Talked to a Government Official

Monday October 6

(This has not be edited.)

We went to Maria’s office (my lawyer). Before we went there we went to where our mail is sent, which is near her office. Finally the police report for Jayne arrived (from the police department in England) came for her. At the same time the copy that her mother sent (as this was to arrive sooner so we can start the process) but it came at the same time.

Then we went to Maria’s office. We gave her the police report, which is needed now to become a resident. Our main purpose of going there was to get the copy of the letter that she sent to the Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so we can see him.

Arriving at the Ministry we had to wait a little while to see him. We started out meeting about noon. We told him the reason why were there – being that the Ecuadorian Consulate in Columbia over charged us $170.

The director, Ferdinand, gave a long-winded talk about exchange rates and that Consulates in different countries have to accept money in the local currency. That we understand.

We tried to explain to him that the charge on the websites of the consulates state $230 for this type of visa. He said it’s the correct amount. But we told him that the amount of Columbian pesos we had to change equaled $400. I showed him the copy from the bank and the receipt for what we paid – which had it in pesos.

He responded that the rate that they use is from 2 years ago.

Two years ago!!??

He saw nothing wrong in this. He said that the rate is (was) 2,900 pesos to the dollar. Well, the rate when we changed it – and for a long time now – is 1,670 pesos. I told him that’s not the correct rate and that they should check it each day.

He couldn’t see this. I said that if the cost is $230 it should be the equivalent of that amount in pesos. I said that it’s very easy to have someone at the consulate to check the rate once a day and to add 2% to cover any little fluctuation and exchange rate fees (when the have to change it back into dollars). It’s very simple to do.

He couldn’t see to this.

Fernando said that a monthly report is sent with all the business they’ve done.

So, I had to explain to this criminal another way. I said, ‘Well, when the money is sent to you, and you have in essence $170 more where does that go?’ He said, ‘It goes in a general fund.’ As soon as I heard that it was a ‘red-flag’. This is a good way of hiding money. I thought later that the money must be stolen at the Consulate office. Here’s why.

Say there were 10 people who came in with a visa that cost this. They actually collect $400 from each person. They change the money back into dollars (maybe a 1 percent bank fee). Then they send the money or check to Quito and they send $200 to match up each visa. Obviously they keep the extra $166 (minus the 1 percent used in the example)!!

If they did send the extra money, the Quito office would either say where the extra money came from or they say nothing and keep it (by the person(s) in Quito.

Fernando looks normal but he can’t see the simple logic. If it was someone that is retarded, I can understand. Since he has intelligence it tells me loud and clear that he’s lying to us and that he a criminal.

I told him that Jayne has lived in 5 countries in Africa and I lived in Russia and Cyprus and none of them make it hard to live in the country or as costly.

He said he didn’t agree as he has been in many countries. He said that Ecuador is the only country in the world where you can come in without a visa.

Another Big Lie!

I told him that it’s true you can arrive without a visa, but they put one in your passport. In Cyprus, Spain, England, Holland (the countries I’ve been to) you just arrive. There is no visa application before you arrive, either.

What I didn’t have time to explain to him is, that he was looking at this from the eyes of Ecuadorians. Yes, some of the countries they have to go to they have to apply for a visit but that’s not what other people have to do. it has to do with Ecuador being a third world country and the problems they have with the people. They know that many would skip out and not return so they can live there on the government dole.

I told this guy – who covers up for criminal activities – that this is the hardest country for foreigners to get married in. instead of just showing the marriage certificate and living here automatically because you are married to someone who does have legal papers. You have to leave the country and pay a fee (which they over charge by 70%).

No other country that I’ve been to, or Jayne has been to do you have to do that.

I told him that it also cost $350 for a tax to live here where it didn’t four years ago. This he agreed and said that things are going up.

The Director revealed something (maybe he shouldn’t) and that is that Ecuador gets 50% of its income from the Consulates!!

It probably was lower until they learned a way to overcharge the people and tax the people that pushed it up this high.

Maria told us earlier that she has a client who sued the government $2 million but they don’t have the money to pay it. (Where is their insurance? Doesn’t the government tax the oil or other national products?)

Jayne suggested that they post the rate on the wall for clients to see. She also said that it would be good if they put in the passport not only the dollar amount for the visa but also the pesos. The Director thought that was a good idea.

While we were there he had his secretary place a call the Consulate in Columbia. Then he got on the phone and told them the changes to make (that Jayne suggested). So, there should be some improvement because we were there.

However, what needs to be done is to have the daily exchange rate so people really pay the amount that the government says it cost. Thus, we were not satisfied of what happened and we told Fernando this.

From there we went to a computer store that Maria suggested as Jayne wants her own computer (a laptop). We had told Maria about our search for computers while we were in her office. She suggested one.

Jayne was not satisfied with what they had. So we went to another computer store. The problem is that only a couple of programs are on it and another problem is that some of them had the operating system in Spanish. We were told that we could get it in English but it would only be good for 30 days.

We went home without buying anything.

I suggested that we wait until our friend, Richard, comes back from New Zealand and see what he recommends. He knows a lot about computer and he’s installed some new software on mine.

The computer stores that we were in didn’t have the power cord that I need. One said that they will call (presumably HP) to get it and to stop in the next day.

I sure hope that I’m able to get one as that means I will have to buy another computer. Though the one I have is good but I won’t be able to access the info. Some of the files I don’t have on my memory stick or on my external hard drive.

Since I plan to start a website where I’ll be selling digital information, I really need a computer.