Where to get copy of someones utility bills

Okay,
Hi all, First posting here.

I am not trying to be illegal… in fact it is the opposite; but I unwittingly got myself in a catch-22 situation where I don’t have my US plated car, but can’t seem to legally buy a MX plated car either (!?!?!). I need some help or advice please.

The story: I have my Permanente Residente (just since Dec), and I was living in Sonora until January, when I drove my US Plated truck down to Guadalajara to live and go to Spanish school and planned on getting the vehicle situation legal while here in the big city also. So, I sold my truck and drove it to TX last week, came back the next day to buy a vehicle here… and ran into Problems!

I can’t buy a car here in Jalisco! I have a current (not expired) rental agreement in Sonora (I paid up through April, even though I left in Jan), and Telmex bills, and even CFE and Agua bills – but all from Sonora. Here in GDL I have been living in a Hostal (and have those receipts for over 30 days). But, apparently MX is more separated by state than even the states in the US are… my Residente Permanente for MEXICO is not enough. I cannot even open a bank account in Jalisco without utility bills from an address in Jalisco (tried 4 banks). I checked on changing my address at immigration from Sonora to Jalisco – same thing, must have bills from Jalisco to do so. And using the over 30 days receipt from Hostal in GDL in addition to the other documents did not help either.

My plan is/was to get a legal MX plated vehicle, put my stuff in it and store it for a month or so while I return home (AK) for a jury duty commitment I have been postponing for over a year. When I return to MX and pick up my ‘legal’ vehicle and stuff I may find more ordinary more permanent housing (though I must say I really like renting the hostal month to month, where I meet so many interesting people coming and going).

Apparently I could return to Sonora and do all of this… but that really isn’t a reasonable option at this point since my truck is already gone and my stuff is here, and my ticket home for jury duty is already booked from here, and (above all) I want to live HERE in Jalisco when I return. I really don’t want to return without wheels and facing the same situation with the same problem – I want to solve it before I leave, so I can come back to a vehicle with all my stuff in it. FYI I am a very solid person with a stellar X-resume… I am not trying to ‘get over’ or hurt or cheat anyone… Just seems sometimes there are rules that need to be circumvented in some situations.

So… Ideas? Resources? Is there a person or place that rents or sells local utility bills for use for a day or two? (kind of just kidding, but if there was, I’d probably do it at this point!). Anyone looking for a super cheap ‘absent’ roomie so I can say I live with you for a few days while I get a car? Lol… Getting a little concerned, but I am also tenacious and figure where there is a will there must be a way. Some reasonable compensation can be considered for successful assistance.

If you can get a copy of a lease agreement where I just fill in the blanks I would be happy to say you live in one of my casitas and give you a copy of a utility bill. You need to then take that to the municipal hall in Chapala and they give you some sort of residency document which you can use to register the car.

I had pretty much the same documentation issues getting a used moto registered. The registration people would not accept the certificate from the Municipal. I ended up opening an new account at Banco Azteca (in an Elektra store), they did not require much for documentation. I took the printout of my account and registered the moto. I funded the bank account with 50 pesos and promptly withdrew the money.

Thanks to both of you for the info. And yeah, I tried going the bank account route as a means to an end for vehicle registration, but no good results there either with my plethora of 'out of state' documents (admittedly Azteca wasn't one that I tried).

So, CanuckBob... hows your schedule in the next day or two? Or when is good for you? I can do up a lease document (english and spanish version, me thinks), and a utility bill (or two) would be lovely... in fact, I might then go to TelMex with said lease and get you a month of internet for said casita (so I also have a utility in my name in Jalisco, not sure if that would get messy with my still existing Telmex account in Sonora), That is if you want it and already have a property with the DSL line in place (or want them to put one in). From what I have heard at the banks I will need a photo copy of the ID of the person whose name is on the utility bills also. And one of the banks (BANORTE) did give me a form similar to an affidavit (Carta Comprobatoria de Persona con quien vive) that can be filled out and submitted - along with a copy of a utility bill and ID. Pretty sure most MX banks have a similar document, and I have no developed preference for one over another. As I noted I am in Guadalajara, but I'll hop on a bus with my computer and documents galore and spend a day or so turning every stone that makes sense to nail this puppy hands down, no weak spots. Just tell me when is good for you! I figure we better talk about the nitty gritty details of the docs in PM. But, wow, AWESOME.

Sorry to bother you all and clutter the forums with newbee junk' but I can't seem to get PM messages to leave my "outbox"... checked the FAQ's, nothing there... what is the trick to get a PM to go to the "sent" box?

so what appeared to be a simple utility bill request has morphed into a legal lease document, a couple utility bills, maybe he'll treat himself to one with his real name on it but it will be to your benefit and then a copy of your photo ID would be helpful and although he is out of the area he can get here with bells on..... where are the posts about the conman phone calls......it might be wise to reread those.

