Job Discussion Forums

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

I'm curious. I realize there's a big problem with bogus bills in this country; thus, the common routine of holding paper money up to the light to check for watermarks or marking bills with one of those invisible-ink-counterfeit-detector pens. However, what is it that makes locals so picky about the physical condition of currency? If you try to pay for something with a 20-peso bill that has a tiny tear on the edge of it or a tiny corner missing, it's as if you've tried to pay with a piece of garbage. If you take slightly damaged bills to a bank, sometimes they are replaced with ones in good condition, but other times bank employees refuse to make the trade. Try to exchange U.S. dollar bills with yellow highlighter marks on them* either at a bank or a money-exchange center, and the transaction is refused. Is this concern about the condtion of money common throughout Mexico, or is it just a Yucatecan thing?

* For some reason, when I return from the U.S., I end up with a few U.S. bills that have yellow ink marks slashed across them, which makes them worthless here. Nobody will exchange them for pesos or accept them as legal tender.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

MixtecaMike · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 643 Location: Guatebad

In the Boredom Capital of the Americas, a.k.a. Huajuapan de Leon, if your bills were not flawless most shops would refuse them. The best thing to do was use them on the bus, the driver is usually too busy to pay much attention.

Also looking like a gringo helped, my wife would swap her damaged bills with me as more people accepted them from me than from her.

Why is it so? Because Mexicans realize that the peso is a sorry excuse for a currency whose main value is that it looks pretty. Ripped note is not so pretty, so they don't want it. Very Happy

El Monstruo · Joined: 25 Apr 2003 Posts: 6

richtx1 · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 115 Location: Ciudad de M�xico

I think its more custom than anything... or just that old, worn counterfeit bills are harder to tell from pristine good ones. Or, maybe it's just aesthetics.

I usually manage to avoid 500 peso notes, but I ended up with the new 1000 peso note the other day... but, I had to pay my rent, so adios, Padre Hidalgo.

thelmadatter · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 2:28 pm Post subject: bills

I found out about ripped bills the hard way as well. But I dont think they are quite as picky about it in Toluca as they are in Merida.

I dont think the Mexican currency is all that pretty. Nothing beats the old Dutch guilders. Bright yellows, reds and greens... made the money all too easy to spend because, dang it, it just didnt seem "real."

$1000MN bills oy! Cant imagine trying to use that, even in Wal Mart!

Wouter · Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Posts: 128 Location: Tlaquepaque

Had only once a problem in Peru. Paid the bill and when the came back with my change they told me it was a bogus bill. I knew the bill that I got back was false but i didnt know if the one that i gave was good or not. The only thing that you can do to be sure they didnt change it for a false one is mark you bill or ask them to check it when you give it.

In Mexico I never had any problems.

Wouter

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Of course thelma had to mention--again--her WalMart addiction. Why not a US cultural imperialist tee shirt? In neon colors?

I have never had a bank refuse to change a battered or torn bill for me. But if I know who palmed it off on me I go back and make THEM give me a good one. This is a pretty harmless cultural idiosyncrasy--compared to some from OTHER cultures, especially.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Ever since they came out with the plastic 20 peso notes, I've noticed I get several that are either 'shattered' (not ripped...you can't rip 'em. Try ripping them!) or puntured. Nobody takes them. I try to pawn them off at landromats or Oxxo's where the clerks don't really care too much.

I can't wait for the 1000 peso notes. It isn't hard enough trying to break 200 and 500 notes...I really need more challenge in my life. Thank you Banco de Messico

richtx1 · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 115 Location: Ciudad de M�xico

I HAD two 1000 peso notes, after my monthly pilgramage to Scotiabank. I was a little tickled when my landlord held them up to the light and examined them like a printing expert... it's habit -- or maybe a law -- that when you get a big bill, you hold it up to the gods of bogus bills.

BTW, ripping a bill is a way of showing contempt. I had a "landlord from Hell" (Actually, from the SSP, which is pretty much the same thing) who ripped my deposit in half before he returned it... the dickhead was trying to convince me he could take my laptop for two days back rent, and I'd moved (with my laptop, of course) across the street and screwed up his plans. Not a problem -- the bank will exchange bad bills for good.

I

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

MixtecaMike · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 643 Location: Guatebad

The secre's day will come when the cafeteria staff wants to speak to the secre's boss.

"Fiate que no se encuentra ahorita"

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

It's "f�jate"--the verb "fiar" means to give something on credit.

Cheers!