Declaration Cards and other countries.
Apr 29th 2013 | 3:50 am
#61
Thread Starter
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,578
From: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
As much as your official capacity might provide a lot of authority over the public, you're an inconvenience in the way of getting to a destination from the travellers perspective. When I meet someone in customer service, I'd like to think they're going to be friendly and polite, not humourless and with a chip on their shoulder. What time you had to get up to get to work is irrelevant. Treat your customers with some dignity and grace - so what if you've heard a line 1000 times before? Suck it up and be professional.
See its all about YOU and how inconvenient it is to YOU. CBSA is not exactly customer service is it? We have a job to do. We give you the information and what to do and how to do it but YOU the public either cant be arsed or feel too important to be helping with the process.Is it really difficult to write your home address on a card unless you are homeless
People come up to the booths with the card half filled out why is that?
Yes those who cant read English or French or write we can accept and we help them. So if you have managed to half fill out the card then what is your excuse for not filling in the rest. Not answering questions causes delays so is that our fault?
So instead of being perceived smart arses why don't YOU the travelling public accept we have a job to do so answer the questions and fill in the forms correctly and in turn you can suck it up so to speak.
Apr 29th 2013 | 3:56 am
#62
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
I expected nothing less See its all about YOU and how inconvenient it is to YOU. CBSA is not exactly customer service is it? We have a job to do. We give you the information and what to do and how to do it but YOU the public either cant be arsed or feel too important to be helping with the process.
Is it really difficult to write your home address on a card unless you are homeless
People come up to the booths with the card half filled out why is that?
Yes those who cant read English or French or write we can accept and we help them. So if you have managed to half fill out the card then what is your excuse for not filling in the rest. Not answering questions causes delays so is that our fault?
So instead of being perceived smart arses why don't YOU the travelling public accept we have a job to do so answer the questions and fill in the forms correctly and in turn you can suck it up so to speak.
See its all about YOU and how inconvenient it is to YOU. CBSA is not exactly customer service is it? We have a job to do. We give you the information and what to do and how to do it but YOU the public either cant be arsed or feel too important to be helping with the process.Is it really difficult to write your home address on a card unless you are homeless
People come up to the booths with the card half filled out why is that?
Yes those who cant read English or French or write we can accept and we help them. So if you have managed to half fill out the card then what is your excuse for not filling in the rest. Not answering questions causes delays so is that our fault?
So instead of being perceived smart arses why don't YOU the travelling public accept we have a job to do so answer the questions and fill in the forms correctly and in turn you can suck it up so to speak.
Look, this is quite simple and how it works in most places around the world. Have nothing to declare / stuff to declare exits and be done with it.
Apr 29th 2013 | 3:57 am
#63
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,005
From: TBD
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
I expected nothing less See its all about YOU and how inconvenient it is to YOU. CBSA is not exactly customer service is it? We have a job to do. We give you the information and what to do and how to do it but YOU the public either cant be arsed or feel too important to be helping with the process.
Is it really difficult to write your home address on a card unless you are homeless
People come up to the booths with the card half filled out why is that?
Yes those who cant read English or French or write we can accept and we help them. So if you have managed to half fill out the card then what is your excuse for not filling in the rest. Not answering questions causes delays so is that our fault?
So instead of being perceived smart arses why don't YOU the travelling public accept we have a job to do so answer the questions and fill in the forms correctly and in turn you can suck it up so to speak.
See its all about YOU and how inconvenient it is to YOU. CBSA is not exactly customer service is it? We have a job to do. We give you the information and what to do and how to do it but YOU the public either cant be arsed or feel too important to be helping with the process.Is it really difficult to write your home address on a card unless you are homeless
People come up to the booths with the card half filled out why is that?
Yes those who cant read English or French or write we can accept and we help them. So if you have managed to half fill out the card then what is your excuse for not filling in the rest. Not answering questions causes delays so is that our fault?
So instead of being perceived smart arses why don't YOU the travelling public accept we have a job to do so answer the questions and fill in the forms correctly and in turn you can suck it up so to speak.
Apr 29th 2013 | 3:59 am
#64
Thread Starter
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,578
From: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
We have to pay you regardless of whether you unfold the card or not. I bet you've never clocked off a shift leaving passengers waiting because you had to spend so much time unfolding the E311.
Arriving at Primary in Calgary one time, my E311 was tucked inside my passport. The IO extracted the E311, looked at it, then gave it back to me and told me to tear off the instructions bit. Guess that was too hard for him to do.
Arriving at Primary in Calgary one time, my E311 was tucked inside my passport. The IO extracted the E311, looked at it, then gave it back to me and told me to tear off the instructions bit. Guess that was too hard for him to do.
God I love these threads and all the assumptions about me that follow.
