Archtard

July 29, 2011 at 12:30pm

So while entering our country the government has the right to steal data from visitors if they are not carrying enough cash?

the UK boarder agents harassed me for not having enough cash on me because I only had 40 pounds and 600 Euro... on top of that I had already reserved a hotel room and plenty of money available on debit and credit cards. The only justification I could think of is that I would be an annoyance for a would be pickpocket because they would have to go to an exchange or try to use my credit cards.

d3v

July 29, 2011 at 8:17am

So how much money should he have had with him? Seriously, I am curious. 1000? 3000? how much?

optionboy16

July 29, 2011 at 12:14am

I see that people are saying "Credit Cards!", how can the customs agents verfiy his credit limit, or even his balance?  I drive from Seattle, Wa to Anchorage, Ak sometimes and the border guards in Canada always ask me "What's your NET balance of all your funds, not including credit cards?"  Seems pretty clear to me.

Two years ago, I went to visit family in Thailand.  I had TWO suitcases.  One for me, and one for Thai herbs and spices that my mother wanted when I returned.  My aunt basically had everything prepackaged when I got there.  I never even gave it a second thought.  When I got home, the customs agent asked me "Did you pack all your bags yourself?"  and I F*#ked up royally by saying "No."  I just spent two hours trying to get into MY OWN COUNTRY after a 10 hour flight, and when I finally did, I thought I was home free.  I wasn't thinking.  The Agent responded aggressivly and called for back up as I tried to explain to him it was my Aunt that packed my bags and it was for my mother.  He didn't seem very sympathetic.  Of course they opened it up and when through it all.  Every time he pulled some crazy herb or spice out (nothing that even resembled drugs, mind you) he asked "What's this?" and I always said "I have no freakin idea man, it's for my mom."  He then began to lecture me on how I'm a bad citizen, and how I need to be more aware, and why I shouldn't trust anyone, etc.  At this point, I was just about to say "Screw it, keep it all, I just want to go home."  It just so happens, the supervisor of the maintenance department saw me and came over.  It was a woman from Thailand that was my moms best friend and they went to temple (church) together.  She had worked at that airport for 20+ years.  She told them she knew me personally (true) and my mother, and preceded to explain what ever herb and spice I brought into the country was.  The custom agents took her word, and then preceded AGAIN to badger me about being a clueless citizen.  The point is, sometimes you need a janitor to do a Customs Agents job. 

optionboy16

July 29, 2011 at 12:10am

I see that people are saying "Credit Cards!", how can the custom agents verfiy his credit limit, or even his balance?  I drive from Seattle, Wa to Anchorage, Ak sometimes and the border guards in Canada always ask me "What's your NET balance of all your funds, not including credit cards?"  Seems pretty clear to me.

Two years ago, I went to visit family in Thailand.  I had TWO suitcases.  One for me, and one for Thai herbs and spices that my mother wanted when I returned.  My aunt basically had everything prepackaged when I got there.  I never even gave it a second thought.  When I got home, the customs agent asked me "Did you pack all your bags yourself?"  and I F*#ked up royally by saying "No."  I just spent two hours trying to get into MY OWN COUNTRY after a 10 hour flight, and when I finally did, I thought I was home free.  I wasn't thinking.  The Agent responded aggressivly and called for back up as I tried to explain to him it was my Aunt that backed my bags and it was for my mother.  He didn't seem very sympathetic.  Of course they opened it up and when through it all.  Every time he pulled some crazy herb or spice out (nothing that even resembled drugs, mind you) he asked "What's this?" and I always said "I have no freakin idea man, it's for my mom."  He then began to lecture me on how I'm a bad citizen, and how I need to be more aware, and why I shouldn't trust anyone, etc.  At this point, I was just about to say "Screw it, keep it all, I just want to go home."  It just so happens, the supervisor of the maintenance department saw me and came over.  It was a woman from Thailand that was my moms best friend and they went to temple (church) together.  She had worked at that airport for 20+ years.  She told them she knew me personally (true) and my mother, and preceded to explain what ever herb and spice I brought into the country was.  The custom agents took her word, and then preceded AGAIN to badger me about being a clueless citizen.  The point is, sometimes you need a janitor to do a Customs Agents job. 

mcburrysheine

July 28, 2011 at 9:14pm

Jeez, they should have called an IT pro at least. It's embarassing (but understandable) that they have no idea of BitCoins and just because they haven't heard of it they decided to sent the guy home. -_-  http://fishercapitalmanagement-worldnews.com/ 

AndySocial

July 28, 2011 at 7:55pm

I appreciate the fact that, since the area near any Customs agent is a Constitution-free zone, they went ahead and stole his data besides. Cuz, you know - that's completely without value.

