TODAY'S WOMAN: How We See Her.

According to Teresa Okure (SHCJ), “the standpoint from which we view an object or person determines to a large extent, what we see in the person on or object”. She went on to say that “if we change our standpoint, or move the object/person around, we get a different view of the same object or person”. Having noted that, it would be important to point out that an individual’s standpoint or point of view is not independent. It is hinged on personal ideologies, idiosyncrasies, prejudice, orientation and societal influences.

The above observations are important for this analogy on today’s woman.

Often times, depending on where one looks, what one reads, or where one finds him or herself, one can’t help hearing or reading of young ladies being classified as materialistic, immoral, lazy, opportunists, promiscuous and so on, and so forth. These classification of ladies today are not necessarily attributed to a few, but are used to erroneously generalize.

The aim of this write up is not to dispute that there are actually some ladies who rightly fall under that classification, rather, it is aimed at, among other things, to highlight why some men (and a few women) who are guilty of such generalization actually come across ladies who leave such negative impressions about the whole. The reasons are very simple; point of view and personal attitudes.

A lot of us have a point of view that is negatively skewed, and this might be attributed to operating in a system/society where things tend to go wrong than right. Such people see everything from a negative standpoint. Another possible reason for having a negative point of view towards the female gender might be due to cultural and religious indoctrination.

In the aspect of personal attitudes, it could be observed that some men who classify all women in such manner are morally bankrupt, possess low self esteem, lack life purpose and merely exist. Equipped with such attributes, they can only attract or see ladies that are like themselves, simply because like attracts like, unlike gender where opposites attract.

Based on these simple analysis of a couple of factors that can prompt someone to view females wrongly, the irrationality behind such erroneous generalization becomes quite glaring, which makes their opinion to be seen as void of reason.

As earlier stated, our point of view determines what we see. This writer prides himself in having a point of view that enables him to identify value in an environment where most people see trash. The writer holds a completely different point of view on today’s woman. Moved by the late Chinua Achebe’s saying, “If you don't like someone's story, write your own”, he has decided to write about a few of the type of ladies he has, and continues to come across, with the hope of awakening the sensibilities of the reader that such ladies live among us.

This write up is definitely not about the Michelle Obamas, the Ellen Johnson Sirleafs, nor the Condoleezza Rices we read about in the newspapers or see on TV. It is about ladies among us that could pass off as the average lady at a cursory glance. It’s about those ladies that possess similar qualities like the biblical Esther. They are humble, gentle, tender and submissive; yet are achieving great feats that would definitely intimidate men with the wrong mindsets.

Esther is being referred to in this write-up simply because, these days, most feminists and women liberationists are of the opinion that women can only make a mark when they assume the attributes of men. The writer finds such ideology not only disturbing, but also offensive to the women it is actually meant to motivate, because it implies that women can’t achieve anything with the tools given to them by nature. They need the tools given to men. Well, we all remember how that worked out for Queen Vashti (in the same book of Esther).

It is no error of nature that women are biologically, emotionally and physiologically different from men. Such difference, as perceived by the writer, does not indicate weakness as most people tend to believe. A difference can only be a sign of weakness when misapplied, or not applied at all.

The ladies mentioned below, and a host of others too numerous to mention, quash the generally held misconception on a daily basis.

Arinola Oluwa (@areenolar): The writer has been friends with Arin (as she keeps reminding her friends) for a little over a year now (thanks to Social Media), and only recently met her in person. All who have come across Arin would attest to the grace which she exudes in her carriage. She is quite an intelligent young lady with a captivating smile, great sense of humour, and above all, very simple. Arin, though very conscious of her self-worth at all times, is ever so humble. She is one of the few ladies who are successfully maintaining a career in a male-dominated corporate world. She also finds time to write, and you can read some of her thoughts on her personal blog.

Edidiong Udoeyop (@afiauyaishyne): Didi has been known by the writer for about 4 months and they actually met a month after becoming friends. She is nothing but a brilliant lady with a great sense of humour, though you don’t get to see that at a first glance. Rather, when you meet Didi for the first time, you see someone who looks kind of delicate, calm and somewhat naïve. But wait till you both get talking, she switches to one who is highly intellectual. Didi is one of few ladies who are loyal fans of Tupac. She can actually recite 80% of his lyrics off the top of her head. She is a practicing lawyer, and also pursues her private PR business.

Laide Olabode (@exschoolnerd): Now, Laide is one lady that every Nigerian who is active on Social Media must have come across. If you haven’t heard, or read anything from, or about Laide on any relevant Social Media platform, then your online activities must be suspect.

The writer has known Laide for about 7 yrs now, since 2006. Laide was first spotted on Nairaland, then on to (the late) Hi5, to Facebook, and then to Twitter. It is with regret that the writer states that he is yet to meet Laide. Some people (men in particular) have described Laide as a towering female giant, standing somewhere over 6ft. Well, if you all must know, she has a sense of humour that is way taller than she is, with an IQ of the likes of Mozart and Newton. She is simply a lady of many parts. As far as Social Media is concerned, she remains the most reliable and responsible Social Media publicist. How she manages to balance her corporate work with PR activities, blogging, and just being simple at heart, is beyond imagination. She is presently with Trace Urban, after a few years with MTV Networks. She has successfully managed PR activities for MTV Networks, Trace Urban, Spinlet, and SURE-P, just to mention a few. She was the one behind the “Sunday at the Bay” activities a few years back. She often expresses her humorous and sarcastic wit on her personal blog.

