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gloomyGumi
Joined: 29 Dec 2010
Posts: 353
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 Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:26 am Post subject: Turkish crime rates compared to......? |
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.....Europe in general? Also, For example, here in Korea there is no crime at all that i am used to, in New York City, like pick pocketing, assault, break-ins, etc. But when i was in India, there was a very significant amount of over-charging for foreigners, fake ticket agents selling fake tickets, rip-off taxi drivers, theft, etc.
How dangerous would it be to travel around Turkey for a month carrying say 10 thousand US dollars in cash? Are buses routinely hijacked like in Guyana or India, for example? Is there a significant amount of theft/robberies/hold-ups? (holds-up just sounds wrong). |
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coffeespoonman
Joined: 04 Feb 2005
Posts: 512
Location: At my computer...
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Why carry that much cash? There are ATMs all over Turkey, and pretty much all cards will work anywhere. |
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gloomyGumi
Joined: 29 Dec 2010
Posts: 353
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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I closed my bank account in the US 3 years ago when i came to korea, and only have akorean account here now. when my wife and i pack up and leave, i dunno how long i'm legally able to keep my money herein the korean bank. and i dont know how to open an intl bank account before we leave korea, one that we can access thru ATMs as we travel about for a few months until we settle in the next place.
can anyone advise on this? |
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gloomyGumi
Joined: 29 Dec 2010
Posts: 353
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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| p.s. to make matters worse, my uncle informed me that last Fall 2010 a ltter came from the IRS saying my Bank of America account had been garnished for taxes i failed to pay/file for. the account had almost nothing in it, so i lost only a few hundred, but i'm afraid now to open another account anywhere for fear the IRS may try to garnish that, too. |
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coffeespoonman
Joined: 04 Feb 2005
Posts: 512
Location: At my computer...
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:29 am Post subject: |
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I personally don't see any reason you wouldn't be able to keep your money in your Korean account indefinitely. I mean, how would they even know that you're not living there anymore, or no longer a resident? My advice is, keep most of your cash in there, then open a Turkish account when you get settled here. There is no cooperation between the US and Turkey about taxes or bank accounts, so you're safe in that regard.
Turkey has pretty much zero chance of highjacking and stuff like that, but I think carrying that much money in cash is just asking for trouble. Are you really going to be able to enjoy your relaxing beach holiday with the family while you're worried about the 10,000 USD stuck in your sock?
And by the way, if I were you, I'd talk to the IRS and see how much you owe them. If it's not too much, you might want to consider talking with them about it. If your problem is just not filing, you can probably cut a deal with them because you've been abroad and probably falling below the like $80,000 of free non-taxable income. |
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gloomyGumi
Joined: 29 Dec 2010
Posts: 353
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:59 am Post subject: |
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| you mean i can just show up in turkey and open a turkish account? dont i need some kind of residence there or even a work visa first? or even a permanent address? |
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coffeespoonman
Joined: 04 Feb 2005
Posts: 512
Location: At my computer...
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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| None of that. You only need a tax number (vergi numerası), which you can get for free from any tax office (vergi dairesi). Just go early in the morning, bring your passport, and be prepared to wait. If you go to one in a central area, like Beyoğlu, someone there will probably speak some English and will be able to help you. |
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maastricht
Joined: 11 Feb 2011
Posts: 38
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| Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 3:54 am Post subject: |
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I would definitely call the IRS and find out what is going on. They don't garnish until the assessment process is over and the case moves to collections. It sounds like they tried to contact you earlier but maybe you weren't aware of it because you were abroad (I'm just guessing here). It doesn't sound like you participated in the assessment process so if I remember right you might still be able to challenge the assessed amounts. In some cases the taxpayer doesn't actually owe any tax and the issue can be fixed with a filed or amended tax return.
I would definitely not be carrying all that money around unless I was rich and didn't care if I was robbed. If it was me, personally, I would open a bank account in Turkey and wire the money in or otherwise securely transfer it. |
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bulgogiboy
Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 803
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| Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:57 am Post subject: Re: Turkish crime rates compared to......? |
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| gloomyGumi wrote: |
.....Europe in general? Also, For example, here in Korea there is no crime at all that i am used to, in New York City, like pick pocketing, assault, break-ins, etc. But when i was in India, there was a very significant amount of over-charging for foreigners, fake ticket agents selling fake tickets, rip-off taxi drivers, theft, etc.
How dangerous would it be to travel around Turkey for a month carrying say 10 thousand US dollars in cash? Are buses routinely hijacked like in Guyana or India, for example? Is there a significant amount of theft/robberies/hold-ups? (holds-up just sounds wrong). |
Bus hijackings? It's not Baghdad my friend!  There have been military buses blown up in the East, in the past, from PKK attacks, but I've never heard of banditry in modern-day Turkey.
I lived in both Korea and Turkey, and travelled around both places. I would say, more or less, I felt equally safe in both places. However, what I would say is that in the big Turkish cities there are more 'rough' areas than Korean cities have. For example, there is a part of Ankara called 'cin cin' which has quite a lot of bad elements living there. I had a few Turkish police friends who told me that even they had to be very careful when going there. I wouldn't walk around somewhere like that with $100 in my pocket, nevermind $10,000.
I think Istanbul, being such a massive melting pot, is where you would have to take most care. There are lots of people looking to take advantage of naive foreigners. In parts of Istanbul there are very aggressive beggars/street people who can be a threat; people have been mugged by them on occasion.
Frankly, carrying $10,000 cash in your pocket isn't a good idea in any country. Petty theft happens in just about every country, so why risk it? Even putting the worry of crime aside, what if you were to lose it? I was in a similar situation to yourself before, when I wanted to leave Korea. I kept a percentage in cash, and carried most of the rest in American Express travellers cheques. You'll always be able to find a bank that will change them. Just buy low denominations like $100 or so, as some banks are uneasy about changing $500 or $1000 notes.
You can then pay them into a Turkish bank account for a small commission. |
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Kirkpatrick
Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 205
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Safe deposit box anyone!!! Just lay low, get it in there then do the walk about... Basic street smarts.. Don't flash the cash!!! |
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Kirkpatrick
Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 205
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Also,dress like a bum...Watch Taksim.. Plenty of danger there..not Turks mostly other foreirners of muslim decent.. Early , morning transactions will avoid most rift raft.. As far as taxes, keep your shit off shore.. Yet again SAFE DEPOSİT BOX!!! any questions??? |
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Kirkpatrick
Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 205
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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| HSBC doddo!! |
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Kirkpatrick
Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 205
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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| If you have gotten the LOVE LETTER( ie..Taxes..sudent loans, child support, ect..) keep it all off shore... |
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Roundtrip
Joined: 02 Mar 2011
Posts: 12
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:46 pm Post subject: Blondie |
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| I'm a single, blonde-haired, blue-eyed lady. Is it safe for me to go out on my own in Turkey? I'm considering moving there to teach. What towns would you suggest moving to? I don't want to be isolated in a little town. |
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Kirkpatrick
Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 205
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't worry, you will have all the Turkish slime pawing all over you. Just make sure they pay big!! |
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