Aaaagh... Try to do someone a favour

[Northerner]

Apologies if this breaches forum rules, but today I am going to sound off against a Filipina I know. Not a forum member (joined a while back but never came back as far as I can tell)...

Before I flew out to the Philippines last October I offered this lady I know a chance to "send something with me to her sons". I was thinking perhaps a few cards, small gifts, letters. What she gave me amounted to a small suitcase worth of gifts and junk. It was very heavy and I was worried it would take me over my load, so much so that I left some clothes behind with the intention of buying some new clothes in Cebu. What she gave me was a package of lots of small plastic wrapped bundles of clothing items and chocolate (I could make out the dairy milk wrapper through the plastic)..

All of these packages were labelled for their intended recipient and I packed them all up, but was again requiring space..

One of the recipients died of old age, an elderly British Expat, so I left out his gift (tea bags) and took the rest over.

On my first day after meeting with Rizza I met up with this lady's son and his then girlfriend, I handed over the packages and treated everyone to a Pizza meal in Ayala.

Over the course of my time in the Philippines I spoke with this lady who told me that some of the money out of one of the packages had gone missing. this was the first I had known of these plastic bags of junk containing any money. what went missing amounted to about 1000 pesos or so.

Then before I came back to the UK I again met her son along with his brother who gave me cigarettes and a DVD player to bring over. He packed them into my suitcase and away I went (after treating them to a meal).

Upon my arrival to the UK I get pulled up by customs in Manchester Airport who seize the cigarettes I had. It seems I was way over the legal limit to bring into the UK froom a none EU state (I also bought my own but the ones given to me tipped the scales too).

And so I handed over the DVD player..

A day or so passed when this lady informed me that she was missing a memory card. So I went through my suitcase and sure enough, found a small card that had slipped behind the fabric (seeing as the customs agent had thrown everything about and opened the back zipper in the fabric).

A week or so passed when I got a long email accusing me of stealing from her. She listed the things missing as so:

# 600 cigarettes
# 1 memory card (seems there was another one)
# Money (amounting to about 1000 pesos)
# Oh and the tea....

So firstly she accused Rizza's family of stealing money from her, then she accused me. Seeing as her darling boys would never take from each other (except they are known for it!). Now she is wanting me to pay her £100 for her losses!

So now we are having a war of texts as it were. And now Rizza is asking me to pay her to shut her up..

Ok, I did leave the tea in the UK. And yes my housemates drank it.. So I guess I owe her about £2.30. But given the fact a good half or more of my luggage was her junk, I figure she can forget about me ever paying her £2.30. And the fact she now accuses me of being a thief.. Well, I pretty much tell her to kiss my each time she makes a demand..

but what annoys me is this. I could not even use the memory card as I gave my camera to Rizza. And why would I steal less money than I earn in a few hours work? And why should she think I am liable for lost cigarettes when her son gave me enough for the customs officials to take the lot?

I upgrade my phne next week and when I do I am getting rid of my existing number as I am sick of her. Blocked her on facebook, yahoo... Just got one more way to have shot of her!

[KeithD]

Sod them all

[bornatbirth]

you will learn that behind their lovely smiles they can be complete

yes, you did her a flavour and looks like she forgotten it

btw what was the tea?

[Northerner]

Oh, just a box of cheap tea bags..

[Alan]

Forget it mate. Not even worth thinking about!

Al.

[gWaPito]

It could of been worse Northerner.

It could of been drugs taken and coming back.

You could quite easily be in jail now

[Sim11UK]

Sounds like she was taking the in the first place, asking you to take a small suitcase.

What Mr. Swindon above says is true. You want to be careful doing favours, carrying unknown goods through customs.

[Northerner]

It could of been worse Northerner.

It could of been drugs taken and coming back.

You could quite easily be in jail now

Oh, when I was in the side bit at the customs office I did worry for a second as I wasn't in total control of what was in my suitcase. So, not doing that again

[triple5]

Ask her how much it would have cost with DHL Sounds like shes taking the to me.

[gWaPito]

Oh, when I was in the side bit at the customs office I did worry for a second as I wasn't in total control of what was in my suitcase. So, not doing that again

[triple5]

Oh, when I was in the side bit at the customs office I did worry for a second as I wasn't in total control of what was in my suitcase. So, not doing that again

I remember right horror stories of people getting life in the Bangkok hilton for doing somebody a favour as a courier

[gWaPito]

I remember right horror stories of people getting life in the Bangkok hilton for doing somebody a favour as a courier

I remember the film with Nicole Kidman.

