Complaints about Customs
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:00 pm
#301
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 57
Well, this may explain a lot. You have had bad customs experiences in other countries and now that you have joined the CBSA you are now going to take it out on returning Canadians - are you getting some sort of perverse satisfaction in doing this? Is this a requirement to join the CBSA - it seems to be. If I was HR doing your application, I would have asked you about your previous 'bad' customs experiences and would have rejected you as potentially having bias that would affect the performance of your job.
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:01 pm
#302
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: YYC - soon to be 東京
Programs: AC Prestige, Marriott Silver, Hyatt Gold, Hertz #1 Gold, Radisson Gold Elite, HHonors
Posts: 1,830
I see, so questions such as " Who my wife went to Mexico with 4 mths ago" (as I mentioned last week) is an appropriate question to ask? No, it is not. If I have filled out the Customs form and stated that I don't have drugs, weapons etc then you may ask me verbally again "Do you have any drugs, weapons etc." but you can just take your nose out of our personal affairs - that is 'FISHING' and as you can see by all the people writing and reading this thread (I may be wrong but is this not the fastest growing thread?) a lot of Canadians don't like what you are doing.
Of course, we support stopping the entry of illegal drugs, weapons etc but the people doing that are a tiny proportion of travellers whereas the CBSA people treat ALL travellers as if we were criminals. Is this a misguided effort to treat all people equally? CBSA behaviour is actually WORSE than authoritarian states I have been to and most people on this thread agree - I keep on asking you, CBSAguy but you don't answer my simple question - Why are Canadian Customs DIFFERENT ( ie WORSE) than most other civilized countries?
Of course, we support stopping the entry of illegal drugs, weapons etc but the people doing that are a tiny proportion of travellers whereas the CBSA people treat ALL travellers as if we were criminals. Is this a misguided effort to treat all people equally? CBSA behaviour is actually WORSE than authoritarian states I have been to and most people on this thread agree - I keep on asking you, CBSAguy but you don't answer my simple question - Why are Canadian Customs DIFFERENT ( ie WORSE) than most other civilized countries?
Sanosuke!
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:01 pm
#303
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: NZ Silver, AC SE100K, Westjet, Marriott, Global Entry
Posts: 6,873
Once the immigration verification is complete, the CBSA then goes on a fishng expedition with the additional questions. It is amazing how many people may well incriminate themselves and then be sent to secondary.
No different to a good policeman who stops a person for speeding. A revenue ranger will write the ticket and let them go. A good police officer will look for fast food wrappers, empty coffee cups, pop cans, maps, any obvious modifications to the vehicle, these can all be indicative of a person who runs drugs and weapons. The good police officer may well ask a couple of innocuous questions and then slide in, "would you mind if I searched your car?" Almost all people say yes, go ahead, no problem. The police sieze many weapons and drugs this way. When the search question comes up, you have every right to say no and be on your way.
Next time CBSA primary goes fishing, ask them if they have established your citizenship and leave.
Thank you KVS.
No different to a good policeman who stops a person for speeding. A revenue ranger will write the ticket and let them go. A good police officer will look for fast food wrappers, empty coffee cups, pop cans, maps, any obvious modifications to the vehicle, these can all be indicative of a person who runs drugs and weapons. The good police officer may well ask a couple of innocuous questions and then slide in, "would you mind if I searched your car?" Almost all people say yes, go ahead, no problem. The police sieze many weapons and drugs this way. When the search question comes up, you have every right to say no and be on your way.
Next time CBSA primary goes fishing, ask them if they have established your citizenship and leave.
Thank you KVS.
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:03 pm
#304
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: AC Elite
Posts: 592
Well, this may explain a lot. You have had bad customs experiences in other countries and now that you have joined the CBSA you are now going to take it out on returning Canadians - are you getting some sort of perverse satisfaction in doing this? Is this a requirement to join the CBSA - it seems to be. If I was HR doing your application, I would have asked you about your previous 'bad' customs experiences and would have rejected you as potentially having bias that would affect the performance of your job.
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:11 pm
#305
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 97
Well, this may explain a lot. You have had bad customs experiences in other countries and now that you have joined the CBSA you are now going to take it out on returning Canadians - are you getting some sort of perverse satisfaction in doing this? Is this a requirement to join the CBSA - it seems to be. If I was HR doing your application, I would have asked you about your previous 'bad' customs experiences and would have rejected you as potentially having bias that would affect the performance of your job.
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:31 pm
#306
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 97
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:35 pm
#307
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 57
No, part of the time I was working at a boring factory and part of the time I was Scuba diving with one camera and taking pictures of elephants with the other one. You see, most stories are just boring and benign but the CSBA and yourself just do not get that.
