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.