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Marla Daily
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Posts: 418
Registered: 9-2-2003
Location: Loreto, BCS
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INAPAM CARD HOLDER DISCRIMINATION IN LORETO?
In Loreto, Mexicans with an INAPAM card are given a 50% discount on their property taxes if they are paid in December. Non-Mexicans (Americans,
Canadians, etc.) with an INAPAM card are only given a 30% discount for taxes paid in December. I was told the cabildo (city council) passed this as a
local law, and there "are no exceptions." An INAPAM card is a federal status and as long as the regulations are met (age, etc.), there is no
requirement for citizenship. In fact, the card was designed to "lure" Americans to retire in Mexico.
It's not the $, but rather the intent and idea of this law. (Americans must pay more.) I've asked for a meeting with the city lawyer and will report
back.
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1655
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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It's the same here in Lopez. 30% only even with the INAPAM card.
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vandenberg
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Location: Nopolo
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Mood: mellow
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We called them on this last year and were dismissed with a shrug and the statement that this was only for Mexican nationals.
It was honored a few years ago however.
Used to be half off your water bill. That went by the wayside also.
[Edited on 12-17-2013 by vandenberg]
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weebray
Super Nomad
Posts: 1094
Registered: 7-19-2010
Location: La Paz
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Mood: lleno
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Maria, Maria, Several years ago, here in La Paz, we also smugly waltz in with our "old peoples" card in hand demanding a 50% discount on our prop.
taxes. We were politely advised that this was only for Mexican citizens. Well, I tell you, I was outraged. But by the time I got home 10 min. later
I was over it. You should be happy they gave you the card in the first place. They don't even give them out to "gringos" at some offices. All that
discrimination stuff is for the lawyers north of the border. Go find a real battle to fight, this one's a dead horse.
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1655
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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I do get 50% off my water bill here in Lopez.
The INAPAM number is right on my bill.
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1655
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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However, I love it when I go NOB and show them my CURP card, Mexico Driver's License, Seguro Popular card, INAPAM and Residente card.
People are amazed.
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Marla Daily
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Posts: 418
Registered: 9-2-2003
Location: Loreto, BCS
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The INAPAM card is part of a program by the Mexican federal government designed to enhance the quality of life for senior citizens. Formerly known as
the INSEN card, it offers retirement benefits in Mexico for all legal residents—Mexican AND foreign—over the age of 60. (INAPAM stands for Instituto
Nacional de las Personas Adultas Mayores.)
Weebray—I was neither smug, nor did I waltz, nor did I demand, nor is my name Maria for that matter. I simply stated the facts of my experience, and
inquiring minds are just that. Nothing I have researched indicates there are two sets of discounts—one for Mexican seniors and one for Foreigner
seniors.
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13195
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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We get half off our house water bill with the card, but not at the B&B.
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13195
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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I should add that Les is a resident, but not a citizen. Yet.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
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Blanca...I believe thats because the special rates are for your primary residence only.
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1655
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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Right.
The INAPAM card discount is only for your primary residence and not a business.
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dtutko1
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Posts: 341
Registered: 8-26-2009
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I received the 30% discount here in Todos Santos in Nov. w/o the INAPAM card. The local water co. gives no discounts. What other benefits with the
card?
Dorado Don
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DaliDali
Super Nomad
Posts: 1132
Registered: 4-21-2010
Location: BCS
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Yesterday I was in the Loreto water office to pay my water bill.
The person in front of me was an elderly lady and I could see her old age card and her bill easily.
Her bill was 56 pesos. Mine, even with the old man card (25% discount) was 285 pesos.
Loreto used to honor the old man card at 50% discount for the water bill, but the City fathers decided that Norte Americanos were "rich enough" to pay
more....hence the decrease in discount from 50% to 25%.
As best as I can determine, Mexican nationals still get the 50% old peoples discounts.
Water companies are not a Federal or State entity. They are operated by the municipalities in which they service.
It is not known if those water companies get some State funding, funneled though the towns or not.
I don't have a beef with it....elderly Mexicans are more often than not, very cash strapped and live very meagerly and many are in dire
poverty....dependent on children or other close relatives for their daily lives.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Is everyone at a flat rate, Dali, or do you have meters?
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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Dali…that's my rate, with discount, in Nopolo/Loreto Bay…we have a flat rate out here. I'm sure it reflects the cost of putting in the system, not
reading the meters, etc. the older woman you saw probably has a meter on her place, or none as is not unusual around here.
I got the standard 30% discount on my property taxes. fine with me.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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DaliDali
Super Nomad
Posts: 1132
Registered: 4-21-2010
Location: BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
Is everyone at a flat rate, Dali, or do you have meters? |
Meter si, but they have not read it since installation, which has been a couple of years now. So in effect, the rate is flat every month.
Maybe because it's behind a rock property line wall and the readers can't get to it.
To read it, they would have to enter my property.
I did hear a rumor afoot that would place the meters in a vault below the sidewalk...much the same as in USA towns, and would be readable by your
friendly meter reader.
Long time off me thinks, due to cash strapped municipos.
Slightly on topic.....I asked a year ago why the local water office cannot set up an "auto" bill pay with a bank here. Much like CFE and Telmex does
now.
Can't do it.....the banks want to much of a cut to set up and handle a auto pay system. Local water providers are small spuds, whereas CFE and Telmex
are megamonsters and can pay the tolls to the banks.
[Edited on 12-17-2013 by DaliDali]
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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INAPAM Card application process
How and where does one go about getting this card, please?
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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elizabeth
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-30-2004
Location: Loreto, BCS
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There really is another way to see this beyond discrimination.
I think it's perfectly fair to only offer the inapam property tax reduction to citizens. The old age card offers some relief to the elderly. The vast
majority of expats are substantially better off than the average elderly mexican citizen. And given the small amount of the tax bill and the municipal
need I'm fine with paying my fair share.
I do have an old lady card, and use it for some things. I use it for water, and I use it for the 20% and 15% discounts on airlines. If I'm doing a big
day of many museums in DF, I'll use it if I remember. I don't use it for the busses, because there are only a few inapam seats available, and I figure
others need the discount more than I do.
Really, having gone from $6000 dollars a year in property tax in Stinson Beach to less than $100 for each the properties I own, I'm over the moon! I
never even thought to try for more than the standard 30% early payment!
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weebray
Super Nomad
Posts: 1094
Registered: 7-19-2010
Location: La Paz
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Mood: lleno
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Good on you Elizabeth for thinking like a Mexican. They are a practical people and, unlike NOB allow for some common sense in place of pedantic legal
mindfork of the "other" people that live in the north of north America. By the by, if you read my post, I did not say you smugly waltzed in, I said I
did. I was trying to point out that you are thinking like a gringo. We all agree the $$$ is ludicrously low. Why waste your time on a non-issue.
There are other really important fish to fry. I'll leave it to my favorite author, Ed Abbey: "Life's not fair, and it's just not fair that life's
not fair."
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DaliDali
Super Nomad
Posts: 1132
Registered: 4-21-2010
Location: BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mulegena
How and where does one go about getting this card, please? |
The local DIF office issued mine.
Take your passport and proof of residency. CFE bill will work.
[Edited on 12-17-2013 by DaliDali]
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