Whoa... the helping person suggested the lease (which does help a Great deal! and could be the difference between succeed and fail)... and yeah, utility bill in someone else's name does need a picture of their ID (I was told it is so that it would help verify I didn't just get a utility bill out of someones garbage). And in my "story - book" I did not mention that ID part specifically (sorry). But Seriously, I am a 'good guy' (gal)... and am very willing to prove that to whomever engages in assisting with a situation that is just plain ridiculously silly - I mean i DO live in Jalisco, I DO have residency in Mexico, etc. etc. etc.
No conmen here, but I do not mind one bit for someone helping out to request of me whatever they feel prudent to satisfy any doubt that I am a very upstanding soul, with forthright intentions.
I do see, I suppose, where someone with ill intent might find a way to twist things about. But I don't see where this level of things would give anyone the ability to then harm the helping persons person or resources in any way. Maybe I am just naive, but truly - what could I possibly do with a utility bill and id copy (and even an offered lease (that would presumably show me owing money to them)) to harm the helping person? If anything I suppose I should decline the lease offer on fear of it being enforced... but, I suppose I am a trusting soul when the circumstances are legitimate and the persons present as equally legitimate.

Do you solajijic have a better proposed solution to the silly dilemma? Truly all advice toward resolution is welcome.

Oh, and I do still also need guidance on how to get a PM to go from "outbox" to Sentbox...
When I hit "send" it says it "sent"... but in the 'boxes' area it only shows in the outbox, not the sentbox. Whew... what would life be without challenges? :-)

It is getting late for me, took a minute to see the humor and potential irony... but obviously a helping person could/would get pictures of MY ID's (and even my utility bills from Sonora or AK if they want)--- so we'd have reciprocal ammo to use against each other if so inclined. LOL --- I don't see where they could harm me with those things any more than how I could harm them with those things.
It isn't like those things would be enough to put anything into the other persons name.

To prove residency in a rental situation you need a copy of your lease and a utility bill in the Lessor's name. Of course, before providing assistance I will be asking for official ID such as a passport.

