getting the screws put on me

[colleen]

Well, good luck with the business. As you can see here, it's difficult getting a sign so your presence is a mystery. I had a bookstore for 9 years. At first I thought the taxes were awfully high, but we Americans do what we think we need to do and are,mostly, honest. After a few years I decided I wouldn't have my MX "friend" front it for me anymore and did it myself. When I went to the accountant rather than just pay the accountant thru my good buddy, I found out that bookstores and museums have a very low tax rate. I had been paying the tiny tax for my store and the quite high tax for my "friend's" business. For years he would come to us in Jan to acknowledge that he owes us thousands of dollars for all the $ that he had "borrowed". Then he'd forget about it. His obligation was over when he acknowledged it. Forget about getting any $ from him. My husband was way too trusting. I was the bitch several years ago, cutting him off. If I meet you and you are interested, I'll tell you that story.

When I was sub-leasing in San Fernando, that was hell. The women from other stores came over to tell me I had to do this or that, to pay the people who came to clean. None of it was true, it was just harassment. Then found out that when a friend came down and she went to the restaurant which was my neighbor and asked about the bookstore they told her they had no idea what she was talking about, there is no bookstore. Too bad she didn't come back during the day when the store was open. Nobody will ever help another shop owner. Or even acknowledge you exist. Did they think someone would buy a book and then not have $ to buy food from them? I didn't sell food. They didn't sell books. But they will never, never give info. Went to a wedding celebration once near the Valenciana church. I couldn't find the bar. I went to the woman selling nopal and asked her. Oh, yeah, she can't tell me where a bar is even tho she doesn't sell liquor and he doesn't sell nopal. Finally when I took off my high heels and started walking around barefoot, a MX man in another store laughed. I said I didn't know how the young women wore these things. He then told me where the bar was. It ain't easy having a business here. No complaints other then the sign business when I was on Pocitos. I never had a problem with any officials. I had all my docs ready to show them and they were only looking for people who weren't registered with Hacienda.

My stupid failure to recognize an invitation to offer a bribe: We hadn't cancelled a car permiso when we sold a Volvo in the US. When we came down w/ the Ford the guy said, he was sorry but we would have to return to get the other permiso cancelled. That would be in Chicago. Instead I registered the car in my name since I was on the title. And that's another story. I should have said. "Oh Sr. that would be impossible. I understand you are very busy but I'm sure you could help me to do what is necessary here at the border. May I please pay you for your time and ask for your assistance?" but I didn't do that. It is the unsolvable problem and we have given up trying.

Then when I knew what was happening: My husband didn't pay attn to cops on the side of the road in a speed trap near Monterrey. They stopped him. I tried to talk to them but they wanted nothing to do with me. Let them try to have a conversation w/ my husband. Good luck. I got invited back in. Sven had broken 2 laws which they supposedly showed me in their book. We told them we were headed for the border. They said to follow them. They had his US license. We followed. When they drove thru the underpass he had been looking for, they stopped. I would have waved and continued to drive but he stopped. Then it all began. Blah, blah, blah. Finally I said that we couldn't possibly go to the station w/ them. How many people would we have to pay off there? He told us the ridiculous amt it would cost. I got out the $ and asked very kindly if he could possibly take that $ to the station for us since we really had to get going. We now drive very slowly thru that area, but we have MX placas now so probably not so bad. Anyway...it cost more to drive Mexican in Wisconsin but that's another long story.

You just do what you have to do. Forget about declaring things at the border. It's easier to say lo siento than ask permission. There are very many great people and I had a wonderful landlord on Pocitos who was very fair. But if you assume you are going to get ripped off and act accordingly you probably will have less trouble and then when someone is really nice, it will be a good surprise.

[pianoheat]

Wow thanks for all the responses. My wife is a Mexican and I tend to follow her lead and she was not about to pay a bribe. It's made life a little more difficult but hopefully we'll get through it. As most of you know when the Government changes a lot of people get new jobs and a lot of the former inspectors architects etc get thrown out. As was the case with ours. timing is everything

[philyrossy]

To Colleen: "If you assume you are going to get ripped off and act accordingly you probably will have less trouble and then when someone is really nice, it will be a good surprise." You hit the nail on the head, girl !
To Newbies: The less you have to deal with officials (paying taxes, getting permits, lawyers,etc.), the better off your life in mexico will be. Count you change, know how much things cost before you pay (if you don't know how much something costs, ASK in advance, before you commit.) A little common sense goes a long way (we are in another country, nothing like the USA); and, PLEASE don't tell me it is worse in the US, because I'm tired of hearing that from all the REAL ESTATE & Bloggers in Ajijic! I've lived here 13 years, built a house, married a Mexican woman with 13 brothers and sisters and their children, and have done more than have a gardener, a maid, taken classes, and gone to parties. I know there are good Mexicans, but there are bad ones too. I know of 12 year LOYAL maids that have stolen $ 3,000 in a month. Makes you wonder what happened in those first 12 years. You can be friendly, but be very careful where you place your trust.

[Mykul]

Great responses here indeed!

Thank you all for sharing your experiences.

Colleen, it is especially nice to hear from someone who has gone through the wringer as a small business owner in Gto. Thanks very much for taking the time to post.

My resident Visa was approved today and we will be there in August. The adventure begins.

[markosjal]

I know I am an unknown in these forums however I would like to let you know a little about me and then go on to express my opinion on this topic

I am Mexican American born and raised in USA to one Mexican parent, dual National by birth. I was raised by my non Mexican Parent. In my youth I was exposed to very limited Mexican Culture. I learned Spanish in School

I have lived in Mexico for over ten years and now know aunts, cousins and nephews here. I look as Mexican as they do In fact I was recently mistaken by my cousin's friend as a brother he had never met. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and he knew I could not have been his brother.

When I speak Spanish I have an obvious English accent. Suffice to say I m ambiguous and Canadians often take me as Canadian, for the dialect of English I speak and having worked many years in a Canadian comp?ny..

Now with that said I will go on to express that I have been with Mexicans who paid mordidas to transito and with gringos who paid mordidas to transito. Mexcians often pay as little as 50 pesos whereas gringos pay normally 500 pesos. In my case when I open my mouth to transito I am a Gringo and the latter applies to me.

NEVER PAY A MORDIDA you are promoting crooked cops/officials and commiting a crime! Instead REPORT THEM! In some places the State police take complaints about crooked officials. Some police departments have an internal affairs division (asuntos intertnos). As a forigner they even abuse you more as they are looking for those US Dollars that they feel they entitled to because you have them(dollars), and they (cops or officials) have you scared..

If you pay anything to transito play dumb and demand a receipt! this works! they may threaten that you have to go to the police station, and it is usually a bluff. Call the bluff!

On 2 occassions the police have stolen from me in one case they took money right from a bag I was carrying . I think aboiut 3000 pesos. Just last month a transito official took 1500 pesos out of my hand as I went to pay for a drivers licence that should have cost less that 500 pesos . When you pay their mordidas you empower them to commit these abuses which are criminal.

These guys are not shielded theives they are officials and should behave so. The law forbids mordidas. No matter what the situation of you pay any mordida as a foreigner or national you are at least committing a crime, as are they by accepting it. It is shameful that you will pay off a cop to get you out of trouble, or pay an inspector because it is easier. If you are not in trouble the official should have no reason to harass you. You cause those officials to harass you because you are another "dumb Gringo" to him and he knows you will pay for FEAR. At the same time you make other foreigners suffer because you give him what he wants and now has access to this cash cow ATM, GRINGOS.

Good luck