include the Lloyds employees learned of this new policy just a few days ago when their checks were no longer being excepted.

I wonder why TelMex won't honor the Lloyd checks.