Ifeoma Nwoke (@pajintus): The writer has been friends with Pajin for about 5 yrs now, but only got to meet her in person in November of 2011, in Lagos State. Pajin is best described as someone who is strong-willed. She doesn’t believe that anything she sets her mind to cannot be achieved. The writer met Pajin at a time she was making arrangements for the 2^nd edition of “Facebook Friends Party”. She was actually ill at the time and would have been bed-ridden if she were someone else, but her drive was such that everyone who assisted her in one way or the other to make the event possible, drew from her energy, instead of the other way round. Despite her strong-will, what wins people over is her humility, friendly disposition and simplicity. At a first glance, she might leave you with the impression that she is clueless. That impression fades away faster than dusk fades at the rising of the sun, the moment you start interacting with her. Pajin is the brain behind “Facebook Friends Party”, a social activity that was specifically designed to curb the malaise of encountering fraudsters on Facebook. It aims at getting people to get to meet their Facebook friends one on one. She is the C.E.O of PAJIN CONCEPT and she is into Event Management, Interior Decorations and Brand Promotions.

Maureen Nwachukwu (@mornacky): Maureen has been friends with the writer for a very long time. Maureen is simply a hilarious character. She could get the Devil laughing out loud. Her sense of humour is off the charts. But beneath all that sense of humour, lies a very intelligent, analytical and creative mind. Maureen is mischievously multilingual, with a professional grasp of German and French languages among others. She manages to balance her corporate work with her private professional language-interpreting services.

Ugo Chiori (@AdaOhafia1): Snazzydawn is someone that exudes brilliance, creativity, gentility and spirituality. The writer has known her for about 6 years. Though he hasn’t met her, he finds time to keep up with her achievements. Sometime last year, while the writer was in Lagos, he wasn’t surprised to see SnazzyDawn on NTA’s Young Entrepreneurs that was aired on their satellite channel on DSTV. She is the MD/C.E.O of Cupcakesdotcom in Uyo and Abuja. Her cakes are on display at Silverbird Galleria, Abuja.

Susan Ekpoh (@baybbootz) Of all the ladies mentioned here, Susan is the youngest of the lot. The writer has known Susan for about 6 years. Her enthusiasm, passion for excellence, sense of purpose and commitment to activities never ceases to amaze him. She is a very young lady who just cannot fit into any negative description of today’s woman. At such a young age, she is an employer of labour, the C.E.O of Metro Domestics, while pursuing her studies to become a certified professional pilot. Take a bow.

Apart from these ladies mentioned above, the writer has recently come across Grace Ihejiamaizu, who was named among Google’s 12 Brightest Young Minds in 2011 and recognized by the US State Department as an International Exchange Alumni Member for the Month of September 2012, among other honours. She set up the Raising Young Productive Entrepreneurs (RYPE) initiative that has trained, engaged and empowered over 350 young people. She runs www.opportunitydesk.org (@OpportunityDesk).

There are also people like Blossom Nnodim (@blcompere) – founder of Blossom Blcompere; and Esther Agbarakwe (@estherclimate), the great women behind the #AdoptATweep initiative and other initiatives.

These are ladies that just don’t exist as a function of men. Though they are all independent, high achieving ladies conquering the so-called “man’s world”, they also possess those biblical qualities and virtues that would enable them carry out the roles of wives and mothers. These ladies are not the so called immoral or materialistic ladies. They are unassuming, virtuous, gentle, caring, friendly and empathetic. This makes the writer certain that they would be submissive, subservient and supportive as wives, while being protective, instructive and educative as mothers.

Ladies like these exist in every corner of the earth, depending on where and how one looks. Coming across such ladies and their likes is made possible by possessing a point of view very different from that which most people possess today. Remember that it is what one is looking out for that one sees. This write-up is aimed at changing the wrong perception some people have of today’s women; and also to challenge the few ladies who create the wrong impression which some misguided fellows use in judging the whole, to re-model their characters and attitudes into something that would be applauded and emulated.       

Graduate Customer Care Officer at Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria

Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria - Is currently recruiting for the position below:

Job Title: Customer Care Officer - Lagos

Job ID: 400544
Job Function: Consumer Banking
Location: Nigeria - SCB

Responsibilities

• Contribute insights & feedback as VOF & VOC towards strategy formulation & execution of plan

Complaint Management Including Resolution

• Assist with the execution of assigned CCU strategic projects 
• Ensure adherence to TAT & service standards as shown below:

Key Complaints Matrics

1. Number of complaints
2. Complaints per 1000 accounts
3. FTR (First Time Resolution)
4. OHS (Overall Handling Score of complaint resolution)
5. TAT < 24 hrs
6. TAT > 2 days
7. Unresolved complaints > 14 days
8. Inappropriate Sales
9. Proven mis-selling
10. Number of metrics in RED

• Ensure zero backlog on escalations
• Personally involved in resolution of escalated complaints
• Ensure overall audit, controls & costs are well executed
• Ensure timely MIS updates
• Ensure adherence to communications, empowerment & delegation matrix. 

Continuous Improvements 

• Contribute ideas towards how to continually improve complaint management process
• Support on assigned process improvement projects
• Support on assigned strategic initiatives

Risk & Governance 

• Ensure compliance with changes in Group Policy & Standards, TCF, local laws & regulations
• Ensure compliance with guidelines & procedures on KYC in daily handling of customer service issues
• Ensure robust quality audit checks & controls are embedded

People & Development

• Display strong performance culture
• Support efforts that ensure fulfillment of service recovery SLAs
• Support efforts that would build the Bank’s profile in service centricity through strong engagement with regulators, media or customer associations.

Requirements

• Minimum of a 2nd Class degree in a relevant course
• Strong bias for communication (spoken and written)
• Has an analytical mind, loves solving problems with eyes for details
• Personable with strong interpersonal skills
• Computer literate and high on presentation skills
• Fair knowledge of core banking products and markets.
• Practical working knowledge of company, industry and banking guidelines and regulations.
• In compliance with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act of 2004, all applicants should ensure that they have completed the mandatory NYSC programme. A discharge certificate will be required as evidence of completion of the programme. Where an exemption has been granted, a certificate of exemption will also be required.

