That scam called Familyfirst

I was walking with a friend in SM Megamall sometime in late 2003 when unwittingly I was approached casually by a man and a woman who were in their formal uniforms asking me if I am interested in listening to a promotion and by listening I will get an umbrella (it was raining then), a bag and wall clock.

I needed to meet someone in Robinson's Place Manila (a three hour ride considering Manila's traffic scheme) by 7pm and it's already 5 so I should simply say "no". But the freaks were insistent and my friend was easily "duped" so I went along.

There did I know that it was Familyfirst, the Berkley (not Berkeley as University of California in Berkeley) International Insurance backed pre-need company registered by the Securities and Exchange Commission. I used to hear stories about the company while I was working at PhilWeb. Philweb's main office is at The Enterprise Tower and share the same building as Familyfirst. People invited who become their policyholders are treated in a different way: they are introduced to the whole crowd in the office as if to say "Mr and Miss so and so has finally made up their mind and decided to join us. Palakpakan natin sila mga kaibigan!". Funny I told myself, but never cared as I would never let myself be part of the modus operandi. Until that fateful vacation in Manila.

Inside the office are tables with curious/forcibly driven inside/hypotized people who unexpectedly find themselves sitting in a corner listening to explanations by men and women with dignified faces; notwithstanding their SM to-buy and to window-shop list in their pockets has been forgone as they will be spending their next hour or so being brainwashed by the so called agents.

There I am approached by a smiling dude who keep on asking about my family, my work and my future plans. The super honest me telling that I have a credit card (his eyes shone brightly in excitement) and I work in Hong Kong has been a problem in the past. So he started to introduce the plans they offer. OK, I said "Sorry this is not in my plan. Can I go now?" He said, "OK, just a few more minutes because I need to explain further". With my mind on the friend who must have been passed for a rendezvous, I did not understand his blabberings. Ocassionally I would hear some people on other table stand up and are applauded by the crowd. Not me, why would I if I do not know if they deserve to be? I want some recognition but I hate to be applauded in this way. So I said to myself, the more they do so the more I would hate to apply in this offer.

I have always been inactive in spending for insurance policies. My first and only policy so far was applied in 1997, a good 8 years ago. Until my interviewer-friend here in Hong Kong offered one from AIA-Philamlife which I accepted without hesitation, that Manulife plan from Ma'am Eve (my friend Lawrence's mom) was my only policy in hand.

That simple "Please take our plan / No I won't but can I go now? / Wait I have to explain further" conversation dragged deeper into the night that my watch showed it's half past 7! I reached for my phone but for some reason the signal was not available. In the end my friend had to say sorry while the traveling bag was given to me.

I would have not posted this blog if not for another friend getting duped of a hard-earned 20,000 pesos. My friend showed me the papers which was signed and that there was a feeling of hypnotism that made her sign the papers so that she could get out of that hell, er office. With a simple wink of an eye, there goes the money that was not invested but kept in their coffers in their bid to retain a good financial stature (at the expense of their non members; those who want to quit but had already signed a no-refund document).

In the office I listen to DZBB's morning programs of Arnold Clavio and Ali Sotto as well as the programs of Mike Enriquez, Joel Reyes Zobel, etc and one of the issues tackled was this scam of Familyfirst. Tulfo would curse them but he himself is helpless as the operation is authorized by SEC and therefore could only warn people to be aware of these tactics.

To end up the supposed complain by my friend, the female manager named Mary Grace was told abuloy nalang namin 'yan sa inyo... My friend's interviewer is named Laurent.

So if ever you come to Megamall's Mega A section and somebody approaches you asking about your credit or atm card with no valid reason, either 1) scamper away 2) pretend to draw a gun from your bag 3) ask for help and shout saklolo!! hinoldap ako ng naka tie! 4) act like a misguided philosopher ("Sir do you have a credit card?", "Yes I have HSBC, Citibank, Metrobank, DBS, BPI, ikaw ilan sa yo?")

Woe to you... Familyfirst.