Sorry to post this here, but I needed to vent.

Today our <sarcasm>wonderful</sarcasm> government lowered the limit they impose on us for international Internet purchases per year, from $3000 to $400.

Yes. You're reading that right: I'm only allowed to spend $400 from January 1st until December 31st of 2008 on sites like bbts.com, hlj.com, digital-toys.com, eBay/Paypal or the TCC club store combined, which means that between Botcon registration and Toyfare suscription I may already be out of "spendable U.S. dollars" for the whole year ... and it's not like I don't have the money, it's just that I can't use it.

On top of that, this will probably means that imported goods (including toys) will be more expensive next year locally, because even if our government doesn't get it, in economy everything is connected.

I'm so tired of this neo-communist government like you have no idea.

So, anyone willing to offer me a job that pays in USD, CAD, Euros or Yens?  

-airfox

 

Crazy. How can/do they regulate that? There HAS to be ways to get around it.

 

Thats bullshit. Is there someway that people from here can work out something with you in them purchasing stuff for you and you wiring money back to them?

 

Wow, that stinks!

 

That sucks, dude. What's the reason for the change?

 

Sounds difficult - if not damn near impossible - to regulate. How will Mr Chavez & co know how much you've spent online?

 

I feel very sorry for you. Maybe you can get around it by having your family order stuff for you.

 

You should send Hugo a thank you bomb, I mean letter.

 

Well, the regulation is a law, so the banks have to enforce it; a few banks with older systems (I suppose) fail to enforce it very well, but once the information is relayed to the control organization (called CADIVI), they order the bank to block your card and there are several fines in place, ranging from the low (below $10) to the severe (prison).

There are ways around it. It's called Black Market, but that's also a crime and Black Market dollars right now are priced at three times the official price, and after this new development I suppose the price will rise.

Companies that do currency exchange, and wire transfer companies such as Western Union have all but collapsed here ever since the regulation came into place in 2002.

It seems many people were selling their $3000 limit to others, and that's also considered against the regulation. The government instead of focusing on those "crimes", took the easy fix and screwed everybody.

Hey! You know the name of the beast.

They're working with the banks ... or perhaps forcing is a better word.  

I was already doing that. Using my moms card.  

I talked to my sister earlier and told her that next year I'll use my dad's and she can use my mom's.

Hehe ... just remembered this also affects my retirement plan (USD 1200 yearly).

You know the name too. And yes I should.

-airfox

 

Don't you think this is something that should go to general discussion? I mean, this kinda thing isn't just TF-specific, this affects people importing anything at all.

I mean, $400 a year? I buy stuff worth that much in three months!

 

Oh sorry. I thought this was General Discussion. I'll PM one of the mods to move it.

I think I spend that quantity in two months. So I'll have to see what to do in March. Hopefully the decision is reversed before then, but I don't have much hope.

-airfox

 

Would sending cash get around this?

 

I find that to be a ridiculous regulation, and I have heard of some bad ones in my day...

 

This truly is horrible for you, Airfox. $400 is nothing, really. In fact I personally think that spending regulations are ridiculous, but that is a discussion for another place.

Also, watch the political discussion please. This is very close to the line on what we would close.

 

Ahhh man thats rediculous, the goverment controlling what people spend there own money on. I hope theres someway you can find around this man  

 

You mean like paying by putting paper money in an envelope?

Considering what I've heard about mail theft in South America, that'd just be asking for trouble...

 

Venezuala is slowly, or maybe rather quickly, <removed per SD> . Good luck man, hope you get away if that is what you want.

EDIT: Crap. Forgot about the no political discussions thing. Removed.

 

Man that seriously sucks   Just goes to show how good the rest of us have things.

Well I hope you can find some sympathetic sellers who will be willing to help you out. I would imagine if you had people helping you out on the other end filling out customs paperwork I'm sure that could stretch it out some. But ya a $400 is some serious BS, hope you can find something to get around this.

 

If they check the bank accounts could you use like wire transfers or something? That really stinks.