capitolkat
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Registered: 3-9-2006
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phone no. to report dishonest businesses?
I can't find the number to report dishonest businesses in Baja sur. I'm absolutely sick of every guy who pumps gas thinking that it's open season on
gringo tourists. Last week when filling up in Cabo and San Jose the first attendant told me the litros was actually the dollar conversion- "like I
couldn't figure out the 239 pesos didn't equal $46?" and the second station in San Jose tried --" you only gave me a $1 when I had given him a $20"
and his friend then wanted to know where I lived , is that your wife?? while his buddy pulled the $1 and put the $20 away, and then tried to give me
14 pesos change for the difference between a 80 peso charge and my $20 bill.
Any help would be appreciated-- I know I should have paid in pesos but I spent them all and was not keen on going to the bank or paying an outrageous
exchange.
Thanks-- Norm
Life is too short to drink bad wine
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Barry A.
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CapitolKat-----
----I realize this is not what you wanted to hear, but in 50+ years I have NEVER paid for gas in Mexico with USA money-------you have GOT to use
Pesos----it IS their money, you know.
Can you immagine how far a Mexican would get trying to pay for his gas in a USA station with Pesos???
When in Rome, and all that----------
Pesos are so easy to get thru an ATM at any bank, and the exchange rate is very good, at least that is my experience.
Good Luck.
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capitolkat
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Barry-- you are preaching to the chior-- I know, I know but on these two occassions I needed gas and just didn't have pesos and that should not be a
license to steal. I've been going to Baja Sur for 30 years and just had a momentary lapse - and if I had not been experienced in the ways of Mexican gas attendants It could have cost me over $40 in those two transactions. so is
there a number or not?
Life is too short to drink bad wine
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MrBillM
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Shocking News
I am dumbfounded to hear that there "might" be dishonest businessmen in Baja or elsewhere in Mexico. After all of these years thinking that EVERYONE
in Baja lived by the Golden Rule and had nothing but goodness in their hearts for all of humanity, I am Crushed to find this is not
always the case.
Things will never be the same.
----------------------------------------
Last year, one of my wife's sons sold all of his interests in the USA and migrated to the Philippines along with his Filipina spouse to establish a
business to make his fortune. After only a few months "in country", he wailed to his mother that he just couldn't get used to the fact that
EVERYONE he encountered was corrupt and he had to pay a bribe in every instance to get anything done. He couldn't even trust the
mail because the Postal Workers would steal anything they thought had value.
DUH !
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capitolkat
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Bill __ I know you are a great philosopher and not much for accepting the status quo if it's corrupt. I don't have much hope of reforming the world
but I do believe we are destined to suffer what we tolerate and if there is a vehicle for me to raise my objection to dishonsety I'll do so. --Norm
Life is too short to drink bad wine
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longlegsinlapaz
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Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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capitolkat:
PROFECO is the agency that monitors the pumps, there should be a PROFECO sticker on the pump telling your when it was last checked for accuracy. I'm
sorry that I can't tell you whether or not there is a telephone number on the sticker for the local PROFECO office. I'd talk with the manager of the
station immediately & threaten to go to PROFECO if he doesn't tell his guys to stop this crap immediately! And I'd also file a complaint with
PROFECO. I know there's a PROFECO office in La Paz....I've used them! But I don't know about the Cabo/San Jose area. If nobody from that area
responds to your post, you might check a local phone book. The good news is that in my dealings with the La Paz office, they truly do represent the
best interest of a gringo equally to a Mexican. In my mind it's the equivalent to the Consumer Protection Agency in the USA.
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Bajajorge
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Report a crooked business in Mexico? Are you kidding me??!!
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capitolkat
Senior Nomad
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Longlegs-- that's it!! Procuraduria Federal del Consumidor.
I just couldn't remember--they have an email address to complain about services or products with which you are not satisfied.
extranjenros@profeco.gob.mx
Thanks so much- - Norm
And Baja Jorge-- they do take complaints and sometimes they pull stings to catch corrupt businesses
[Edited on 9-19-2006 by capitolkat]
Life is too short to drink bad wine
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bancoduo
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Report them to a honest cop
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DENNIS
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Dont bother reporting it to anybody. Just learn from it.
Use pesos and pay as close to the exact amount as you can.
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longlegsinlapaz
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Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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Lencho:
NO FAIR!!! You KNOW my Espanol is muy poquito & muy mala (isn't there a LAW about using insider Information"?) If a gringo goes into PROFECO
& doesn't habla good enough Espanol, the PROFECO office calls the Department of Tourism & they send over a legally certified translator muy
pronto & todo gratis!!
All you NAYSAYERS: Please remember that I am speaking of my own personal experiences (2)! I found PROFECO in La Paz to be the most
professional & unbiased agency I've dealt with in my 7 years in La Paz! Unlike some agencies who have actually looked at the next person in
line....yup, ME, the gringa....and immediately waited on everyone in line behind me with absolutely no verbal acknowledgement to me whatsoever....and
then went back to their desk & sat down! I was friggin invisible!!! And
no, I hadn't uttered a word, so they didn't know how lousy my Espanol is & how good my ad-lib & mime is!
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longlegsinlapaz
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DENNIS:
I disagree with you....by ignoring it when it does happen, or by not complaining through the proper channels, we are in effect condoning their actions
through our silence. I do agree that it's better to use local currency & to count your change, but not everyone has the exact amount on them in
pesos everytime they hit a station!
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
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Caveat Emptor
Without getting into a philosophical discussion regarding graft and morality, I will say that virtually EVERY instance of corruption I have
experienced or known of in the private sector, would have been avoided by altering your own behavior and taking greater care to avoid being "Taken".
My Baja education started in 1957 at the age of 12 cashing in my father's winning tickets at Agua Caliente Race Track and has continued until this
day.
For the rest of you who wish to GET INVOLVED, more power to you. Everyone needs a hobby.
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