The process would go much smoother if we all did our bit and helped each other out.
The declaration cards have been around for at least 20 years and no immediate plans that I know of in the future to get rid of them.
Because we operate 24/7 365 any unfinished work can be passed onto someone else in some cases.
Apr 29th 2013 | 4:06 am
#65
Thread Starter
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,578
From: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
I've always filled in the paperwork and followed instruction. Never had an interaction with CBSA that's been anything better than officious. Like it or not, you deal with the public, so you're a public servant, and in a public service role. If some of your colleagues got their collective heads out of their asses the sentiment in this thread might be different. Can't be a coincidence that so many individuals have little regard for the interaction and process they encounter, can it?
You have commented on the Admin Refusal when flag poling and how you get grief but many on here and I know of quite a few not on this site who have never had any problems entering the US after being given an Admin Refusal.
Strange eh.
Anyway its a process that we have to deal with so lets all try to get along.
Apr 29th 2013 | 4:12 am
#66
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 10,000
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
I have noticed that you seem to have had several problems with both CBSA and CBP officers when crossing the border as noted in other threads. Perhaps you are just hitting the wrong officers but god forbid I suggest that it might be your attitude towards them that is the common denominator and why you have problems.
You have commented on the Admin Refusal when flag poling and how you get grief but many on here and I know of quite a few not on this site who have never had any problems entering the US after being given an Admin Refusal.
Strange eh.
Anyway its a process that we have to deal with so lets all try to get along.
You have commented on the Admin Refusal when flag poling and how you get grief but many on here and I know of quite a few not on this site who have never had any problems entering the US after being given an Admin Refusal.
Strange eh.
Anyway its a process that we have to deal with so lets all try to get along.
CBSA are pretty much always unpleasant and officious. Other countries not so, including the USA.
Apr 29th 2013 | 4:13 am
#67
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,005
From: TBD
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
I have noticed that you seem to have had several problems with both CBSA and CBP officers when crossing the border as noted in other threads. Perhaps you are just hitting the wrong officers but god forbid I suggest that it might be your attitude towards them that is the common denominator and why you have problems.
You have commented on the Admin Refusal when flag poling and how you get grief but many on here and I know of quite a few not on this site who have never had any problems entering the US after being given an Admin Refusal.
Strange eh.
Anyway its a process that we have to deal with so lets all try to get along.
You have commented on the Admin Refusal when flag poling and how you get grief but many on here and I know of quite a few not on this site who have never had any problems entering the US after being given an Admin Refusal.
Strange eh.
Anyway its a process that we have to deal with so lets all try to get along.
Apr 29th 2013 | 4:26 am
#68
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 30,259
From: Europe (to be specified).
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
When I have a day where its a lets piss the public off and Im working at the exit collecting those dreaded cards and wearing latex gloves thereby protecting my hands from the gob, snot and other items on the card it goes something like this.
Hi declaration card please.
The officer kept it
No I think you will find they gave it you back
No they kept it
By this time the line up is getting longer and the passenger more frustrated.
No the officer gave it you back.
At this time I have the choice of telling them to move off to the side or if really wanting to piss them off keep them in line.
Have you checked all of your pockets and bags?
Now waits for passenger to search his/her pockets and the dreaded black hole commonly known as the handbag.
With my 23 yrs of experience Im 99% certain they folded up and put it inside their passport but Im not going to reveal that tidbit just yet.
By this time the line is getting impatient and the traveller is now swearing.
No I haven't ****ing got it your officer ****ing kept it.
Where is your passport I ask?
Now searches for passport
Produces passport and hands it to me.
I open the passport and low and behold there is the declaration card neatly folded up contrary to the request in RED letters on the card saying DO NOT FOLD.
I then unfold it and say "See the officer gave it back to you"
Traveller swears and storms off in a huff followed by that well known Canadian phrase " HAVE A NICE DAY"
And so it begins again
Hi declaration card please.
Hi declaration card please.
The officer kept it
No I think you will find they gave it you back
No they kept it
By this time the line up is getting longer and the passenger more frustrated.
No the officer gave it you back.
At this time I have the choice of telling them to move off to the side or if really wanting to piss them off keep them in line.
Have you checked all of your pockets and bags?
Now waits for passenger to search his/her pockets and the dreaded black hole commonly known as the handbag.
With my 23 yrs of experience Im 99% certain they folded up and put it inside their passport but Im not going to reveal that tidbit just yet.
By this time the line is getting impatient and the traveller is now swearing.
No I haven't ****ing got it your officer ****ing kept it.
Where is your passport I ask?
Now searches for passport
Produces passport and hands it to me.
I open the passport and low and behold there is the declaration card neatly folded up contrary to the request in RED letters on the card saying DO NOT FOLD.
