Broke, and lovin' it
With just Rs. 46 left in the bank, I've never been so happy about having all my money chugged down a juicer before.
The online transaction finally went through though not as smoothly as I would have liked to keep Monday mornings fresh and breezy.
As soon as the ICAA received my application, they processed the payment, which was of course unsuccessful, despite my repeated reminders to notify me when the payment would be processed. I immediately attempted to activate an online session with my bank after talking to service adviser who advised me to call back within the next 3 hours (i.e. 12 pm PST and 6 pm Sydney) as soon as I had opened a 'window'.
My bank had problems activating a session and only on the second inquiry did I realize that I only had internet processing for my other bank account - Dawoodi Hardware. I tried to transfer funds from my salary account to the business account thorough internet banking but the captcha's somehow never seemed to be right and I decided to trot over to the branch on my 20th attempt.
Dear Sheldon advised me to fill the remittance form and a helpful counter staff did my 'debit-credit' without any pains.
I hurried back to buy some credit to feed into my wife's mobile phone to call the ICAA and tell them to use the other card details. The service adviser then revealed he would be processing payment over the phone so I decided to call back after opening the session.
The online session was opened soon enough but my attempt and repeated attempts to process the payment over the phone didn't go through. The bank didn't know why and neither did the ICAA.
Finally, in my last attempt I asked Cameron, the service adviser I was on the phone with, if there was any other system to process the transaction as the primary system wasn't processing the transaction after repeated attempts.
He said he would try the POS and took my csv number on the back of the card too this time. A few minutes and a final prayer with a Nazaral Maqam later, he told me the transaction had gone through. I was elated.
The transaction worked out to somewhere around PKr 86.5 to the AUD, which is now at par or higher than USD. Even if it was 200 pips x AUD $350 higher today than a week ago when I could have made a bank draft instead, I still saved (Rs. 1,200 - 700) Rs. 300 or more on processing the payment.
Lessons learned:
1. Remember that 'Dawoodi Hardware' is the card to use. Make sure the account has funds to cover the amount plus 2-3 Rs. extra to the dollar and open a session on the day that the payment is expected, i.e. the date that the application is received. Just call the bank between 12 am to 3 am PST on the day the payment is expected to be processed and ask them to keep the session active the whole day to allow a wide window for processing.
2. Call Australia during office hours and advise them that they may need to process the transaction on the POS and make sure your 3 digit csv number on the back of the card is available. Most probably they will be able to process the transaction over the phone using the POS and the csv number in addition to the card details.
Next up (extract from email sent to me):
"How can I check the progress of my assessment?
You are able to check on the progress of your PASA assessment via The Institute's secure website.
To access these progress details:
1. Click on the following link and login: https://members.charteredaccountants.com.au/customer/custom/interactions/salesinteractions.asp
2. Your login is:
Username: 500803
Password: [ddmmyyyy]
You should keep your login details safe as you will need this information when contacting the Institute in the future, or enrolling in the Chartered Accountants Program.
3. You should see your Qualification Assessment listed with one of the following statuses:
In Progress: We have received the assessment and it is being assessed.
Awaiting Information: We have received the assessment. Further information has been requested/is needed before we can proceed.
Closed: The assessment was completed and a letter has been posted. Please allow for postage time.
We encourage you to login to the secure site to check on the progress of your application. If you do need to contact us directly you can email us at service@charteredaccountants.com.au and we will assist you with your enquiry."
Additionally, the overseas line to call them is +612 929 05660.
Including the 4-6 weeks assessment time and I'd say 2 weeks for postage, the earliest I can inquire about the result of the application is immediately following my Exams in the last week of November, and official correspondence by the second week of December to the end of the year, thick in the ten days of Muharram.
This means I can start with the visa application process straight after the exams, gather all the required documentation and also somehow arrange for the 2.5 petis involved. If need be, I may contact a consultant.
The online transaction finally went through though not as smoothly as I would have liked to keep Monday mornings fresh and breezy.
As soon as the ICAA received my application, they processed the payment, which was of course unsuccessful, despite my repeated reminders to notify me when the payment would be processed. I immediately attempted to activate an online session with my bank after talking to service adviser who advised me to call back within the next 3 hours (i.e. 12 pm PST and 6 pm Sydney) as soon as I had opened a 'window'.
My bank had problems activating a session and only on the second inquiry did I realize that I only had internet processing for my other bank account - Dawoodi Hardware. I tried to transfer funds from my salary account to the business account thorough internet banking but the captcha's somehow never seemed to be right and I decided to trot over to the branch on my 20th attempt.
Dear Sheldon advised me to fill the remittance form and a helpful counter staff did my 'debit-credit' without any pains.
I hurried back to buy some credit to feed into my wife's mobile phone to call the ICAA and tell them to use the other card details. The service adviser then revealed he would be processing payment over the phone so I decided to call back after opening the session.
The online session was opened soon enough but my attempt and repeated attempts to process the payment over the phone didn't go through. The bank didn't know why and neither did the ICAA.
Finally, in my last attempt I asked Cameron, the service adviser I was on the phone with, if there was any other system to process the transaction as the primary system wasn't processing the transaction after repeated attempts.
He said he would try the POS and took my csv number on the back of the card too this time. A few minutes and a final prayer with a Nazaral Maqam later, he told me the transaction had gone through. I was elated.
The transaction worked out to somewhere around PKr 86.5 to the AUD, which is now at par or higher than USD. Even if it was 200 pips x AUD $350 higher today than a week ago when I could have made a bank draft instead, I still saved (Rs. 1,200 - 700) Rs. 300 or more on processing the payment.
Lessons learned:
1. Remember that 'Dawoodi Hardware' is the card to use. Make sure the account has funds to cover the amount plus 2-3 Rs. extra to the dollar and open a session on the day that the payment is expected, i.e. the date that the application is received. Just call the bank between 12 am to 3 am PST on the day the payment is expected to be processed and ask them to keep the session active the whole day to allow a wide window for processing.
2. Call Australia during office hours and advise them that they may need to process the transaction on the POS and make sure your 3 digit csv number on the back of the card is available. Most probably they will be able to process the transaction over the phone using the POS and the csv number in addition to the card details.
Next up (extract from email sent to me):
"How can I check the progress of my assessment?
You are able to check on the progress of your PASA assessment via The Institute's secure website.
To access these progress details:
1. Click on the following link and login: https://members.
2. Your login is:
Username: 500803
Password: [ddmmyyyy]
You should keep your login details safe as you will need this information when contacting the Institute in the future, or enrolling in the Chartered Accountants Program.
3. You should see your Qualification Assessment listed with one of the following statuses:
In Progress: We have received the assessment and it is being assessed.
Awaiting Information: We have received the assessment. Further information has been requested/is needed before we can proceed.
Closed: The assessment was completed and a letter has been posted. Please allow for postage time.
We encourage you to login to the secure site to check on the progress of your application. If you do need to contact us directly you can email us at service@charteredaccountants.
Additionally, the overseas line to call them is +612 929 05660.
Including the 4-6 weeks assessment time and I'd say 2 weeks for postage, the earliest I can inquire about the result of the application is immediately following my Exams in the last week of November, and official correspondence by the second week of December to the end of the year, thick in the ten days of Muharram.
This means I can start with the visa application process straight after the exams, gather all the required documentation and also somehow arrange for the 2.5 petis involved. If need be, I may contact a consultant.
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