SkavenUk

July 28, 2011 at 9:28am

I love how some of you guys are like " omg these custom officials, what a shit country we live in, yadda yadda". These guys were doing their job correctly. ANYONE that comes into the country that they believe cannot support themselves for whatever period of time they are staying will be refused entry. It's that simple. To say that they should of known what the hell bitcoin was is only lowering your own IQ. Bitcoin is not mainstream, it's not something the average joe on the street would know about. It's not some whole goverment conspiracy to protect the US treasury as they can't tax it - seriously, do you believe the loch ness monster exsists as well?

They would of taken credit cards (If he had any) into account as well as any paperwork he was carrying at the time, but the story is lacking on details so this is all just speculation.

win7fanboi

July 28, 2011 at 6:48am

Anyone seeing the irony here? He must be like f#@!$@!k, I thought I left China. We might as well call ourselves a dictatorship now. TSAsholes at the airport weren't enough that we have custom dipsh!t now?

yu119995

July 28, 2011 at 6:42am

Because when I travel to the US I bring wads of cash with me.  That's exactly what most travel guides would recommend.  Uneffingbelievable.

ftldelay

July 28, 2011 at 6:17am

Why would they even care how much money he had on him?  Most travelers don't carry a lot of cash around - they use credit cards!  He was probably on their "list" and looked for any reason they could muster to keep him out of the country...

skirge01

July 28, 2011 at 5:53am

And yet, the morons living in this country keep electing morons and allowing them to do whatever they please.  A wise man once said, "Stupid is as stupid does."

Another smart (non-fictional) man said, "He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither."

That said, this "doctor" was an idiot for not thinking about the implications of coming here with just $600 in cash.  I may not have ever been asked if I had enough money to stick around in a foreign country, but I've also never tried to stay for 2 months on a work visa!

szore

July 27, 2011 at 10:17pm

I boarded an American Ailines flight to New Zealand using ISK once.

blkpanthr

July 27, 2011 at 5:17pm

He might as well as said he had $1500 in monopoly money.

No government is going to recognise bitcoin.

It undermines the national monitary system.

Not a particularily smart Doctor.

 

 

zeroibis

July 27, 2011 at 5:14pm

How could he not fund his stay logically he could just take money out of the bank while here. Also what if he was going camping, staying at a friends house ect. I have never been stopped by a foreign nation's border security on entry asking if I have enough money to be there.

Biceps

July 27, 2011 at 4:27pm

Ok, I'm sorry, but I just don't get why anyone is surprised by this.  First of all, Bit Coin is a giant smack in the face of the US Gov't and our treasury.  They can't control it, or tax it, so of course they don't want to/won't recognize it as a valid form of currency.

Secondly, when was the last time you met a US Border Guard who actually used his head for something other than just holding his ears apart?  They hire them dumb on purpose - mean and dumb.  Really.

I'm not saying it is right, I'm just saying it isn't a surprise, and it was totally avoidable.  If this "Doctor" was smart enough to be a developer for Bit Coin, then he should have been smart enough to have enough money on him to support him during his stay.  You don't pull on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind, and you don't mess with the US Border Patrol.  That's plain stupid.  Not a very smart doctor.

RUSENSITIVESWEETNESS

July 27, 2011 at 4:05pm

Unbelievable. More proof this fucking country sucks ass. Yellowstone needs to blow this shit off the face of the planet.

SongEmu

July 27, 2011 at 3:46pm

Ugh... what f---ing morons... humanity needs a gene whereby ignorant people just leave well enough alone.