Residency Permits and Traveling

[skidoo]

Hey, I've just gotten notice from my real estate agent who have told me that because I left Beijing during Chinese New Year I have to pay a fine (225 yuan). I have a residency permit sort of, I guess like 'staying with a friend' because I'm not allowed to be staying where I am (I'm not sure if it is because I am a foreigner, I thought they could live anywhere, or because I may be living in a faculty dorm). This sounds pretty suspicious, are they just shaking me down? I've never heard of having to pay to leave where you are registered.

any enlightenment on the law here would be appreciated.

[roddy]

Sounds like a complete con to me - any 'fines' that have to be paid for leaving Beijing (and there aren't any) would come to you through the PSB, not a real estate company. Ask for a clearer explanation of what it is you are being asked to pay for, and who will be issuing the official receipt.

Edit: Perhaps this might happen if you register at the local police station (as you should) and then fail to inform them after you return from a trip - but I've never heard of this happening and would be extremely sceptical.

Edit Edit: If anything they should pay you to leave. Far too many people here already.

[liuzhou]

I have a residency permit sort of

means what exactly? You either have one or not.

Apart from that, what Roddy says.

[trevelyan]

what roddy and skidoo said.

if they mention it again, i'd just ask them to give you a formal invoice stating the amount of the fine and the basis for it and stamp it with their company stamp. i'd also go and register with the PSB -- the temporary resident permit they give you is needed to do things like turn over visas in-country.

[Jonny Wang]

This has to be a complete scam!!!

From my own experience, the police don't really give a poo if you are even registered or not.

In my past apartment, I wasn't registered, and the police showed up one day just delivering some notice to watch out for bike thieves in the neighborhood or something. I thought, "Oh shoot!" when I opened the door to see the police there. The guy acted tough, asked me if I was registered to live there, etc. I told him no, and he gave me his phone number and said to have my landlord to call him immediately. I was a bit scared my landlord or I were in for a big fine. Well, I tried to get my landlord to call them and he kept making up excuses, so eventually I just let it drop. I ended up living there another 6 months and never heard from or saw the police again.

In my current apartment, we registered when we moved in, because I needed that to get my F visa renewed in-country. We payed the rental tax as we had previously agreed with our landlord (5% of rent I think) and got the registration. After 6 months, I think, we got a notice stuck on our door by the police saying it was time to pay the rental tax again. I went to the police station one time to pay it and they said they were resting right then and that I would need to come back another time. So, of course, I just never went back to pay the tax. And again, I've never heard from the police since then.

They also tell you that any foreign guests that come stay with you have to register w/in 24 hours, etc, etc, blah, blah, blah.

I'm sure it's true that these are the laws, but they are a legacy from the "fear foreigners" and "do anything you can to rip-off foreigners" days that most people seem to ignore now.

Bottom line is, the police don't have any idea where you were for Chinese New Year and don't care, either. They're too busy reading the newspaper.

Maybe you can tell your agent that you'll pay the fine as soon as he produces documentation proving where you were during Chinese New Year. Ha!

[self-taught-mba]

Definitely a scam. The statement contradicts itself.

How can you "not be allowed to live there" while concurrently receiving a fine for having left there?

Roddy is too nice; I would ask that agent for little bit more than clarification . . .

[roddy]

I'd ask for the clarification then get nasty.

A good thing to do in this situation (assuming it is an attempt to cheat you out of a few hundred yuan) is to lead them on a bit . . .

You: Oh, I've been fined.

Them: Yes, I'm afraid so.

You: Oh, that's terrible, I had no idea.

Them: Well, it's not a big problem, but if you could just . . .

You: But I feel really bad about breaking the law . . .

Them: Well, obviously you shouldn't do that, but if you could just . . .

You: No,it's a really serious thing, I know . . .

Them: Well it's not that bad, but if you could just . . .

You: I'll need to go down to the police station and apologise in person, and obviously I'll tell them how helpful you were in offering to collect the fine for them . . .

For my money though, it sounds like your living circumstances are a bit odd, and I'll guess it turns out this is some random charge whoever responsible for your accomodation has dreamt up.

[self-taught-mba]

I'd ask for the clarification then get nasty.

No no, you don't understand. I mean something almost like what you just said. One could really have some fun with them.

Good point though: getting nasty too early = not good (especially if we are all wrong). But if it is what it seems. . . well that is attempted theft and I don't take too kindly to that either. I think fraudsters are disrespecting you as a person and a human being when they do these things. I have absolutely no love for those kind of people. (My grandparents neighbors who treated me like their own grandchild and maybe the nicest people I ever met, were scammed before. They were very elderly. So sad.) Scammers prey on the weak or naive and to me that is just dispicable. If someone is a poor street vendor sometimes I let them overcharge me a little. Or someone in dire circumstances may be more forgiveable (not excuseable). However, I'm guessing that the real estate agent is not in such dire need.

Sorry a lot of ranting today. Stress--lots of it. Ok off my soapbox I come...

Either way I think OP should have a friend and or recorder on him when this goes down.

[gougou]

Stress--lots of it.

You have pressure! I have pressure!

Sorry, couldn't resist...