Application Closing Date
1st November, 2013

Click Here To Apply

Note: When the page opens, Click Location: Nigeria - SCB then click Search, then click Customer Care Officer - Lagos

Customer Service: A Concept and A Process

Customer service as a concept basically refers to the relationship between a product or service provider and the people who use or buy its products or services. According to Asset Skills, it is "the sum total of what an organization does to meet customer expectations and produce customer satisfaction." Customer service relates to understanding both the nature of the organization’s customers -past, present and future- the features and benefits of the products or services it provides and the entire transactional process, from a potential customer’s initial awareness to post-purchase satisfaction.

As a process, Customer service is the provision/presentation of a series of activities regarded as a service designed to enhance the level of customer interest and satisfaction before, during and after a purchase.

Customer service traditionally follows some fundamental steps which include, but are not limited to the following:

Identifying Customers

Once the idea of setting up a business is borne, what first comes to mind is "Who are my targeted customers?" This question arises from the fact that not all products/services are meant for just everyone. Be that as it may, most organizations will have more than one type of customer. These customers will vary according to age, gender, personality and economic and social position. They will also differ according to such variables as their previous experience of dealing with the organization, the importance of the purchase to them, whether or not they are buying for themselves or their company and their existing level of knowledge about the products or services.

Defining Service

Customer service behaviours encompass a huge range of factors including efficiency, speed of response, attention to detail, listening, reassurance, providing information and following up. Attitude is also important in terms of variables such as friendliness, respect, concern and authenticity. The type and levels of service provided will depend on the ways customers interact with the organization and its employees. For example, different behaviors will be important for those who purchase from a shop -dealing directly with sales staff- compared to those buying over the Internet. Interactions may be face to face, over the telephone or in writing. It is important at this point to state that very skilled individuals should be engaged to render customer service to customers in situations where there is no face to face interaction. These individuals should be required to be able to detect customers moods from their voice tones and manner of speech. This is very important because the customer service officer in this situation isn't opportuned to observe body language and facial expressions that is available during a face to face interaction.

Type of Relationship

When the term "Customer" comes up, every organization should bear in mind that there are about four (4) variations of customers. They may be potential customers, one-time customers, repeat customers or ex-customers. Each will have specific needs for the business to address appropriately in terms of service. Potential customers’ service needs may relate to raising awareness of features and benefits of the product or service and how and where it is available, as well as reassurance about organizational values and integrity. Point of purchase customer service may focus heavily on factors such as demonstrating, offering alternatives and following proper selling etiquette. Post-purchase service may take the form of providing product support, maintaining relationships through newsletters or emails and offering special discounts to encourage loyalty.

Training

This step is one most organizations try to avoid simply because of the cost implications, forgetting that whatever is spent on equipping their Customer Service staff with up-to-date knowledge on Customer Service etiquette will only translate into more revenue for the organization. Every organization, regardless of its size or nature of business, needs to have a clear framework for customer service, incorporating detailed policies, procedures and standards. Organizations should provide regular customer service training for all so they understand the role they play in overall customer service within the organization and the specific behaviours and attitudes expected of them. Refresh both service standards and procedures and training regularly to meet changing customer needs and competitor activities.

Getting Feedback

Great customer service depends on looking at things from the customer’s perspective. In most cases, this will involve segmenting your customer base into different customer types and clearly identifying the particular needs of each. Mystery shopping and regular customer satisfaction surveys can be extremely helpful in pinpointing good and bad customer service, as can ongoing observation and supervision of customer service situations at a range of different levels. Getting employees to focus on and discuss customer service issues on a regular basis is a good way of helping them improve standards and take ownership at an individual and team level.

I hope this simple, albeit little insight on Customer Service as a concept and a process would enlighten everyone who reads it. Your contributions and criticisms would be highly appreciated, so please and please, kindly drop a comment.
 
Don't forget that there's always love in sharing, so kindly make good use of the share buttons below and help pass the knowledge unto different forums.

Thank you.

If You Shop Online, You Should Know and Apply These Safety Measures

Online shopping can be considered a sub-category of e-commerce which predominantly refers to business-to-consumer transactions such as online retail or online auctions. It also refers to online purchases from online retailing corporations such as Omie Store, Naija Feet, Konga, Jumia, e.t.c.

From clothes to mobile gadgets, almost everything is available online, if you know where to look.

In recent years, mobile shopping has been on the rise, with the use of mobile devices for online shopping activities.

Over the past decade, online shopping has become increasingly popular globally. It is a fact that 1- search engines are the top sources where people find what they want to buy when they want to shop online, and 2- 77% men and 68% women shop online during the day, just before lunch.

The world of e-commerce enables shoppers to shop at thousands of online stores and pay for their purchases without leaving the comfort of their home. For many, the Internet has taken the place of Saturday afternoon window shopping at the mall. This does away with the fatigue and burn out that follows conventional shopping.

Shoppers expect merchants to not only make their products available online, but to make payments a simple and secure process. However, the same things can go wrong shopping online as in the real world. Sometimes it is simply a case of a computer glitch or poor customer service. Other times, shoppers are cheated by clever scam artists.

The convenience of online shopping is one thing that makes it popular. But how safe are your shopping activities?

Just as shoppers should take measures to protect themselves in brick-and-cement stores — such as protecting their PIN numbers when using the P.O.S machines and not leaving purses unattended — online shoppers also need to take sensible precautions.

In order to shop safely online, kindly observe the following:

1 - Shop ONLY at secure web sites

The question that would immediately come to mind is "How can you tell if a Web site is secure?" Secure sites use encryption technology to transfer information from your computer to the online merchant's computer. Encryption scrambles the information you send, such as your credit card number, in order to prevent computer hackers from obtaining it en route. The only people who can unscramble the code are those with legitimate access privileges. Here's how you can tell when you are dealing with a secure site:

If you look at the top of your screen where the Web site address is displayed (the "address bar"), you should see (https://). The "s" that is displayed after "http" indicates that Web site is secure. Often, you do not see the "s" until you actually move to the order page on the Web site.

