Wack Things in Taiwan 2020

SD / SIM card stopped working.
Went to Taiwan DaGeDa to replace it.
They said they couldn’t even look at it until I provided ID.
Gave them my APRC…which I’ve had for over a decade.
Can you guess where this is going?
.
.
.
.
They said, no. Need to see my passport. (It wasn’t with me).
I asked why?
They said because I’m a foreigner.
Told them everything they need to identify me is right there on the APRC…passport number, country of origin, birth date, English and Chinese name, etc.
.
.
.
Nope. Need a second form of ID.
Sure! No problem!
Gave them my driver’s license, scooter license, and health insurance card that has my pic on it.
.
.
.
Nope. Must be passport.
ok. Let me call my wife who is at home. She can send a picture of my passport.
.
.
.
Nope. We need to photocopy it.
Why.
I’m a current customer of 5 years, I already have an account with you. All I want is a new Sim card replacement. Does it even cost anything?
.
.
.
Nope.
But we can’t give it to you without your 2nd ID. And it must be your passport.
.
.
.
I was trying not to let my anger show.
Said thanks and walked out.

WTF
:rage:

12 Likes

Call up their helpline and try to get them to send you one. A while ago when I was still with Taiwan Mobile I wanted to cancel myMusic which was added to my account for some reason. I had my passport but was still waiting for my new ARC and they wouldn’t cancel it without seeing the ARC. I called up and they removed it for me in about two minutes.

I had a similar experience with CHT. Cherry on top is that they wanted the original passport I opened the account with… 15 years ago…

11 Likes

same. He said original passport. I’ve renewed twice since being in Taiwan.

5 Likes

I wouldn’t go try to do anything telecommunications-related without my passport, from similar experience.

7 Likes

Could it be that the proliferation of scamsters has led to more stringent government oversight?

Remember that the “Mom it’s me! I’m in trouble! I need you to send me money!” crowd uses telecommunications (aka phones) to get things done…

Guy

2 Likes

Its been like that for years . They are strictly regulated similar to banks though, at least in terms of all the documentation one needs to provide and sign even if an existing customer.
They need to see a current passport, pain in the arse alright but generally they won’t bend on it.
The phone company staff can be stubborn too and they have rules about printing certain documentation as well.

1 Like

Current passport I can take. The dig in the memory lane / bank vault for a 15 year old passport if I have the current one in my hand pisses me immensely.

3 Likes

They are so strict they have to demand identification issued by a foreign country! An identification document written in a language they may not fully understand, with inherent counterfeit prevention measures they may or may not understand.

5 Likes

It’s about following the rules set from on high . That’s all it is.

3 Likes

Left the hospital and entering MRT station next door…lady in front of me pulls out some leaves from her coat and start swiping her body with the leaves…arms, legs, neck,. etc.

Gotta love how useful some plants are for disinfectant and ghost prevention purposes.

LMAO!!! :rofl: :joy:

Public bike rack that is too narrow to accept bike wheel. At the post office.

They apparently only made it wide enough for the tire and did not think about the rest of the wheel.

5 Likes

I had a situation where Chunghwa asked to see my ID, gave her my passport. Then she asked for a second ID (hate how it’s seems to be the culture not asking for everything they need from the beginning). Gave her one more passport and she explained I need a driving licence! Told her my driving licence was confiscate by the police after I failed jumping between two buildings on my scooter. She didn’t laugh so she probably didn’t get the joke, or it wasn’t good enough for her. After a longer discussion and a call to her supervisor she came up with a rule saying I need two IDs from one country. Walked around 500m to the next shop and solved the problem without anyone asking to see my ID.

5 Likes

Ximen store.

Ask for BingTing. He’ll help you.

2 Likes

Yes, this is it. I can do many things regarding my phone with the APRC, but renewing a contact requires the original passport. I’m guessing anything sim card related. Still frustrating, but I know I need my passport for that and an overseas remittance. I think that’s also a law

This came up on FB ads. It’s an advertisement for a computer company. Not sure what’s going on with those tissues and why the screen is pixelated…

We can’t pay you more cause we need to keep wages down so bossman can buy another yacht but we’ll let you watch whatever kinky porn you like at work and we won’t say a thing.

2 Likes

8 posts were merged into an existing topic: Wack Things In Taiwan 2021