I just got an email this morning that we already have a schedule to renew our passport, all the four of us. Finally! Am just so glad to know about it because I know how difficult it is for some to get an appointment these days.
After many days of failing and getting “no slot available” prompt trying to get a schedule in Department of Foreign Affairs Passport Appointment website, I finally was able to see available slots last July one night at around 10PM. Yes, that was before I went to bed and I just had an idea to check the website and try it. And voila! there were several days available for picking.
So I immediately filled-up necessary data and here came the payment part. Unlike before when I could get an appointment and pay on the DFA office on the day of the appointment, now, you have to pay first via credit card or debit card. Since I don’t have one, I borrowed my husband’s BDO Asenso Kabayan debit card, I transferred funds to him via BDO transfer, and paid using his card. The payment went through and apparently, the payment system was being processed through PayMaya.
The website did not show anything after I processed my payment except this prompt:
And so I thought it was already ok and I just waited for an email.
But at least three days had passed and I didn’t get a DFA appointment schedule so I called the DFA contact numbers. This time they asked me of the Paymaya Transaction number which I answered that I don’t have that since I don’t have a Paymaya account in my phone, I didn’t use a Paymaya app to pay, and I didn’t get any email from Paymaya.
Now they asked me to call BDO for the transaction number or proof that I did pay. Unfortunately, BDO Asenso Kabayan debit/cash card do not show transaction history via the app or the BDO account. BDO told us that BDO cash cards really don’t have transaction history being shown since it just serve as a transfer gateway, as far as I understand. My husband even went to his BDO branch to get the transaction number of the payment. Our last resort was to file a dispute in BDO to just return us the money if they will be able to find out that the money did not reach DFA.
While we were waiting for the result of this dispute report, I had this idea to install a PayMaya app on my phone. As soon as I was able to install it successfully on my phone, I got the message about the payment I made for the DFA appointment. Imagine, after all the hassle we went through, I just needed the app to get the payment transaction number needed so I can prove that I already paid for our passport renewal. I called DFA that day and since it was a Friday, they told me to wait till Tuesday. The morning of Monday, I got our schedule.
TIPS:
>Try using government websites during the night because they usually work better during those times. I think most websites do, just like in Cebu Pacific where I can get good airfare deals from 12midnight onwards.
>Get a PayMaya app. I just found out how useful it was to have one and apparently, even minors can get their own PayMaya account and have it verified, unlike Gcash.