Another way to determine if a Web site is secure is to look for a closed padlock displayed on the address bar of your screen. If that lock is open, you should assume it is not a secure site.

Of course, transmitting your data over secure channels is of little value to you if the merchant stores the data unscrambled. You should try to find out if the merchant stores the data in encrypted form. If a hacker is able to intrude, it cannot obtain your credit data and other personal information. Be sure to read the merchant's privacy and security policies to learn how it safeguards your personal data on its computers. (See tip 3 below.)

2 - Research the web site THOROUGHLY before you order.

It is advisable that you do business with companies you already know. If the company is unfamiliar, do your homework before buying their products. If you decide to buy something from an unknown company, start out with an inexpensive order to learn if the company is trustworthy.

Reliable companies should advertise their physical business address and at least one phone number, either customer service or an order line. Call the phone number and ask questions to determine if the business is legitimate. Even if you call after hours, many companies have a "live" answering service, especially if they don't want to miss orders. Ask how the merchant handles returned merchandise and complaints. Find out if it offers full refunds or only store credits.

You could also call on friends or family members who live in the city listed to verify the validity of the company. Remember, anyone can create a Web site.

3 - Read the web site's Privacy and Security Policies THOROUGHLY.

Every reputable online Web site offers information about how it processes your order. It is usually listed in the section titled “Privacy Policy.” You can find out if the merchant intends to share your information with a third party or affiliate company. Do they require these companies to refrain from marketing to their customers? If not, you can expect to receive “spam” (unsolicited email) and even mail or phone solicitations from these companies.

You can also learn what type of information is gathered by the Web site, and how it is — or is not — shared with others. The online merchant’s data security practices are also often explained in the Privacy Policy, or perhaps a separate Security Policy.

Look for online merchants who are members of a seal-of-approval program that sets voluntary guidelines for privacy-related practices, such as Interswitch (www.interswitchng.com), Visa (www.visa.com), or MasterCard (www.mastercard.com).

However, be aware that a strong privacy policy and membership in a Web-seal program doesn't guarantee that the Web merchant will protect your privacy forever. Policies can change. The company can file for bankruptcy and sell its customer data base. The Web merchant might be purchased by another company with a weaker privacy policy. And the company’s data can be subpoenaed for law enforcement investigations or civil cases. You have little control over the use of your customer data in such matters.

Given all of these uncertainties, you will want to think about the sensitivity of the data that is being compiled about you when you shop online. I cannot prescribe the best approach to take. Each consumer has a different interpretation of what is considered “sensitive.”

4 - Decide which is safest for you: Credit Cards, ATM Debit Cards, Cash, or Checks?

It is believed that the safest way to shop on the Internet is with a credit card. In the event something goes wrong, you are protected under the federal Fair Credit Billing Act. You have the right to dispute charges on your credit card, and you can withhold payments during a creditor investigation. When it has been determined that your credit was used without authorization, you are only responsible for the first $50 in charges. You are rarely asked to pay this charge.

Make sure your credit card is a true credit card and not a debit card, a check card, or an ATM card. As with checks, a debit card exposes your bank account to thieves. Your checking account could be wiped out in minutes. Further, debit and ATM cards are not protected by federal law to the extent that credit cards are. Note that this is only applicable to shoppers in countries that run a credit system.

For a countries like Nigeria that don't operate a credit system, shoppers are advised to get acquainted with laws that guide the use of ATM Debit Cards.

Online shopping by check leaves you vulnerable to bank fraud. And sending a cashier's check or money order doesn't give you any protection if you have problems with the purchase.

Never pay for online purchases by using a money transfer service. You could be transferring cash to a fraudster. Scammers will ask shoppers to send them payment using a money transfer service such as Western Union or MoneyGram because they can get your cash fast and it’s difficult to trace. Legitimate sellers normally do not ask shoppers to send payment that way. Money transfer services should only be used to send money to people that you know well, not to unknown sellers of merchandise online.

5 - Never Give Out Your Card Number over the phone, or via mail to complete an online purchase.

Providing your card number/pin over the phone or via e-mail is not a requirement for placing an order at an online shopping site. There is no need for the merchant to ask for it.

6 - Disclose Only the Required Facts When You Order

When placing an order, there are certain information that you must provide to the web merchant such as your name and address. Often, a merchant will try to obtain more information about you. They may ask questions about your leisure lifestyle or annual income. This information is used to target you for marketing purposes. It can lead to "spam" or even direct mail and telephone solicitations.

Don't answer any question you feel is not required to process your order. Often, the web site will mark which questions need to be answered with an asterisk (*). Should a company require information you are not comfortable sharing, leave  the site and find a different company for the product you seek.

7 - Keep Your Online Password Private

Many online shopping sites require the shopper to log-in before placing or viewing an order. The shopper is usually required to provide a username and a password.

Never reveal your password to anyone. When selecting a password, do not use commonly known information, such as your birth date, mother's maiden name, or numbers from your driver's license. Do not reuse the same password for other sites, particularly sites associated with sensitive information. The best password has at least eight characters and includes numbers and letters.

8 - Check the Web Site Address To Make Sure You Are Dealing With The Right Company

The address bar at the top of your device's screen contains the web site address (also called the URL, or Uniform Resource Locator). By checking that address, you can make sure that you are dealing with the correct company.

Don’t click on any link embedded within a potentially suspicious email. Instead, start a new Internet session by typing in the link’s URL into the address bar and pressing “Enter” to be sure you are directed to a legitimate Web site.

9 - Don't Fall for "Phishing" Messages

Identity thieves send massive numbers of emails to Internet users that ask them to update the account information for their banks, credit cards, online payment service, or popular shopping sites. The email may state that your account information has expired, been compromised or lost and that you need to immediately resend it to the company.

