A couple of days ago, a forum member based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia forwarded me via email his application forms for his first stock investment account with COL Financial so that I could help him in reviewing the completeness and accuracy of data that he wrote down. I have been doing this for the past several months in order to assist OFW’s comply with the requirements of COL before sending the actual documents to their office by courier.
What struck me most was his determination to complete everything despite his limited resources and time to go to a computer shop in order to have his documents printed and scanned. Unfortunately, this is the 3rd time (and the 3rd month since he first submitted the draft forms) that I asked him to revise and complete the information in his application.
When I told him to provide a copy of his proof of billing address or a bank statement, he said he does not have a bank account in Saudi Arabia. He just opened a bank account with BPI recently which I also advised him to do by visiting an affiliate Saudi bank in Jeddah.
And then I asked him if there is a way for him to secure a copy of an electricity or water bill from his family in the Philippines, he said, Continue reading An OFW Determined To Rise From Poverty