[triple5]

Never seen it, but there was one of the Bridget Jones movies with a similar story, which was pretty poor as I remember, full of all the Thai cliches

[stevewool]

yep just like GaWaPito says could have been drugs cant beat a yorkshire teabag thought i would mention that

[gWaPito]

yep just like GaWaPito says could have been drugs cant beat a yorkshire teabag thought i would mention that

Good idea...I'll make one now

[stevewool]

all my ideas a good except the ones i made with my exwives

[gWaPito]

all my ideas a good except the ones i made with my exwives

We don't mention thoses!
Otherwise her indoors bans me

[Englishman2010]

It could of been worse Northerner.

It could of been drugs taken and coming back.

You could quite easily be in jail now

Absolutely, don't do anyone any favors unless you have thoroughly checked what is in the package, and only if you know them and can completely trust them.

Just think, next time if might be a lot worse and all you will be able to look forward to is being filmed for a C4 or Discovery documentary on being locked up in paradise.

[bornatbirth]

ever seen Midnight Express

[Sim11UK]

Just think, next time if might be a lot worse and all you will be able to look forward to is being filmed for a C4 or Discovery documentary on being locked up in paradise.

Yeah! 'Banged up Abroad'.

[fred]

"Did you pack these bags yourself sir"?
You obviously said yes and like others said,took a big risk..Live and learn eh!
If it were me,I`d prepare an invoice listing all my expenses and services and send it by registered mail..
I`d put this in an official looking solicitors letter(in envelope) demanding 10 days to pay.
This woman is so stupid she is liable to take it seriously..
Dont engage with these idiots face to face,by telephone,email or social networking...
Treat them with the contempt that they deserve. Idiots!

[fred]

BTW... Im not sure if anyone here knows or not but Im told that if we buy cigarettes in lets say a shopping mall and get a receipt to prove they are not from duty free we are then allowed to take them in with no real limits..
What do you reckon?

[sars_notd_virus]

Aaaagh... Try to do someone a favour

Lessons learned

[pennybarry]

I don't think she's that idiot.IHMO
If you both know that the limit is only one ream,
She may send only a ream or you may not accept it.
This is lesson to them both I think.
Poor Filipina. Speak out!
Itayo ang bandera nating Pinay!

[pennybarry]

This woman is so stupid

Treat them with the contempt that they deserve. Idiots!

Stupid and idiot are both strong and offensive words.IHMO

I thought spanish regime was over in the Philippines!

[Sim11UK]

I don't think she's that idiot.IHMO
If you both know that the limit is only one ream,
She may send only a ream or you may not accept it.
This is lesson to them both I think.
Poor Filipina. Speak out!
Itayo ang bandera nating Pinay!

Well maybe not idiot? but she has basically accused Northerner & others of being a thief, when all he was trying to do was help...It's not his fault, customs confiscated the items.

She needs to accept that & apologise.

[darren-b]

BTW... Im not sure if anyone here knows or not but Im told that if we buy cigarettes in lets say a shopping mall and get a receipt to prove they are not from duty free we are then allowed to take them in with no real limits..
What do you reckon?

Don't think so.. Where you get them from is irrelevant, it's UK duty that would need to be paid if you take them into take UK.

[Dedworth]

Stupid and idiot are both strong and offensive words.IHMO

Ungrateful halfwit would be a more accurate description

[pennybarry]

Well maybe not idiot? but she has basically accused Northerner & others of being a thief, when all he was trying to do was help...It's not his fault, customs confiscated the items.

She needs to accept that & apologise.

Yes I know Sim.
Accusing is not good. As for me, accusers are the doers!
That's why I want her to speak out.
In fairness to Sean and to herself.

Ungrateful halfwit would be a more accurate description

What I read was a sentence.
Not a slang greetings.
My apology if I read it wrong.
Some british may get used to it.
We were the same during the spanish rule.
But pity will be the british, who married idiot.
So it's up to them now.

[LEAHnew]

I don't think she's that idiot.IHMO
If you both know that the limit is only one ream,
She may send only a ream or you may not accept it.
This is lesson to them both I think.
Poor Filipina. Speak out!
Itayo ang bandera nating Pinay!

I agree to you Ate Pen...we are only hearing one side of the story but it doesn't mean I have to agree to the betchyitchy tiny weeny Filipina ( just trying to be funny) about what she told to him ( am I right using him/her and he/she)...well lesson learned to you both...Forget it and move on....

Stupid and idiot are both strong and offensive words.IHMO

I thought spanish regime was over in the Philippines!