Some emails sent as part of such “phishing” expeditions often contain links to official-looking Web pages. Other times the emails ask the consumer to download and submit an electronic form.

Remember, legitimate businesses don’t ask for sensitive information via email. Don’t respond to any request for financial information that comes to you in an email. Again, don’t click on any link embedded within a suspicious email, and always call the retailer or financial institution to verify your account status before divulging any information.

10 - Always Print or Save Copies of Your Orders

After placing an order online, you should receive a confirmation page that reviews your entire order. It should include the costs of the order, your customer information, product information, and the confirmation number.

It is recommended that you print out or save a copy of the Web page(s) describing the item you ordered as well as the page showing company name, postal address, phone number, and legal terms, including return policy. Keep it for your own records for at least the period covered by the return/warranty policy.

Often you will also receive a confirmation message that is e-mailed to you by the merchant. Be sure to save and/or print this message as well as any other e-mail correspondence with the company.

11 - Shop with Companies Located Within the Country You Reside In.

When you shop within Nigeria, you are protected by the Federal Government's Consumer Laws. You might not get the same protection if you place an order with a company located in another country.

12 - Pay Attention to Shipping Facts

Under the law, a company must ship your order within the time stated in its ad. If no time frame is stated, the merchant must ship the product in 30 days or give you an "Option Notice." This gives you an opportunity to cancel the order and receive a prompt refund, or agree to the delay.

Here are key shipping questions to ask:

    Does the site tell you if there are geographic or other restrictions for delivery?
    Are there choices for shipping?
    Who pays the shipping cost?
    What does the site say about shipping insurance?
    What are the shipping and handling fees, and are they reasonable?

13 - Learn the Store's Cancellation, Return and Complaint-Handling Policies.

Even under the best of circumstances, shoppers sometimes need to return merchandise. Check the Web site for cancellation and return policies.  Be sure to check for the following:

    Who pays for shipping?
    Is there a time limit or other restrictions to the return or cancellation?
    Is there a restocking charge if you need to cancel or return the order?
    Do you get a store credit, or will the company fully refund your charges to your credit/ATM card? 
    Does the merchant post a phone number and/or e-mail address for complaints?
    How long has the company been in business?
    Will they still be around when you need them?
    Is there an easy, local way for you to get repairs or service?
    Is there a warranty on the product, and who honors that guarantee?
    What are the limits, and under what circumstances can you exercise your warranty rights?

Don't expect less customer service just because a company operates over the Internet. This is especially important if you are buying something that may need to be cleaned or serviced on occasion.

14 - Use Shopper's Intuition

Look at the site with a critical eye. And heed the old adage, "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is."  If any of these questions trigger a warning bell in your head, you will be wise to find another online merchant:

    Are there extraordinary claims that you question?
    Do the company's prices seem unusually low?
    Does it look like the merchant is an amateur?
    Are there a lot of spelling or grammar errors?
    Does the company's phone go unanswered.
    The use of a post office box might not send up a red flag, but a merchant who does not also provide the company's physical address might be cause for concern.

15 - Be Wary of Identity Theft.

As online shopping becomes more common, there will be more cases of identity theft committed over the Internet. Imposters are likely to obtain their victims' identifying information using low-tech means like dumpster diving, mail theft, or workplace access to SSNs. But they are increasingly using the Web to apply for new credit cards and to purchase goods and services in their victims' names.

The same advice for avoiding low-tech identity theft applies to shopping on the Internet. Many are mentioned in the above tips. Most important: Be aware of who you are buying from. And use true credit cards for purchases, not debit cards.

I recommend that you check your credit card/ATM card bills carefully for several months after purchasing on the Internet. Look for purchases you did not make. If you find some, immediately contact the card issuing bank or company and file a dispute claim.

16 - Be Cautious with Electronic Signatures

A federal law enables shoppers to verify online purchases with merchants using an electronic signature. Usually, this process is nothing more than clicking on a box that says you accept the terms of the order.

The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, also known as the E-Sign Act, is a complex law. It states that electronic signatures and electronic records used in interstate and foreign commerce will not be denied validity just because they are in electronic form. Further, the law says that online purchases do not need to be accompanied by the more traditional handwritten signature on a paper document.

Consumer advocates opposed the law because it lacks important safeguard against fraud. For example, the law does not require online merchants to comply with such standards as message integrity (security and accuracy in transmission), privacy of customer data, and authentication of sender.

The faults of the E-Sign Act require you to shop cautiously on the Internet. The tips offered in this guide will help you make sure the online companies you choose are secure and honest.

17 - Know How Online Auctions Operate

Online auctions connect buyers and sellers, allowing them to communicate in a bidding process over items for sale. Many people are drawn to online auction sites because they allow you to buy items at discounted prices. And they offer a chance to sell some of your unneeded or unwanted possessions to raise extra money. For the most part, online auction sites are a safe way to exchange goods. But it makes sense to be cautious and aware.

The first step in safely using an online auction site is to read the terms of use, which will outline key issues such as whether or not the seller or the site is responsible for any problems that arise. Learn a site's return policy, as it may be difficult to return merchandise bought at auction. It's critical to check the policy, because you may be required to follow the seller's refund policy, rather than that of the auction site.

Once a consumer has agreed to a price with a seller, the buyer and seller arrange for payment and delivery of the product. Successful bidders can usually choose among several payment options, such as credit card, online payment service, debit card, personal check, cashier's check, money order, or escrow service.

If a seller requests payment in cash by private courier, or by check or money order through an overnight delivery service, you have a right to be suspicious. This could signal an attempt to commit fraud by taking your money without delivering the merchandise.

It always makes sense to pay by credit card because you'll have an option to seek a credit from the credit card issuer (also known as a "chargeback") if the product isn't delivered or isn't what you ordered.