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:37 pm
#308
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Chilling with penguins
Posts: 13,050
Originally Posted by taupo
Next time CBSA primary goes fishing, ask them if they have established your citizenship and leave.
Mind you, all CBSA officers think they can ask those questions. Some of my contacts at CIC also tell me that they can.
I personally don't think they can since once they are satisfied with my admissibility to Canada and the goods that I am importing they are to dismiss you and continue a line of questioning, but since I really don't want to go to secondary each time and get a record, I just answer the questions and get on my merry way.
Of course, if someone feels strongly enough about all this, you can always ATIP the SOP and see how far you get.
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:40 pm
#309
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: YYZ/YOW
Programs: AC SE 2MM * DL MM * HH Diamond * Marriott Lifetime Titanium * Queen's '92
Posts: 5,986
And again (I realize this is annoying to some posters): why in such an unfriendly manner? Why don't other countries do this?
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:43 pm
#310
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: YYC - soon to be 東京
Programs: AC Prestige, Marriott Silver, Hyatt Gold, Hertz #1 Gold, Radisson Gold Elite, HHonors
Posts: 1,830
Well my all too cooperative imaginative friend - you are similar to our CBSA people - you see evil everywhere. As a matter of fact, I have been to Thailand several times and came back with a laptop and two expensive digital cameras - WOW - I must be really evil!
No, part of the time I was working at a boring factory and part of the time I was Scuba diving with one camera and taking pictures of elephants with the other one. You see, most stories are just boring and benign but the CSBA and yourself just do not get that.
No, part of the time I was working at a boring factory and part of the time I was Scuba diving with one camera and taking pictures of elephants with the other one. You see, most stories are just boring and benign but the CSBA and yourself just do not get that.
Sanosuke!
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:46 pm
#311
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: YYZ/YOW
Programs: AC SE 2MM * DL MM * HH Diamond * Marriott Lifetime Titanium * Queen's '92
Posts: 5,986
Their FUNCTION, as civil servant functionaries, is to determine (a) is this person a Canadian citizen (yes/no), (b) do they have goods that are illegal or exceed their allowance. That's it.
Just because they (the individual officer, or CBSAGuy) say something or assert something does not mean it is true.
As I said before, if the police in your neighbourhood started kicking dogs, and told you that was part of their job, would you believe them and think the dogs deserved it?
Simon
Just because they (the individual officer, or CBSAGuy) say something or assert something does not mean it is true.
As I said before, if the police in your neighbourhood started kicking dogs, and told you that was part of their job, would you believe them and think the dogs deserved it?
Simon
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:47 pm
#312
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 718
just a couple of questions cbsa guy....
why are the cbsa agents in YUL so strict and use 0 discretion with regards to limits ?
what happened to the 6$ bottle of rum i bought in cancun and declined to pay the 42$ customs charge for and asked instead that it be donated to the crown ?
why was the customs agent so annoyed when i removed the cap from said bottle and accidently stepped on it and crushed it ?
what is with the supervisor guy in the old T1 who would yell and scream at people if he didn't like how they lined up ?
why are the cbsa agents in YUL so strict and use 0 discretion with regards to limits ?
what happened to the 6$ bottle of rum i bought in cancun and declined to pay the 42$ customs charge for and asked instead that it be donated to the crown ?
why was the customs agent so annoyed when i removed the cap from said bottle and accidently stepped on it and crushed it ?
what is with the supervisor guy in the old T1 who would yell and scream at people if he didn't like how they lined up ?
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:49 pm
#313
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: YYC - soon to be 東京
Programs: AC Prestige, Marriott Silver, Hyatt Gold, Hertz #1 Gold, Radisson Gold Elite, HHonors
Posts: 1,830
Their FUNCTION, as civil servant functionaries, is to determine (a) is this person a Canadian citizen (yes/no), (b) do they have goods that are illegal or exceed their allowance. That's it.
Just because they (the individual officer, or CBSAGuy) say something or assert something does not mean it is true.
Just because they (the individual officer, or CBSAGuy) say something or assert something does not mean it is true.
As I said before, if the police in your neighbourhood started kicking dogs, and told you that was part of their job, would you believe them and think the dogs deserved it?
Simon
Simon
What relevance does this question have to do with Customs? Comparing apples to oranges in terms of authority here.Sanosuke!
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:52 pm
#314
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: YYZ/YOW
Programs: AC SE 2MM * DL MM * HH Diamond * Marriott Lifetime Titanium * Queen's '92
Posts: 5,986
Then let them. Let them stop with the inane questions, let someone look at the goods, and be done with it.
Your line is basically: trust what the customs authorities say, because they say it. Total parallel with my example.
Your line is basically: trust what the customs authorities say, because they say it. Total parallel with my example.