Hi All,
Warning, this is a long post.
It took a very long time to get everything done, But it is now DONE (have a MX Plated car as of Friday 24 March 2017!). Here is the story/process I experienced for future reference for others. Note that this primarily involved changing a resident address within Mexico (from one state to another), which turned out to be much more difficult and complicated than it was to get my Residente Permanente (from one country to another). Also note the original posting in which I couldn’t seem to do ‘anything’ (not even get a storage unit in Guadalajara) without a utility bill in Jalisco. As a result of a helpful soul from the original posting I acquired a recent and original Jalisco utility bill and a rental agreement (that we ‘created’ for this purpose). I thought from research I might need to have a copy of the Util persons ID also, but it was Not needed.
The process: With the original utility bill and rental agreement I went to the Chapala Municipal Building as advised above for the letter from them showing residence. I now know that I talked to the wrong person downstairs at first and was told to return in 2 hours or so (If you just go upstairs in the first place in the morning they can direct much better and you can likely get it the same day). Since I was told to come back in 2 hours to even start that process, I had time to kill and recalled the comment from another above on how easy it was to get a bank account with util bill… so I walked next door to the bank just to see what would happen with only the utility bill and lease in hand (and my own documents, but no letter from Chapala yet)… and I was able to open a MX Bank account with a Jalisco address (!!!)- AWESOME! In fact, it was so easy that I thought it might be a fluke only so easy because I got the ‘right’ person - they didn’t care about the lease or ID from the person whose name was on the utility bill or anything. I had more time to kill, so I thought I’d test that theory… walked to the next bank and was able to open another account (and again the lease was not used or relevant). The banks were BBVA and Santander. And so, all it takes for the Jalisco address bank account (aside from the documents I already had) is a Jalisco utility bill in someone else’s name! Turns out, if you do find an original utility bill in someone’s garbage or whatever- It will do the trick for the banks! (weird but true). I then went back to the muni building, was finally correctly directed upstairs; and provided everything they needed for the letter. Since it was a bit later by then it would not be ready until the next business day (Monday). But, as you will see, the letter is not important for the things I did and in my entire process it was not used or glanced at even once by a single entity. It does cost a tiny bit (50 Pesos or something), and takes a bit of time… so for this process I don’t recommend it. Not sure when or if I will ever have use of that official letter (but I’ll be holding onto it regardless, since I have it and who knows when it might be useful).
On Monday before going back to Chapala for the letter - but with originals and copies of utility bill and bank account and my other documents (passport, Residente Permanente card, etc) - I went to the transportation department office in Guadalajara (we’ll call it DMV) to get a drivers license (apparently the office in Chapala area has been closed down). I arrived at 8:30AM (when they open), with a ‘plan’ to then go back to Chapala for the letter and return the original utility bill and lease to the ‘owner’ the same day. Plans went a bit astray; DMV would not accept the utility bill at all as residence proof because it was not in my name (and also did not care one bit about the “lease”), also at first they would not accept the bank account documents because they wanted “statements” showing transactions (movements), and, I had forgotten the part everyone tells you online about printing the CURP card ahead of time. So they sent me to the bank to get statements (most have branches very nearby, walk to get), and to get a copy of the CURP (which had its own difficulties, but those were my fault and I’ll spare you the story of that drama). Of course the bank print outs showed no real ‘movements’, since I had just opened the accounts a few days earlier…. But I got a print out from BOTH banks anyway. In the self-caused overly complicated process to get the CURP I eventually wound up at the immigration office… and went about trying to change my address there as well… since I was already there and they had a kiosk to do the form. After the wait for my number to be called they printed me the CURP (Yippee), then gave me another number to wait to be called to do the change of address with them. However, when I was called upon for that one they refused to do it, and said I had to go to the immigration office in Chapala to change the address because my ‘new address’ was in Chapala area (time wasted, but oh well). I still had an hour or so before DMV was to close – possibly enough time to make it back and finish accomplishing the license goal I had set out for that morning (please note that if I had had the CURP with me that morning a great deal of running around not even being shared here would not have been necessary).
Back at DMV, they did not accept the bank ‘statements’ they had sent me to get either, because of how fresh the accounts were (and no ‘movements’ had occurred). But - perhaps due to my obvious frustration at the time, or them remembering me from earlier, etc. a ‘higher up’ was consulted and they ended up getting approval to accept the originally available papers showing the opening of the accounts - but this was not until it was taken around and ‘decided’ upon (I just had to go make copies of those front pages then). From that point it was fast and simple! They did bring someone over for the written test for ‘translation’- who also provided unsought and unneeded strong influences to ensure the correct answers were selected. For whatever reason (my bad Spanish, my being alone, it being near closing time?, I don’t know) the ‘drivers test’ person stamped my papers without an actual driving test… and I got the license!! (note: I had a rental car with me for the ‘drivers license’ process expecting to have to do a drivers test, BUT they have and use their own ‘DMV’ vehicles for the tests, so even if you have to do the driving test, you don’t need to have a car with you!). I also asked and was repeatedly assured that with the Jalisco drivers license and my own other documents I would be able to register/buy a car (without further need of a utility bill). I very specifically asked this (but later found out the info was wrong). I left with extra copies of many things that were not used (utility bill, AK drivers license, lease, etc.)… but whatever, I had a Jalisco drivers license! It was a crazy day (don’t forget to have copy of your CURP, like everyone says!). It does not matter that your CURP number is printed on your residente permanate card… you have to have the separate sheet. This will make things MUCH MUCH faster than my ridiculous day was. Also note that there are copy machines with operators located all over the DMV building, they are cheap and fast… so it isn’t that bad when they decide they need a copy of different things than the ones you brought. Also, lines at the Guadalajara DMV are nothing like in the states… there might be folks ahead of you sometimes, but it is a pretty fast streamlined process (I know where I am from you can easily and often wait an hour or much more just to get to someone). The longest wait at the DMV offices in GDL was the final step - for the license to be printed and handed to you.
Next business day I went to the Chapala immigration office to change my address there – that was a bit of a difficult procedure- does not show on google maps, they don’t have a Kiosk at the Chapala office like they do in GDL to make any changes they decide they need on the form there (made me go elsewhere to recreate the entire form TWICE due to silly little things)… only open till 1PM… eventually got ‘er done. Then I took the original utility bill and ‘lease’ back to the helpful donor as I had been assured I wouldn’t need it anymore to get a car (and the owner was concerned it be destroyed or otherwise not kept floating about) - but I also kept a copy for the record, just because (thank goodness).
On to buying a car! The car buying (and selecting) process was overly difficult (again, I’ll take the blame for that)… so, fast forward the story of ‘hell’ about 1.5-2 weeks… onto the car I now have - major drama presented by dealer representatives because I did not have the original utility bill anymore… 4-5 people later I eventually convinced them to let me just go with them with everything I had (the Jalisco License and bank accounts and everything else, and only a Copy of the utility bill…). Went to the same building where I got the license, but a very different ‘area’… the copy of the utility bill WAS necessary… but it got done without the original!!
For more info on selecting and buying a car: used vs new, honest vs not, posted price vs final price games, fees and taxes, and other overly dramatic car buying ‘experience gained’ knowledge and frustration, feel free to ask. But this post is focused on being able to buy ANY car here and residence requirement difficulties in Jalisco.
Also, having a local drivers license has been extremely helpful in other ways, I highly recommend getting one if you can. Most important take-aways: Get Bank Account, get CURP copy printed, get drivers license, AND Keep a utility bill around! ID of the person named on the utility bill was neither required nor asked for, lease or rental agreement was never needed or used, and letter from Chapala Govt. was not used or needed.
Thanks so much again to the person who (despite inputs of potential scam or other security concerns) provided a copy of his original utility bill! I Could not move forward one inch without that wonderful thing!

Wow, that is quite the experience. I am happy everything worked out. Thanks for sharing.