Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

RickS

Mar 5, 2012, 7:28 PM

Post #1 of 11 (3167 views)

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TIP Deposit Refund

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I crossed the border north into the US at Laredo last Friday at 5:30 PM. My TIP (Temporary vehicle Importation Permit) deposit was refunded the next business day, Monday (today). Can't get much faster than that!

chicois8

Mar 6, 2012, 6:47 AM

Post #2 of 11 (3120 views)

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Re: [RickS] TIP Deposit Refund

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I'll be crossing Thursday, hope mine is as fast.......

chicois8

Mar 14, 2012, 9:45 AM

Post #3 of 11 (2918 views)

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Re: [chicois8] TIP Deposit Refund

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In Reply To

I'll be crossing Thursday, hope mine is as fast.......

Not only was the TIP deposit credited to my CC account but the 3%
foreign transfer fee was returned also.......

chinagringo

Mar 16, 2012, 4:27 PM

Post #4 of 11 (2822 views)

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Re: [RickS] TIP Deposit Refund

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Apparently there might be a fly in the ointment for those attempting to get a refund of their deposit when trying to get a refund after the initial 180 day period. This is a first hand report from a person who apparently had a problem:
"I crossed the border a week ago and turned in my car sticker, hoping to get the refund of $400.00 I paid last fall returned to me. I spent 3 hours arguing about it and was sent from the Columbia crossing back in to the Laredo crossing and got the same information. I had a very nice gentleman with the Aduana who spoke perfect English helping me so I think I understand what they were telling me, although I don't like it.

So, the deal with the $400 at the border is this. They have figured out a way to keep almost everyone's money I think.

If you return the sticker after the expiration date on the sticker/paper it came off of, you forfeit the money. If you got the extension letter, like I did in Morelia, it says on the letter (in the sentence after your new expiration date) that you agree to forfeit the money to get the extension, so you lose it that way too. The only benefit I see is that if you get the extension letter, you stand a chance of keeping the idiots in Morelia from confiscating your car if they stop you.

This should only be a problem for those of us who actually PAID the money in the past year. If you recall, before last year you just put up a bond by giving them your credit card information.

Also, if you don't have to turn in your sticker, don't !!! I had to because my FM3 will expire while I'm in the USA. Based on the rule that your sticker is good if your FM3 is good, if I had gotten stopped on the way back down, my sticker was expired. If your coming North and your FM3/FM2 will still be good when you return, DON"T turn it in!!!"

I picked this up off of a Yahoo Michoacan message board and am inclined to believe it since it was a first person experience!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

YucaLandia

Mar 17, 2012, 10:10 AM

Post #5 of 11 (2773 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] TIP Deposit Refund

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It sounds as if there is a problem with the Aduana expiration date extension letters from Morelia. Ours have no clause like that.

I offer a few small cautions about Neil's advice to intentionally cross the border and keep the Aduana/Banjercito sticker:
~ If your car is stolen, then you are likely screwed forever for bringing another foreign-plated vehicle into Mexico on a TIP.
~ If your car is wrecked - or the windshield smashed, ... you will likely find it very difficult and time-consuming to get the Mex. Gob. to honor your claim for returning the old sticker.
~ If you sell the car abroad, ... you will likely find it very difficult and time-consuming to get the Mex. Gob. to honor your claim for returning the old sticker.
~ If you choose to return to Mexico with a different vehicle, ... you will likely find it very difficult and time-consuming to get the Mex. Gob. to honor your claim for returning the old sticker.

Keeping those items in mind, I don't think the choice to turn-in the sticker or to keep the sticker is an automatic "gimme" . I suspect some people choose to turn in their stickers to avoid future hassles - and to be allowed to easily drive a different vehicle on a future return. To each his own.
-
Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

chinagringo

Mar 17, 2012, 10:20 AM

Post #6 of 11 (2769 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] TIP Deposit Refund

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Steve:

Please go back and read my post again! As stated in my post, this was a copy of a post made on another message board. Since you have laid claims about using proper English - I believe that when something is enclosed in "quotes' that it means these are the words of someone else and not mine.

As a matter of fact, we have cancelled every permit when exiting Mexico for many of the same reasons you gave.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

stevebrtx

Mar 17, 2012, 11:14 AM

Post #7 of 11 (2760 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] TIP Deposit Refund

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I did the usual, didn't do an FMM, didn't turn in the sticker, came back in yesterday, no questions, no $300 (in my case) the CC I gave them 4 years ago was stolen 3 years ago. When I got to the 20 mile check I flashed my FM3 and he waved me on, I didn't see the red/green light that used to be there. At the border, very little interest in what I brought in although the guy was puzzled by part of the new weather station. Less than 10 minutes total.
http://www.chapalaweather.net

RickS

Mar 17, 2012, 12:43 PM

Post #8 of 11 (2743 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] TIP Deposit Refund

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"At the border, very little interest..."

Could your crossing at 4:30 in the morning have anything to do with this??? ;>)

stevebrtx

Mar 17, 2012, 1:48 PM

Post #9 of 11 (2727 views)

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Re: [RickS] TIP Deposit Refund

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I darn sure hope so, getting up that early ain't my idea of fun, but it does preclude traffic etc. - ha. And, gets me home here in time for a "relaxer beverage" in the garden.

On new years day 2005 I drove non-stop Denver to Austin, 1,000 miles, but it was in my Mark VIII. The MXN roads, with the exception of Largos, are pretty good, but they're wavy, the Lincoln floats, the Jeep bounces, not as much fun - plus I suppose I could be getting older and am out of shape for road trips?
http://www.chapalaweather.net

RickS

Mar 17, 2012, 2:25 PM

Post #10 of 11 (2716 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] TIP Deposit Refund

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Yes, what one drives does make a difference, doesn't it. I usually make these trips in a Prius. This trip I came in the Hybrid Camry. WHAT a difference in how many miles I could drive without fatigue. My original plan wasn't to drive from Ajijic to Laredo non-stop because I've made those trips before in the Prius (well, to Piedras Negros actually). But in the Camry I was in Saltillo around 2:30, wasn't even tired so pushed on. And the final leg back to Colorado was painless also.

And, yes, age is a factor too I'm sure.

YucaLandia

Mar 17, 2012, 7:16 PM

Post #11 of 11 (2689 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] TIP Deposit Refund

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Hey Neil,
My bad.

I misunderstood your first post, thinking that you offered the forum quote as valuable useful insights into what works and what people should do. I did not get the context that you found this poster's advice lacking - and possibly misplaced.

I understood that you were offering a quote, but your comment threw me off:

"... (I) am inclined to believe it since it was a first person experience!..."

I misinterpreted this to mean you supported the advice.

My mistake,
steve
-
Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

(This post was edited by YucaLandia on Mar 17, 2012, 7:19 PM)