The Political Asylum

BlueEmperor · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:27 pm Post subject:

It's tempting to dismiss it as paranoia but, in these uncertain times, it's hard to argue against it. The online registration lasts you for two years, which seems quite reasonable really.

B.E.
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The doctor is in!

SilverMiniCooperS · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 195

I agree with Blue - many will view it as bureaucracy run amok, but on the other hand....

I think the three day requirement is pushing it though. I just can't see them being able to fully screen applicants in that short time. There is something I don't quite understand though. I could have sworn that Klaus' sister, Traudel, had to get a visa last time she came here four years ago.

kitchenwitch · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject:

Merak · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 214

Vintage Girl · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:14 am Post subject:

I'm sure you're right Merak. They'll see it as one more opportunity to turn a fast buck.
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Merak · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 214

another rip off with tour operators is charging a percentage of the total holiday cost when you do it online by card. We'd something like an Â£80 charge slapped on ours last year cause I paid it by VISA. I rang them as well and asked them what that's about - a transaction is a transaction, it doesn't cost anymore to process a transaction for Â£1000 than one for Â£100, so why isn't there a flat fee of a couple of quid? They said that that was the amt VISA charged them... so I spoke to VISA via email who said that was rubbish cause VISA wasn't charging them anything. I meant to send the dets of that to the OFT and never got round to it in the end. It's a disgrace though!

Vintage Girl · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:19 pm Post subject:

I have to say that when I looked into the possibility of being able to accept credit cards for my small business VISA did charge the merchant 2% on every transaction and you had to rent the machine.

It was a few years ago mind you so whether it's changed now I don't know.
_________________
Girls are like phones. We love to be held and talked to, but if you press the wrong button you'll be disconnected!

SilverMiniCooperS · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 195

Years ago, all the credit card companies charged the merchant for the privilege of accepting their cards. American Express were the worst. They also would charge you according to how long you were willing to wait for your money. The longer you could wait, the less the charge.

Mpls Druid · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:38 am Post subject:

That's dispicable!

Merak · Inmate of the Asylum Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 214

Maybe VISA told me a porkie cause they definately said it wasn't the case. Even if they are charging, something odd is going on cause on some sites you pay a flat charge of £3 or whatever for paying by credit card, yet on that tour operator site we used we got charged £80. Something definately not right about that. Even if you look at ryanair or easyjet sites, it's a flat fee for credit card transactions, and they're the biggest money grabbing sods in town, so if it really was 2% of the transaction value that VISA charged, I'm pretty sure ryan air and the like would be ensuring the customer picks up the tab and not them. Confused