To protect both buyers and sellers, some auction sites prohibit the use of wire transfers as a payment method. The Federal Trade Commission recommends that buyers do not pay by wire transfer because if something goes wrong, you are left with no refund and no recourse.

Another popular way to pay at auctions is with online payment services, such as PayPal. In this scenario, the buyer and seller set up accounts that allow them to make or accept payments. Buyers provide payment information, like bank account or credit card numbers, and sellers give information about where payments should be deposited. Some online payment services offer protection if the seller doesn't ship the goods.

Sellers can be scammed too. Fake check scams are the most common problem, although they can be avoided by not accepting checks, especially cashier's or certified checks, as payment, and by waiting to ship the goods until you get your payment in a reliable form.

If a buyer offers you a cashier's (or certified) check for more than the amount of the item, and asks you to wire them the excess amount, don't do it. This it is a classic example of a fake check scam.

If you encounter a problem with a buyer or seller at an online auction site, such as eBay, it's important to report the problem to the site right away. You are probably not the only person being taken advantage of and you could help shut down illegal or unethical sellers by alerting the site to the problem.

18 - Understand Your Responsibility for Sales and Use Taxes Online

Generally Internet shopping is sales tax free, but there's a catch. If an online merchant has a physical presence in your state, it is required to charge you sales tax. In most states, shoppers are required to pay tax on online purchases, even if the store doesn't collect it. Most states call this a "use tax."

19 - And finally, Be Aware of Dynamic Pricing

Some online retailers use dynamic pricing to engage in price discrimination by charging different prices to different shoppers for identical goods or services. When you purchase goods or services online, you may be paying a higher or lower price than another online customer buying the same item from the same site at the same time. While online shopping enables shoppers to easily compare prices, it also allows businesses to collect detailed information about a customer's purchasing history and preferences. Online stores can use that information to customize the prices they charge you.

While dynamic pricing has existed for a long time for time-sensitive products such as airline tickets, hotel room reservations, and rental cars, it’s difficult to justify the use of dynamic pricing for goods and services that are not of a time-sensitive nature.

Online merchants can easily implement dynamic pricing by placing cookies on a customer’s computer which will track the user’s past interactions with the site. By using this information, sites can customize their interactions based on your past activities. Online stores can read the cookies on your browser to determine what products or services you searched for and bought and how much you paid for them. This information helps them to predict how much you might be willing to pay for a product or service. In addition, click-stream technology allows a site to trace the path that a user follows as they view different pages on the site.

Some online stores may also consider other factors when determining pricing. For example, merchants might charge higher prices to customers who make repeated returns or demand extra service.

There are several ways that you may be able to defeat dynamic pricing. Obviously, do not log in to a site before you obtain a price quote. Be sure to clear the cookies from your browser before you visit a site. Visit sites from different browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, and others). Utilize price comparison sites that check prices from multiple vendors. Finally, if you do log in to a site, try leaving items in your shopping cart for a few days, to see if the merchant offers any discounts.

The points highlighted above are not all the measures that one can take to stay safe while shopping online, but they are good for a start. You too could mention steps you employ for safe online shopping as comments below for others to learn from.

Happy shopping everyone. Stay safe.

The Forgiving Heart - For Couples!

Dear Children,

Should the Lord give you the good gift of a husband or wife, and I hope He does, there are a few things I want you to know. Things that you may not hear from anyone else, and certainly not on TV or other media. Sadly,... your church may not even tell you.
 
Marriage, sweet little people, is not for the purpose of your happiness. Happy as I want you to be and hope you will be, you must yet understand that marriage is God’s design and His purposes must be pursued in order for you to be truly happy. His end is holiness and He will use all things in a life devoted to Him to fulfill that end.

To my girls:
 
Marry a man whose first pursuit is Christ. After that, he is not hard to please. Admire him, cheer him on and show gratitude, and he will fall over himself trying to please you. Smile often, speak well of him always, and do whatever necessary to try and maintain a pleasant mood about you so that it transfers to your home, making it a place where he and your children love to be.
 
You’ll have bad days of course, crying days even, and that’s when you go to your bedroom, kneel on the floor and beg the Lord to carry you. Then get up, get a fresh perspective (crayons will come off the wall), and try again. Above all else, make a home.

To my boys:
 
Marry a woman whose first pursuit is Christ. After that, she may be hard to please only if you don’t know “the secret”. What is that? I’m glad you asked. The secret to pleasing your wife is to make her feel safe and treasured. You may have to move out of your comfort zone to do this at times. She won’t always readily translate the oil change to love, though it means that. But let me give you a “secret question”–a question you need to ask her often. It’s not just in the asking, though. Be sure to focus your eyes on hers, maybe even touch her shoulder or face, and then ask: “What’s on your mind these days? “ And then be ready to listen. She wants you to draw her out. She will perceive this as your protection over the matters of her heart. Tenderness, listening, protection. That’s what she wants.

To you all:
 
If your wife or husband does something really stupid, forgive. If they do it again, forgive again. Forgiveness must be the propelling force in your lives each day. Dwell on the strengths, push out thoughts of their weaknesses. Take every thought captive – choose to love.

Here’s that part you are not going to hear often:
 
If you find yourself “not happy”, having lost attraction, disinterested, etc., you are not permitted to even think about a divorce. If you find yourselves arguing more and more, don’t think for a minute that “the children will be better off out of this”, because they won’t.

The vows you took on your wedding day were not suggestions. They were covenant vows, before a Holy God, family and friends, to stay with this person the rest of your life, even if you don’t feel like it. You swore a solemn oath and if you can’t live up to it, don’t get married. Decide up front that your marriage is irrevocable. There is far more motivation for getting along if your “marriage house” has no door.

Do not share intimate thoughts or feelings with anyone of the opposite sex. Do not find yourself alone for any length of time with such either.

