Torsten Posted March 15, 2003 Quarantine opened an order (ie an order form and some banknotes) from the UK and passed their find onto customs. Customs impounded the mail item and the money and sent me a letter stating that the sender has broken the law and that if I want the money I have to contact them. All future money found in mail will be confiscated and surrendered to the state. So, how much money was being illegally transferred between countries?? 25 pounds (about AU$80) Don't these fuckheads have anything better to do?? Like catch some real terrorists? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auxin Posted March 15, 2003 Sounds like customs found a new way to make money, steal it. What about money orders? Personal checks? Can we pay you in silver ingots or is paypal gonna be the only way to get money into Australia? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gomaos Posted March 15, 2003 Another "sieg heil" for "mein fuehrer" Howard? Rechts, rechts.... The real bad thing is that I have to live surrounded by fools who vote for this asshole... In 3rd world countries like thailand they have x-ray machines for letters which pick up the silver stripes of banknotes even through the thickest cardboard...now australia becomes like them...our customs STEALS money now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peas-pipe Posted March 15, 2003 Don't worry Auxin, the way things are going Australia will probably soon be swapping over the American dollar anyway. Well, I suppose that is if OPEC doesn't switch to the Euro or something "unforseen" like that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted March 16, 2003 Money order etc are fine. I guess they want to know about ALL money trasfers, no matter how small. Governments hate cash. It is a little ridiculous though and I am not quite sure how to deal with that yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrBumpy Posted March 17, 2003 does this mean my Grandma might get busted for sending me my next birthday card with a $10 in it? -bumpy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thelema Posted March 17, 2003 why would quarantine open a letter anyway? did it have vegetable substances in it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted March 18, 2003 Thelema - we've been discussing mail openings here for a few months now, including letters. My estimate is about 3% of letters are opened, however this nmber quickly climbs to as high as about 30% if there is ANY object other than a flat piece of paper in it. A couple of notes and a sheet of paper do not qualify as 'objects' here (which was the entire content of this letter in question). However, a baggie, coin, folded notes, bubblewrap, etc do count as objects. It's all part of the antiterrorist drama (anthrax). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theobromos Posted March 18, 2003 They obviously don't know about the Origami bacterial delivery device. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woof woof woof Posted March 18, 2003 & what about cashiers checks.... ]if so , then they are truely madder then I though initially :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterdragon Posted March 19, 2003 that's got me thinking theo. stealth bombers are fairly flat, i'll get to work straight away. anyone want to send me all their spare paper? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rev Posted March 20, 2003 having just passed through Australian Customs on an international flight i have to say that these guys are the most intrusive and rude bunch of officials i have ever met When i gave my new address in NSW as a contact address they quickly siezed on it to grill me about why i was coming to perth then when i said i was moving to find work they grilled me about being a student (listed occupation) so why was i looking for work the guy behind me got it worse , a chinese guy here on business - not only did the customs officer grill him about why he was in australia she gave him ethe third degree over the particulars of exactly who he worked for , where he was going etc considering not a single piece of this ionformation was recorded for any official purpose i think it amounts to simple petty harrassment Im actually really disappointed about australia on my return. People have always said that when i went overseas it'd impress on me how good australia was and how lucky i was to live here Well since ive been back ive had mostly negative experiences and i seriously wish i could go back O/S. maybe its just been a bad day. Theres a few excellent qualities to this society but these seem to be under serious threat of erosion and for the apparent liberties we do possess (mostly material ones) we pay a high cognitive, social and economic price Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shroomy Posted March 22, 2003 Good to see you back safe and sound rev, we missed you on our recent visit but "ul be buck". looking forward to a nice detailed report of your trip. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spiders Posted March 22, 2003 And yet i got a parcel opened with labelled copied cds that would have infringed copyright and passed them without a hitch Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
