Drafted into the StarHub Cable X-box Legion

Last week, Ducky told me about the free X-box promo for new StarHub MaxOnline signups. Sam has already collected his X-box and is having a fun time staying away from his PC.

Since I'm going to need the connection anyway, I thought, why not? So I sent in the signup request via StarHub's online form. Next day, one of their agents called me up (conversation paraphrased):

"Can't find your address."
It's a private apartment, not HDB.
"Oh. What's the name of the condo? ... Your place isn't cable-ready, sir."
No?
"No."
Hmmm ok. Do you know when it'll be cable-ready then?
"No idea."
Can you check?
"I can't do that from here."

(There's something to be said about subcontracting and hands not speaking to feet, but I won't go into it here.)

That same day, I also happened to meet up with the property's main contractor, Terry.

Terry, I thought this place was cable-ready!
"Correct."
Huh?
"The estate is cable-ready. All your cable points are in place. But StarHub hasn't connected the estate to their main line yet - see the construction works on the road just outside the estate?"
Um, yes.
"That's them. You should be able to get cable by next week."

Sure enough, in the next couple of days the estate manager had posted up a notice at the lift lobby, saying that the cable signal would be connected and we'd have to re-tune some channels.

Fast-forward to yesterday. I'd not gotten a reply from my second online-request attempt, so I called StarHub Customer Service direct instead. To my surprise, I wasn't kept on hold for very long. The customer service rep was quite patient and friendly, and he confirmed that indeed, my estate was cable-enabled just a couple of days ago.

So I high-tailed it down to the StarHub shop at Plaza Singapura, did the X-box promo registration and picked up a Motorola modem on the spot. I will only be able to collect the X-box after next week, but my cable access should be activated today. Yay!

Now I just have to hope I get a good set, since there are three types with different DVD drives and disc compatabilities. On to the next battle!