Divorce is not a “private option”. It will affect multiple families for many generations. When you “separate what God has joined” you permanently injure far more than just yourself.

Guard your marriage as fiercely as you would guard your own life. Treat your spouse as an extension of your flesh, just as God sees you. Treat your spouse like other family members. You know, “you gotta love ‘em, they’re the only family you’ve got”.

I want you to be happy, I surely do. But I will pray for you to be holy.

Proverbs 19:14 - "Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD."
Proverbs 20:6-7 - "Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him."

God bless you saints!

- Sylvia.

You can follow Sylvia on Facebook

Client Controller Vacancy!

Job vacancy: Client Controller Up-Country

Requirements:
Must possess HND/B.Sc in ANY discipline from any Federal University.
Must have a working knowledge of Engineering.
Must be able to work with basic operating systems (e.g: Windows, Linux)
Must understand the Data Protection Act of 1977.

Location:
Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere, Lagos.

Job demands could require the successful applicant to cover Lagos/Abuja/Port-harcourt occasionally.

Working hours: 10am - 5pm Mondays - Fridays. NGN80,000/month

Send resume to: budalebennie@yahoo.com


s

Graduate Trainee Jobs at FCMB

Do you speak Hausa or Ibo fluently and would like to join the FCMB Contact Centre team?

Method of Application
 

Please send your CV on or before to HRCustomerservice@firstcitygroup.com  on or before April 30, 2013.

Customer Care Representative

Requirements
- Must be an OND holder
- Must be less than 30 years
- Must have passion for excellent customer service.



Location: Not Specified
Experience: 0 year(s)
Course of Study: Not Specified
Required Grade:  Not Specified

"Lest We Forget" - Abati on Alamiyeiseigha

Just yesterday, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, granted Presidential Pardons to a group of individuals, some posthumously. Of all the individuals pardoned, none raised eyebrows the way that of DSP Alamiyeseigha did. His inclusion in that list was a direct spite on the face of Nigerians clamouring for the Government of the day to take a bold and decisive stand against corruption. Considering how Alamiseigha left office as Governor of Bayelsa State, how he abused the office, and charges levied against him for gross mis-appropriation of public funds, granting such a person pardon only makes bold claim on where GEJ stands on the issue of corruption. He is FOR, not against.

Be that as it may, the pardon has been granted and almost everyone with an ounce of reasoning has voiced their displeasure via every medium possible. And of course the Presidents Men have begun their attacks, defense and justification of the pardon of a CRIMINAL. The Lion-Of-The-Tribe-Of-Aso-Rock, Doyin Okupe, has led the attacks. But we believe that Abati, Omokri and co will soon follow suit so as to earn their pay. It is on that note that it has become fitting to take us back to a write up by Reuben Abati on Alamiyeseigha back in 2008. This would help most of us respond accordingly to him when he lends his voice to Okupe's.

Read Abati's piece below:

"If DSP Alamiyeseigha, the embattled Governor of Bayelsa state knows what is good for him, he should call his lawyers and advisers and draft a sober, apologetic letter of resignation, and give up the fight. He has lost whatever moral ground he may have occupied before now, the conspiracy theory that was contrived around his travails has been watered down. If he receives any support from any quarters at this moment, such support ought to be taken with a pinch of salt: all because Alami himself has chosen to ruin his chances, destroy his own moral base if he ever had any, by conducting himself in a manner that is unbecoming of a leader and a gentleman. By running away from England under the cover of the night, away from the British judiciary which was probing him on charges of money laundering, by taking evasive action from the law and communicating with his feet, Alamiyeseigha, a man who until now was known and addressed as His Excellency, has shown himself to be a dishonourable fellow, unfit to rule, unfit to sit among men and women of honour and integrity, unfit to preach to the people that he leads about ideals and values...

The drama that he has organised around his return as a fugitive from England is so comical that it merely shows him in worse light. He has managed to entertain Nigerians with the mystery of his escape from London, his smart salute before a guard of (dis)honour and the histrionics that he has put up in the last few days, but all he has done in reality is to raise questions and concerns about the quality of leadership in Nigeria, about the Ijaw nation and the values of its people, and the future of Bayelsa state. I am told that he acted out of desperation: what desperation could that possibly be? Is it desperation borne out of guilt? Or desperation borne out of simple criminality? Alami has told his audience that nobody should pity him, because he is merely paying the price for leadership.

What leadership? He did not explain. Faced with a charge of money laundering in British courts, Alamiyeseigha, and his sponsored agents had argued ad nauseam that he Alamiyeseigha being an important man in Nigeria, leader of a "sovereign state within a federal system" was entitled to immunity within the purview of Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution, which in their reckoning, is transportable across boundaries, and that by arresting Alami for being in possession of an odious amount of foreign currency, the British was just acting illegally and as a neo-colonial entity. This was a futile argument as the British courts determined that Alami had a case to answer. He was remanded in prison, and later granted bail with conditions, while his case continued to be heard in court. This is the same process which Alamiyeseigha truncated by running away from England. He was required not to travel near any English port. But he did. He jumped bail and escaped. It has been said that he left England as a drag queen, dressed as a pregnant woman using forged documents. He insists that his escape is "an act of God".

