BIR - Still wondering about receipts

SO I finally get a billing statement from the PLDT on my account. It arrives in the house on Wednesday morning, the 7th. I search the statement for the receipt of payments that the teeny boppers at the PLDT cashier’s office say are to be on said document. Nada. Nein. Awan. Walish.

I head off to the PLDT office on Session Road the next day in the afternoon, and once at Counter 5 -- or is it 6? – with Malu, inquire, about, among other things, why there is no receipt of my payments made on the first statement of account that I am receiving from them. She heads off to an inner office and emerges with printouts of what I conclude are earlier billing statements that never got to me. So my question remains unanswered.

My next question is about a follow-up on an earlier one in this story about receipts. Where are my official receipts from PLDT (as provided for by law)? The lady at the counter says that what they issue at the PLDT cashier’s office –transactional receipts, their own term -- are the official receipts, all they lack is the PLDT logo. I let that slide, though I have a lot to say, and leave after some more business. After all, too much enough time has already been expended with this company that cannot even issue their customers official receipts, despite all their brandishing about uh, accountability and other wonderful stuff on the posters behind Malu’s desk.

Later, that night, I examine the latest, uhm, transactional receipt, searching for details that make it an official receipt. From what I make of the fine print – it’s all fine print, why is that? – I have paid money to Customer Frontline Solutions, Inc. It is their VAT registered TIN on the sheet: 006-909-073-000. I have not paid for my Internet bill to PLDT, but to Customer Frontline Solutions.

Curious, this.