Comments on: Feeling Peevish http://www.saltshaker.net/20060119/feeling-peevish Casting a little flavor (and a few aspersions) on the world of food, drink, and life Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:17:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: dan http://www.saltshaker.net/20060119/feeling-peevish#comment-142 dan Thu, 19 Jan 2006 23:11:23 +0000 http://www.saltshaker.net/?p=236#comment-142 Well, like anything, strikes do delay things, so true. Actually, I think my deed took about 5 weeks before I got it. I took a look at the tax bill, and it is indeed a tax bill. Right down to having the property valuation and, umm, saying it's for property taxes... now, taxes may included street cleaning and sewage costs in them. Perhaps with lower valued properties where there's not a direct tax bill, those are billed separately. Well, like anything, strikes do delay things, so true. Actually, I think my deed took about 5 weeks before I got it.

I took a look at the tax bill, and it is indeed a tax bill. Right down to having the property valuation and, umm, saying it’s for property taxes… now, taxes may included street cleaning and sewage costs in them. Perhaps with lower valued properties where there’s not a direct tax bill, those are billed separately.

]]> By: BJR http://www.saltshaker.net/20060119/feeling-peevish#comment-141 BJR Thu, 19 Jan 2006 22:57:57 +0000 http://www.saltshaker.net/?p=236#comment-141 I can sympathize. I got my DNI today and tried to buy a phone. I was told from one store that I couldn't get it with the temporary DNI issued to foreigners, but it sounded like that stipulation was only for one company (I forget which one). Later I went to Fravega and I looked at phones there. I told the sales clerk that I had a temporary DNI, he talked to the manager, they were sure it was okay. I actually had BOUGHT the phone when the deal fell through with third person I saw (after dealing with the salesmen, then dealing with the cashier, I was sent upstairs to show my DNI yet again and fill out more paperwork and receive the phone). When she called the company (Movistar) to activate the phone, she was told that I couldn't get it with a temporary DNI. And that all the companies had the same policy. So I got to go stand in line again to get my money back. At another web site someone extolling the virtues of having a DNI talks about what a great deal he is getting with his phone account. Probably unbeknownst to him, his situation is different because it sounds like he has a phone through his business. Who knows. Pre-paid cards are an option, but the selection of phones is not great. It is always an option to bring an unlocked international phone from the US and get a SIM card here, but maybe you would be paying much more in the long run for the cost of the phone itself. But at least you would get a wider choice (http://www.220-electronics.com/). By the way, the bill that you refer to as the real estate taxes (in your Utilities section) is probably not the tax bill. I assume you are referring to ABL, which I think is more like the sewage/street cleaning bill. Property taxes are only levied on properties over a certain value, and I have been told that you aren't actually sent the bill, but nevertheless if you fail to pay it, there can be problems. If you bought your place in 2005, you will probably have to pay the tax this year. HSBC sounds like a very friendly bank. Most other banks (eg, Banco Itau) require you to have a DNI to open an account. The worst I have heard of is Bank of Boston. They told me that I needed a DNI to open the account --- okay, that's not unusual --- but then that I would have to wait 6 months after I had opened the account before I would be allowed to transfer money from the US into the account (I was making these inquiries before I bought my place --- my first introduction to how weird some of the banking laws are here!). Their explanation was something rather vague about worrying about money laundering. They suggested I try other banks, like CitiBank, where the rules are more relaxed. Whatever. And not to quibble, but just to put in another 2 cents worth --- the final certified deed arrives within a few weeks ONLY if you were lucky enough not to buy anything while the government employees who issue the deeds are on strike .... Yeah, that's life. The escribano was always quite cheerful when he would tell me last June/July that they were still on strike, but not to worry. And he was right ---eventually I got it. I can sympathize. I got my DNI today and tried to buy a phone. I was told from one store that I couldn’t get it with the temporary DNI issued to foreigners, but it sounded like that stipulation was only for one company (I forget which one). Later I went to Fravega and I looked at phones there. I told the sales clerk that I had a temporary DNI, he talked to the manager, they were sure it was okay. I actually had BOUGHT the phone when the deal fell through with third person I saw (after dealing with the salesmen, then dealing with the cashier, I was sent upstairs to show my DNI yet again and fill out more paperwork and receive the phone). When she called the company (Movistar) to activate the phone, she was told that I couldn’t get it with a temporary DNI. And that all the companies had the same policy. So I got to go stand in line again to get my money back.

At another web site someone extolling the virtues of having a DNI talks about what a great deal he is getting with his phone account. Probably unbeknownst to him, his situation is different because it sounds like he has a phone through his business. Who knows. Pre-paid cards are an option, but the selection of phones is not great. It is always an option to bring an unlocked international phone from the US and get a SIM card here, but maybe you would be paying much more in the long run for the cost of the phone itself. But at least you would get a wider choice (http://www.220-electronics.com/).

By the way, the bill that you refer to as the real estate taxes (in your Utilities section) is probably not the tax bill. I assume you are referring to ABL, which I think is more like the sewage/street cleaning bill. Property taxes are only levied on properties over a certain value, and I have been told that you aren’t actually sent the bill, but nevertheless if you fail to pay it, there can be problems. If you bought your place in 2005, you will probably have to pay the tax this year.

HSBC sounds like a very friendly bank. Most other banks (eg, Banco Itau) require you to have a DNI to open an account. The worst I have heard of is Bank of Boston. They told me that I needed a DNI to open the account — okay, that’s not unusual — but then that I would have to wait 6 months after I had opened the account before I would be allowed to transfer money from the US into the account (I was making these inquiries before I bought my place — my first introduction to how weird some of the banking laws are here!). Their explanation was something rather vague about worrying about money laundering. They suggested I try other banks, like CitiBank, where the rules are more relaxed. Whatever.

And not to quibble, but just to put in another 2 cents worth — the final certified deed arrives within a few weeks ONLY if you were lucky enough not to buy anything while the government employees who issue the deeds are on strike …. Yeah, that’s life. The escribano was always quite cheerful when he would tell me last June/July that they were still on strike, but not to worry. And he was right —eventually I got it.

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