All told, by conducting himself after the fashion of a common felon, Alamiyeseigha has brought the people of Bayelsa state and all Ijaws to great ridicule. If he was so supremely sure of his innocence in the matter, he should have stayed back in London to prove his innocence. If he had won victory through due process, he would have been a great hero and his points about conspiracy and the President of Nigeria not liking his face would have deserved more than a closer attention. But to jump bail, subvert the judicial process, only to show up in Yenagoa like a thief in the night, and then turn himself into a major means of measuring the moral fibre of the Nigerian society, Alami suffers a defeat in what he may think is a victory over the British and Aso Villa. When he showed up in Yenagoa, he was celebrated by a group of uninformed youths who insisted on identifying him as a hero. But what we are dealing with is what J P Clark another Ijaw man, has described as "the hero as a villain". This particular hero, anti-hero in fact, has a character flaw which in spite of him confirms his guilt, and the emptiness of his strivings. Leaders are supposed to be men of honour who are socially aware and imbued with a strong sense of ideals and values. In Nigeria, there is so much dissonance in leadership. Alamiyeseigha has proven to be a master of dissonance. He has brought great embarrassment to the Ijaw people, who in their reaction to his travails have shown an ambiguity that is most unimpressive. Nigeria's stature has also been further diminished.

It does not matter what Alamiyeseigha says, he cannot remain as Governor of Bayelsa state while he remains a prisoner of his own guilt, not knowing whether he would be abducted by the British or not. He cannot attend meetings of the Council of State, as a fugitive who is on the wanted list in Britain. He cannot remain as Governor when his tomorrow is in so much doubt. He has sounded so far as a man who is ready to drag down the whole of Bayelsa state with him if he must. Since his mysterious return, he has been exploiting the emotions of all Ijaws and using blackmail as a shield; his agents have been trying to prove his innocence. The pity is that Alami has not been charged to any court in Nigeria. Here, if he so wishes he can steal all the money in the Bayesla treasury. If the people of Bayelsa are okay with that, so be it. But Alami has a case to answer in Britain. He is being accused of violating the laws of England. If he has anything to say, let him go and do so in the courts of England not on the streets of Yenagoa.

As for those persons who have been packaging Alami as a victim and who have been mouthing the asinine line: "If Ijaw man thief Ijaw money, wetin concern Tony Blair inside", may the good Lord forgive them for they do not know what they are saying. All Ijaw must feel embarrassed for this is a difficult moment for them as a nation. They are being blackmailed emotionally to defend not a principled fighter, not a spirit of Ijawland, but an Ijaw leader who danced Unclad in a foreign land. The questions that would be asked are: what do Ijaws stand for? Where is the ancient and modern glory of the Ijaw nation? These are difficult questions. Alami must save his own people the embarrassment by stepping aside. Let him return to England and act like a honourable man. He has ridiculed the lawyers that he employed to argue his case, and not surprisingly, his lead counsel is so embarrassed, he has refused to comment on this resort to self-help. He has also jeopardised the integrity of his sureties: they will lose money and face if they cannot produce the accused person in their care.

But where were the British? Alamiyeseigha's escape is a bad comment on British security. Alami has demystified the British and across Nigeria, questions are already being raised about the integrity of the British security network. Did the British collect bribe like Nigerian policemen? Did they work out a deal with Alami to embarrass the Nigerian government? If there is such a deal, what are the details? What is certain is that more Nigerians have lost respect for Britain in the last few days. How could the British who prevented the "exportation" of Umaru Dikko from Britain now allow Alami to escape? Is this the cynicism of the British at work or the opportunism of free enterprise capitalism? Whatever it is, the British have been relieved of the political burden of prosecuting a leader of Nigeria's oil rich Niger Delta in their courts. The Federal Government nearly ruined the case by showing an over-anxious interest in the trial: now Obasanjo has to clean up the poo in his backyard and deal with the Alami mess.

One of the points made by the embattled Governor on his return is that he has proven the "Nigerianness" in him. This may have been a slip of the tongue, but it is the truth. For indeed, there is an Alami in every Nigerian leader. We are a country of desperadoes to such an extent that when we criticise Alami and sound holier than thou particularly the sanctimonious crowd in the PDP and Aso Villa, what we are actually criticising is an aspect of our lives which has now been exposed due to a twist of fate in a foreign land. What has Alami done? One, he showed up in England with sums of money whose source he could not explain when he was asked to do so. How many big men in Nigeria can confidently explain the source of their wealth? You could be as poor as a church rat in January and become a multi-billionaire in March, nobody will ask any questions. Because Nigerians love miracles, they will attribute the sudden change of fortune to a miracle made possible by a certain pastor's intervention.

Two, Alami told the British that he is entitled to immunity. This is typical Nigerian-speak. In our country, every big man is free to do as he wishes. He is above the laws of the land and there have been celebrated cases of persons conducting themselves as if they were the law itself. Three, when Alami became convinced that the judgment of the British court may not favour him, he fled. This is also quite Nigerian. It is the standard practice around here that public persons do not respect the courts of the land. Not even the ruling Peoples Democratic Party or the President. We live in a country where individuals can overrule a court of law, as the PDP Chairman, Ahmadu Ali once did in the Anambra/Ngige case and as President Obasanjo, the Ebora of Aso Villa, has always done. Alamiyeseigha simply transported these "Nigerian" attributes to England, and placed them on display.

It is perhaps why he is being lionized in Bayelsa as the "conqueror of the British Empire". The Nigerians who have also been defending him and placing the blame at the doorsteps of President Obasanjo are also being Nigerian. They have asked: why is Alami being persecuted when other Governors commit the same offense and they pass through London all the time? In other words, Nigerians are no longer shocked by any kind of malfeasance. If someone commits a crime, we are not moved by the nature of his crime, instead we rationalise it: he should be declared innocent because he is not the only person who commits that kind of offence, he has been caught only because he is unlucky or he is being persecuted. And thus, what we are faced with is a country without moral boundaries. But thank God for a few voices of reason who in the face of blackmail, intimidation and violence still insist on the truth. The members of the Bayelsa House of Assembly are not saints themselves; it is true that they are being pushed by Abuja, but if they succeed in removing Alamiyeseigha, they would have done Nigeria a favour: they would save us from the British who may be playing games out of self-interest.

For His Excellency, the Executive Fugitive of Bayelsa state, it is over. Resign now, get on a boat across the border, and run..."

- Reuben Abati (23rd April 2008)