Paying My Landlord In US Dollars

My landlord insisted on a lease in USD and a payment in USD. She will not accept MNP and wants me to buy dollars and deliver them to her. My efforts to get her to even try PayPal have failed. Wire transfers are too costly and so is buying dollars at the bank. The house was too desirable to walk away from the deal, so I accepted her damned demand.

I am hoping to find an economical solution, one without me doing all the legwork entailed. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

She won't accept the "USD equivalent" at the posted exchange rate on rent day?

CanuckBob wrote:She won't accept the "USD equivalent" at the posted exchange rate on rent day?

Absolutely not. WTF?

What she is doing is illegal. Does she know that?

Gamina wrote:What she is doing is illegal.  Does she know that?

Maybe yes, maybe no, but I feel this government employee is doing it for tax evasion.

I will consult with Spencer soon on this matter.

nothing new there.. If that person is so intransigent I sure would walk away no matter how nice the house is.

Yes, illegal lease. She can ask for payment in U.S. dollars - but it is not allowed to fluctuate on a monthly basis. I believe that is even in the Mexican Constitution , for chrisake. If the house is rented furnished, she has to charge 16% I.V.A. - again, that is the law. You are entitled to ask for an electronic factura, which is proof she has actually paid the government tax instead of putting it in her pocket. If she cannot provide a factura, you can with hold rent until it is produced, she cannot evict you. Usually the rent is put into an account, waiting for facturas, for all the month in question. You are involved with an illegal money laundering scheme without your knowledge or consent.

Anyways - that's the hardball answers, if you need them. Knowledge is power, and I'm sure you can work things out. Maybe you need a mediator, so personalities don't get involved. This the way things were done ten years ago - but not anymore. It is now tough to be a landlord in this country, especially if you hope to make a profit. If you are from the U.S. there is an additional problem that it is now required to declare foreign income.

What everybody said..... I pay in dollars but just a US bank Transfer from US bank to another US bank but my house was not furnished so no IVA. I do collect dollars down here by converting peoples dollars to pesos but not enough to pay rent. Converting money is a rip off and I avoid it other than small amounts used in vacation outside US/Mexico. US check wont' work because they will want to give you pesos in return for check unless someone knows a bank/institution that will give dollars. Anybody???

Z

Does she have a Visa allowing her to earn money in Mexico

Is she Mexican or from another nationality?

sparks wrote:Does she have a Visa allowing her to earn money in Mexico

She is a Mexican and I am told a Mexican government employee.

The house is furnished and a local realtor is the agent but not the management company.

I have emailed Spencer and am waiting for his reply.

Legal counsel says, "You have right to pay in pesos at official rate on date of payment."

Tax evasion is the national sport here ..so good luck.. if you do not like the deal walk away do not bother signing the contract or gat out of ot with the help of SPencer and forget about it.. life is to short to get into a bad deal with a person that is not flexible.

I will present the information supplied after I get the countersigned lease back. She then can not evict me until the end of the year lease. I am going to occupy the home today and not only do I like it, it has location, location, location. With Spencer at my back I feel secure in my decision.

Remember; the utilities are in her name, and it can get dark at night.
I suggest that you reject the lease and not move in. You cannot have it both ways. You could win the battle, but you definitely will lose the war.

Oil lamps can quickly make it a large loss for her.

I will use the opinion letter to leverage a PayPal account to transfer dollars as she likes. It does leave a paper trail, but hey, I am not involved in Mexican tax affairs.

In your own words, “Every day above ground is a good day.“
How “connected“ are the opponents in the upcoming battle?

What battle?

RV Gringo lived here for a while and so did I... but newbies always think they can think the way they did up north and eventually find out how wrong they are..

Everyone has a learning curve when arriving in a new culture and this is your first test of many to come..do not listen to anyone who has lived here for a while .
Have fun and get into a battle with a Mexican landlord on the first few days you get here.. have fun

. . . Who works for the government!!! So many red flags.

If you're smart you'll listen to RVG and Brigitte, and you'll also refrain from comments, like your oil lamp comment, that may come back and bite you in the butt big time.

Things here are not as they seem and you will learn that down the road.

Yep, she can make your life very, very miserable and depending on her connections have you sitting in jail for a few days or punted to the other side of the border. Not a good way to start you life here amigo. I would either "do what you agreed to" or walk from the deal. Be warned.........

OK all, I get the gist. I will talk with the realtor and show him my rights to pay. If that is not then agreed upon, I will ask for my money back and hand them back the keys.

Good luck on the money back as well. If you find something else have your lawyer involved before you sign and agree to anything.-

Doom and gloom, doom and gloom.

Rich, the fact that you ask "What battle" says you have no idea what you are rushing headlong for. You can not even imagine how wrong this all could go.
I did not see the previous comment you made that CBob was kind enough to delete for you, but your oil lap comment is another ill-advised thing to post.
Best of luck in however you decide to proceed.