Complaints about Customs
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:55 pm
#316
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
Really, who are we to blame? The Customs officers knowledge of the respective acts they are assigned to carry out duties from, or the GOVERNMENT OF CANADA/PARLIAMENT that makes those laws possible through "reason of insanity"? You or I or ANYONE needs to make that discretion and address the concern to the appropriate authority. That is what your MP is for.
Sanosuke!
Apr 15, 2008 | 8:58 pm
#317
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: YYZ/YOW
Programs: AC SE 2MM * DL MM * HH Diamond * Marriott Lifetime Titanium * Queen's '92
Posts: 5,986
Broken record.
Why shouldn't you question authority if it makes no sense, is different than any other authority of the same type and how they deal with their citizens, or if the manner of performing their tasks is not reasonable.
Government says they must establish citizenship and goods held.
Government says they must do so by asking inane questions and being unpleasant?
Simon
Why shouldn't you question authority if it makes no sense, is different than any other authority of the same type and how they deal with their citizens, or if the manner of performing their tasks is not reasonable.
Government says they must establish citizenship and goods held.
Government says they must do so by asking inane questions and being unpleasant?
Simon
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:01 pm
#318
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
Broken record.
Why shouldn't you question authority if it makes no sense, is different than any other authority of the same type and how they deal with their citizens, or if the manner of performing their tasks is not reasonable.
Government says they must establish citizenship and goods held.
Government says they must do so by asking inane questions and being unpleasant?
Simon
Why shouldn't you question authority if it makes no sense, is different than any other authority of the same type and how they deal with their citizens, or if the manner of performing their tasks is not reasonable.
Government says they must establish citizenship and goods held.
Government says they must do so by asking inane questions and being unpleasant?
Simon
Sanosuke!
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:01 pm
#319
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: YUL
Posts: 2,116
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:02 pm
#320
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 718
I've had exactly the opposite experience in YUL two out of two times. Once I had $130 worth of goods after < 24 hours, and was let go after secondary. Another time I had $1500 worth of goods after 7 days, and was only charged GST and PST on $500. And to top it off, in both cases, the agent was kinda cute. ^
my experiences there have lead to ALL of my secondary cbsa inspections.
I find the yyz agents quite laid back and relaxed.
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:05 pm
#322
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
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:07 pm
#323
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: AC.SE
Posts: 2,584
I do, but that's a separate issue. What I'm saying here is that I want to pay my tax / duty and get out of the airport or to my next flight. Why do I have to have every piece of clothing and item I own scrutinized and accusatory questions asked when I truthfully declare an overage?
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:13 pm
#324
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 57
You just do not understand a FREE SOCIETY that encourages DISSENT.
Last edited by Denizen; Apr 15, 2008 at 9:39 pm Reason: Getting too specific about responder
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:21 pm
#325
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: YQB
Programs: AC*E
Posts: 39
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?
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:31 pm
#326
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
...? Arguing with authority? Don't you mean.. debating with authority? 
Besides to even get a NEXUS card you have to account for the last FIVE years of employment. What if one is retired/lucky enough to be travelling on inheritance? How do I even answer the "employment history" question on the NEXUS form? Tell me, I'd be then enlightened with new knowledge to take on this task!
No wonder why the rest of the world views us as "arrogant" and "unyielding."
Sanosuke!
Besides to even get a NEXUS card you have to account for the last FIVE years of employment. What if one is retired/lucky enough to be travelling on inheritance? How do I even answer the "employment history" question on the NEXUS form? Tell me, I'd be then enlightened with new knowledge to take on this task!
No wonder why the rest of the world views us as "arrogant" and "unyielding."
Sanosuke!
Last edited by Simon; Apr 16, 2008 at 9:25 am Reason: removed quote that was edited by OP
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:47 pm
#327
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Chilling with penguins
Posts: 13,050
Totally agree with you... I don't usually participate actively on FT but I just wanted to add my voice to yours... I'm an honest 25 years old student and more than 1\2 times when I cross Canadian customs and immigration, I get secondary check... I just give them my bags and tell them to enjoy the search... Most times when I go back home I feel unwelcome, this is not normal. I only have one question... What particular reasons Canadian immigration officers have that any other country around the globe do not have to ask questions about your personal life? What makes Canada so special?
Apr 15, 2008 | 9:57 pm
#328
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: YQB
Programs: AC*E
Posts: 39
Oh well... I don't consider this as a problem, it's only pointless and a bit heavy when I arrive at YUL around midnight, tired... It happens more frequently when I get back from a vacation than from school abroad btw.
Apr 15, 2008 | 10:06 pm
#329
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,835
It's been my experience that at least CBSA know what they're doing, and understand the world. The US DHS are somewhat less encouraging in their education;
US DHS agent: "Who do you work for?"
My Answer: "The Provincial Government"
US DHS agent: "What's that?"
Considering it was IN CANADA, AT YVR, this is ridiculous.
US DHS agent: "Who do you work for?"
My Answer: "The Provincial Government"
US DHS agent: "What's that?"
Considering it was IN CANADA, AT YVR, this is ridiculous.
Apr 15, 2008 | 10:20 pm
#330
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: NZ Silver, AC SE100K, Westjet, Marriott, Global Entry
Posts: 6,868
I do, but that's a separate issue. What I'm saying here is that I want to pay my tax / duty and get out of the airport or to my next flight. Why do I have to have every piece of clothing and item I own scrutinized and accusatory questions asked when I truthfully declare an overage?
Where you are travelling from and your colour.
The fact you are a highly educated professional and a specialist in your field is besides the point.