This probably is not my turf, as I’m no tech blogger.
But for the sake of those of you who might be going through the same situation, allow me to share with you my somewhat grueling and nerve-wracking experience with Paypal, Unionbank’s EON, GoDaddy and how I got to have my old blogspot address linked to my newly purchased domain name.
Image courtesy of ponsulak / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Grueling and nerve-wracking it was because I basically have never had any experience with online purchase.
Add to that the fact that I was a skeptic with anything tied to online buying. Then again, as they say, all is well that ends well. And it pays to learn a lesson or two every now and then.
The story of my domain
Several years ago, I created a PayPal account because I was one of those guys who got enticed by pay-to-click schemes, which didn’t go as planned. Over a month ago, I started this blog.
My blogger friends suggested that I purchase a domain name. As I didn’t have a credit card, my only other option was to have my PayPal account verified through Unionbank’s EON card.
Contrary to what I heard and believed, applying for an EON card was pretty easy.
- On Unionbank’s website, I applied for an EON card online.
- Five minutes or so later, I received a confirmation through text informing me that my EON card was ready for pick-up from my chosen Unionbank branch. The text message included a reference code.
The next business banking day, at exactly 9:00 a.m., I was at Unionbank armed with a photocopy of my two valid IDs.
By the way, Unionbank’s list of valid IDs mostly consists:
- government-issued IDs
- documents like NSO-authenticated birth certificate or marriage contract, if applicable
- unexpired NBI/police clearance, et cetera
You’ll find the list on their website.
And since I only had with me my SSS digitized ID card and company ID – which unfortunately wasn’t on the list – on hand at that time, I had to call Unionbank’s 24-hour service hotline to make sure they would accept my company ID. I wouldn’t want to go to the bank only to be told they didn’t consider my company ID a valid form of identification.
I was told the ID would be accepted.
The travel to the bank
After about 15 minutes of transacting with a very friendly bank personnel, I left the bank with my hot-off-the-press EON card. I was charged 350 pesos for the annual fee, and I also volunteered to deposit 200 pesos because I knew PayPal was going to deduct a fee for the verification process later on.
However, I still had to wait 24 hours to have my PIN changed and my card activated.
Take note that before changing your PIN, do an account balance transaction first. I’m not sure why that was, but that’s what the bank personnel advised me to do, which I did with no questions asked.
After which, I enrolled my card with Unionbank’s online banking. I was advised to wait for at least two banking days for my online account to get activated.
PayPal verification
So two banking days later, I verified my PayPal account following the steps on PayPal’s website. Within minutes, from Unverified, my PayPal status went to Verified. A total of 101 pesos was deducted from my EON account for the process, 100 of which was paid back, not to the EON account but through PayPal.
The domain purchase
Shortly thereafter, I went to godaddy.com to purchase my domain. The tutorial Google provided on things that need to be done prior to linking a new domain name to an old blogspot address got me stumped.
The GoDaddy interface was basically not the same as the one the tutorial was talking about. But through the help of some colleagues, I was able to link my old blogger address to my new domain name.
Looking back, what probably made it difficult was my hesitation. One thing I learned, nothing is difficult as long as you’re willing to ask for help. A lot of people, especially the like-minded ones, are always there to lend a helping hand.
Congrats po on your new domain!
Mommy Gel, congratz, for a job well done! I have updated your new domain name on my FRIENDS list, don’t forget those people that you have exchanged link with to update your new domain name on their list. More power! =)
congrats on your new domain! wooot!
CONGRATULATIONS! hope i could also have my own domain soon!
congrats again!
@ metalpig, thank you for visiting!
@ JM, is that really necessary? I thought Blogger should automatically redirect my old address to this new one?
@ onepackguy, thank you very much!
@ Stormblogger, I know you will soon. Thanks!
Nice domain name
Good job maam 
@ Herbert … thank you for dropping by!
Congrats Maricel and more domain names to come.
‘…and you’ve got a blog. Thanks I found this. Will read your entries so I can learn more. Thanks ate.
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