Sunday, September 12, 2010
if i have to dedicte a song to describe myself, there is only one that i deem apt - Superwoman.
have you ever felt that the responsibilities you carry far surpasses the abilities of someone of your age should/could handle? yet you must do your best, for many depend on you and the consequences of your decisions, coercing you to conform to your situation, growing up prematurely.
like a blind leading the blinds, yet you must ensure the pack reaches their destination. Such expectations are suffocating the life out of you.
sometimes i find it so ironic.
i am so overwhelmed by these responsibilities, that normal troubles a young girl should have, like lover quarrels and trying to find a bf, seems trivial. rather, they are like privileges that i have been deprived of.
i have so many dreams, travelling around the world; find a bf and fall in love; enjoy all delicacies and sceneries all over the world; become a millionaire before i reach 40.... but as long as these issues are not in place, my dreams would remain as dreams.
perhaps i have surpressed my own feelings for so long in order for me concentrate on dealing with these issues, led to the sudden emotion outburst i had a few months back. *fyi, my crazy crush on the korean guy*
there are times when i really wish someone could appear and take over these responsibilities, but no, no one could help. because everyone believed i am the best candidate. if not, at least someone there to offer me some love and comfort.
all along, i felt so powerless in my situation. its almost as if i am swimming against the flows of a strong current, trying to go ashore. i am so tired, but if i dun swim, i will simply drown. i want to stop, but the situation doesnt allow me to give up.
but finally.. today, i did something to smack the currents in the face. letting them know, although i am young and inexperienced to this wretched world full of schemings, i am no pushover.and its a feat which made me feel truly proud of myself. i feel so empowered.
i hate housing agents, seriously.
just like cab drivers, or worse, all the agents i come across, be it accquainted or not, are out to lie/cheat me.
perhaps in their years of experience, they have never come across a seller and buyer as young as i am, but they still should have taken me seriously.
i am in the finance line, and what i have learnt from it is the iron-clad rule that
no payment can be payable in the absence of a tax invoice.
last week when my agent requested me for the payment of his commission, i asked him for the tax invoice. he told me his company policy is that the tax invoice will only be issued two weeks after payment, it is as good as a receipt. i was suspicious, but i had no time to certify the facts until today. i went through the commission agreement and found the stated the company policy completely different from what i was told.
hence, i msged my agent, confronted him with what i discovered, and firmly told him, as long as i dun receive the tax invoice, i will NOT make payment, despite the fact i have alrdy prepared the cheque. he called me back immediately, and i offer you the following victorious arguement i had with him.
Agent: Elaine, i can give you the documents you requested, no problem but i had bypass this procedure in order to expedite the process for you.
Me: Earlier when i requested the tax invoice from you, you told me that it will only be issued 2weeks after payment, it is as good as a receipt. but i read your company's commission agreement, it states that payment is only payable upon tax invoice, and a separate receipt will be issued upon payment. it is completely different from what you told me.
Agent: yes, i can process the invoice, but it will take a few weeks. i had in mind that i can process both the tax invoice and receipt and pass it to you at the same time, making things faster. so payment can also be processed faster. but it seems like you are making things difficult for me. (his tone was changing to a defensive tone and not very frenly)
Me: I am not making things difficult. As an agent, you knew that commission is made payble on the 1st appointment (last week), then you should have processed the invoice such that it is available to us on 1st appointment, so we can make payment to you back then. and not telling me you want to expedite the process so you bypass the procedure. we want to do things in a proper manner, do things according to procedure to prevent any screwups. i dun care even if there is a delay because of that. Jeff (the agent's name),
we can pay you, we can afford to pay you no problem. we engage you as our agent, we are liable to pay you, but we hope to do things as per procedure. but as long as i do not receive the invoice, i will not pay.
Agent: Elaine, i have no doubt financially you have the ability to pay me. i was just trying to expedite the process, but you sound like i was out to lie to you or cheat your money. if i had known this was the case, i should have submitted the documents earlier.
Me: Jeff, we engaged you and trusted you to advise us because you deal with these procedures everyday, we dun, you are more familiar with the procedures than us, so we trusted that you will advise us the right thing. but when i asked you, what you told me was different from the company's policy. if you had any ideas to want to expedite the process, or you have any difficulties, you can always be open with us and we can work things out together, ultimately we want the process to be smooth and no screw ups. we just wish more transparency. now the situation is like this, how do you expect us to trust you? we trusted you up to today i had gotten ready the cheque for you to come and collect. if i hadnt read the agreement, would not even know about this.
Jeff: I do not want to argue anympre. If you prefer it your way, i will not collect the cheque from you today (he was supp to collect from me today if i did not realise the matter)
i will submit the relevant documents and have the tax invoice mailed it to you. i dun even want to come down to collect the cheque from you today, because i think i am not wrong and i am not out to cheat you.
Elaine: Fine by me, i will inform you to collect the cheque once i have received the tax invoice. thanks and bye. *i hanged on him* =)
VVV Victorious! i refuted all excuses he had, and in the end, he just kept harping on the point he is not wrong, not out to cheat us.. blah blah. stupid agents. btw, he is a fren of my sis and bro-in-law, and i informed them of the matter, they were supportive of my actions. so what even acquainted? i wont fucking give you face if you try to cheat me, i will make things difficult for you.
if only people can be more honest, the world wil not be such a fucked up place.
♥ Yuki & Kaname ♥
