Windows SP3 is now officially released! Although it has already been around for its beta stage, now the robust operating system that powers more than half the world over (and almost all of the Philippines). The new service pack can be downloaded from the Microsoft download center at no cost.

You can download the whole service pack here.

Don’t lose hope when a buyer decides to put you up on a low rating! Being given a low rating for your latest job does not mean that you will not be able to get freelance jobs in the same freelance company in the future. Giving up on a single job means accepting defeat on the first try.

Successful freelancers in freelance sites have stayed through with the site even with their low ratings. Some even stayed for a year or two, and despite having a low feedback rating, they were able to take on more jobs and have gotten higher feedback ratings, very satisfied client base backed up with very moving positive comments.

photo credit: xlucas (SXC)

If I were to experience this situation, this is what I would have to do if the feedback really applies to me:

1. Pursue additional training to enhance my skill in this area. I might have to come up with sample work after the training to be able to justify what I had done with the previous job. Also, certifications can be a lot helpful to this one. Self-training can also be done if there is no available trainings around.
2. Apply to jobs where I am really good at. If I am better at programming than writing then I would have to pursue programming jobs instead. If I am better at doing VB.NET projects rather than Java programming projects, then I would have to pursue VB.NET projects instead.
3. Build a job experience on a specialization. In freelancing, it is better to specialize at a skill rather than knowing too many skills. In VB.NET you can be a database developer, an embedded programmer, a graphics expert in that single language. Just the same if you are striving to be a database expert, then be a database developer in several languages instead.
4. Find other clients. Many clients are open-minded and would still give chance despite a negative feedback rating.
5. Improve other areas that might have led to this incident. Most likely poor communication skills are the culprit. Consider several ways to communicate to a client, such as using voice communication, the Japanese HORENSO communication system, making regular daily reports, using email and of course, using instant messaging.

What if the feedback does not really apply to me? If a potential client notices it then you will have to explain why the feedback is so. Be honest, but it is not necessary to divulge all the juicy details. Perhaps you might tell him that you agreed to disagree about some details of the job. Try justifying that the feedback is false through some of your sample work, certifications, employment history and test scores. The client will easily see how you are able to justify yourself and will likely be convinced to hire you for their job.

Several times I have experienced losing cash to unscrupulous individuals. When I was still employed with a company, I have experienced losing a month’s worth paycheck for about three times. In one of those instances when I lost my wallet to a group of pickpocket criminals while crossing a busy street, I lost a significant amount of cash within that wallet, but the ATM debit cards and IDs still remained in that wallet. The wallet was found by someone else and because of those remaining debit and IDs, that wallet was still returned back to me.

Since then, I decided to use ATM debit cards to pay for higher priced items, depending on the store’s minimum price. In SM Baguio, the minimum payment accepted in their department store is only P100. Other merchants accept P200 as their minimum amount of purchase. To be sure, ask the merchant.

Here are my reasons for using ATM cards:
1. Widely accepted by many merchants. Many mall shops, groceries, hotels and restaurants accept card payments. In my locality, even shops and restaurants that are located out from the mainstream customers even accepts these card payments.
2. Easier to carry than cash. Cash is easily lost to pickpockets and holdups. I think it is better to carry cash to pay for lower priced items under P100 or P200.
3. Less likely to be taken by street robbers. In the Philippines the petty thieves are often interested more in taking cellphones and cash away from the victims. Most street robbers in the Philippines are not too well versed on cracking the code particularly on ATM debit cards because these are secured by PINs.
4. Makes it easier to keep track of transactions. Many Pinoys are now gaining access to the internet. Internet cafes at the neighborhood is fast becoming a trend. Offices are almost always connected to the network and the internet. DSL is now a service available to middle-class consumers.
5. Avoid being robbed after a withdrawal. There are many incidences when an individual is robbed of cash after doing a withdrawal.
6. Avoid long lines at ATMs. Long lines can be quite a hassle and is not secure. After all, many merchants already accept card payments anyway.

photo credit: pipp (SXC)

Hence, using ATM debit cards is also a great advantage over cash especially at higher amounts, so I think this is a good option to go for – at least for a while that majority of the criminals are not yet aware on how to take advantage of these.

UPDATED: February 18, 2009

The Payoneer virtual bank account is NOT yet offered to all cardholders. This facility is currently under pilot stage where few selected account holders were invited to take part in this new service that will be out soon. To learn more about Payoneer, click to my experience on receiving my Payoneer card.

Here is great news to Payoneer card account holders: Payoneer will be offering virtual bank account services. Payoneer cards of account holders will have the option to avail of a virtual bank account with its issuer First Bank of Delaware Metabank. This opens up more possibilities of loading the card – such as doing a Paypal to Payoneer transfer.

I am using an oDesk Mastercard which is powered by Payoneer. I will not be depended on oDesk to fund my oDesk Mastercard to fund it because I have Paypal to Payoneer transfer as another option to load my oDesk Mastercard.

Payoneer virtual bank account with SERVICES menu enabled

I got the invitation from Payoneer to participate in this pilot program through email, and after some email exchanges I had agreed to participate in their program. The first thing I had noticed is that the SERVICES menu which was normally disabled is now enabled – that was where I saw the virtual bank account service which contained the account number and the bank routing number.

Payoneer virtual bank account

I added up a new bank account in Paypal. Then I decided to send a test amount of $13.90 from my Paypal account. Paypal processed it in their system for one day, a normal occurence to anyone initiating a bank account withdrawal. I received those funds in my Payoneer account after another day. The duration of the entire Paypal to Payoneer transfer was only two business days. I made several transfers and unless there are bank holidays, I often get the funds into my account in just two business days.

Aside from that fast transfer, I think Payoneer has a superb customer service – I had already used their live chat assistance for inquiries and account problems.

The only downside to using Payoneer cards are the loads of fees that are being charged when one uses the card. I hope this post on how to save more from Payoneer withdrawals can help on how to minimize Payoneer fees. Nevertheless, I still want to keep Payoneer as another option to withdraw earnings online just in case my Paypal account fails.

I tried to compare the exchange rates of Paypal and Payoneer to check which of these give better exchange rate. Payoneer puts on a 1 to 3% currency conversion fee as dictated by Mastercard, while Paypal puts on a 2.5% currency conversion rate on top of their wholesale exchange rate.

I got into my personal accounts at Paypal and Payoneer and tried to make a tally of the transactions where currency change was in effect. In Paypal, there is an exchange of currency when I decide to withdraw funds to my bank account. Payoneer, being a Mastercard, a change of currency occurs when I decide to withdraw funds from an ATM or decide to purchase an item off a store with a different currency other than the US dollar.

Here is the comparison between Philippine Peso and US Dollar exchange rate (I’m just simply shy to show you the withdrawal transactions). Exchange rate = value in pesos/value in dollars
There are three observations that I have noted from this data:

1. In Payoneer, higher Peso exchange rate is seen when items are bought off purchase than that by cash withdrawals.
2. In Payoneer, there is no fixed exchange rate of the day: it varies a lot – the transactions worth Php 184.60, Php 1084.00 and Php 418.35 were all card purchases done in a single day.
3. At a glance, there seems to be no huge difference between the exchange rates of both payment methods.

The data could have been quite accurate if I had been able to get data that spans for several transactions: However, I have just gotten my Paypal verified only last month.

Overall, it seems to me that the exchange rate for both methods does not differ much from each other, so using any of these two payment methods would be great. Remember that if you are trying to purchase in US dollars then currency conversion fees does not apply to both Paypal and Payoneer.