I then unfold it and say "See the officer gave it back to you"
Traveller swears and storms off in a huff followed by that well known Canadian phrase " HAVE A NICE DAY"
And so it begins again
Hi declaration card please.
Apr 29th 2013 | 4:28 am
#69
Thread Starter
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,578
From: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
But you are making no effort are you? From your posts on here you make sarky comments to travellers, don't help them when you can, think it is their fault that you got the bum shift to work and don't consider yourself to be in customer relations even though you deal with the public.
CBSA are pretty much always unpleasant and officious. Other countries not so, including the USA.
CBSA are pretty much always unpleasant and officious. Other countries not so, including the USA.
Here is some food for thought. The vast majority of complaints CBSA receive in writing are from Canadian citizens. Admittedly some are justified but a lot are complaints because they had to be officially dealt with be it not declaring items that are either prohibited, controlled or restricted.
So why didnt they declare those extra 4 cartons of smokes or extra bottles of booze.?
Now you dont have to take my word for it but I deal mainly with foreign nationals. How come they very rarely complain or in most cases actually commend me on the way I treat them.
As I am the only CBSA officer I know of on this site who posts in all of the Canadian sub forums I expect a bit of good natured banter and ribbing and the odd time the nasty comment. I accept this and in return give it back.
Maybe you dont like it and thats ok with me. There again being helpful on the Immigration forum is not one of my strong points either.
Apr 29th 2013 | 4:34 am
#70
Thread Starter
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,578
From: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
Yes the Agency is working to make things smoother such as NEXUS, FAST, CANPASS, ABC machines, Traveller Self Declaration Cards.
Its the small minority that spoil it for the majority as certain people do not wish to comply with the regulations. So travellers who dont declare $100,000 watches should they not be dealt with. BTW in this incident they used one of the ABC machines in Vancouver.
Apr 29th 2013 | 4:35 am
#71
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,005
From: TBD
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
Im on the internet FFS if you really think I display this attitude at work you are sadly mistaken. No Im not in customer relations Im considered to be a Peace Officer as stated in the Criminal Code of Canada in other words I work in Law Enforcement.
Here is some food for thought .
Here is some food for thought .
When you're representing your profession online you are in a customer/public relations capacity. If you don't think customer relations are relevant to your job, just as they are for the police, armed forces etc etc, its no wonder you get negativity.
Apr 29th 2013 | 4:42 am
#72
Magnificently Withering
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,908
From: Oakville, ON
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
While I think the E311 form thingies are a dead waste of time (if its only use, beyond what a green/red lane system would achieve, is to provide data for StatsCan then it seems a stupidly wasteful way of collecting that data), the more fundamental stupidity for me is the size and shape of the cards.
"Do not fold this card" it says. Out of some bizarre attempt to be civil to the CBSA droids (sorry, FL, but your colleagues are, by and large, a sullen and uncommunicative bunch) I do try not to hold it in my mouth. But it's too big to fit easily in a pocket, and quite awkward to grasp between fingers.
On my way through YYZ last Tuesday, I was walking with the aid of a cane, recovering from a broken leg. With a carryon bag in one hand, a laptop case over my shoulder, and the stupid form stuffed between the last two fingers of the hand holding the walking stick, it might not have been beyond the bounds of possibility for the CBSA inspector to reach forward and take the thing from me. But no, he sat there glumly while I balanced the stick against my other arm so that I could present the card to his barely-proffered hand, with not even a flicker of a glance of thanks or acknowledgement of any kind. Twunt.
"Do not fold this card" it says. Out of some bizarre attempt to be civil to the CBSA droids (sorry, FL, but your colleagues are, by and large, a sullen and uncommunicative bunch) I do try not to hold it in my mouth. But it's too big to fit easily in a pocket, and quite awkward to grasp between fingers.
On my way through YYZ last Tuesday, I was walking with the aid of a cane, recovering from a broken leg. With a carryon bag in one hand, a laptop case over my shoulder, and the stupid form stuffed between the last two fingers of the hand holding the walking stick, it might not have been beyond the bounds of possibility for the CBSA inspector to reach forward and take the thing from me. But no, he sat there glumly while I balanced the stick against my other arm so that I could present the card to his barely-proffered hand, with not even a flicker of a glance of thanks or acknowledgement of any kind. Twunt.
Apr 29th 2013 | 4:44 am
#73
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 30,259
From: Europe (to be specified).
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
Very true. There again when I have had to set my alarm clock at 2.30 am to be in work for 4am or earlier then I might also be tired and not at my jovial best frame of mind. When you are the 100th passenger who is now saying to me
Ola dos cevesas por favor then this quickly gets old so expect to be sent to secondary for further examination
So when we have our bit of fun and humour you dont like it but when you do it we are expected to take it in our stride. Funny how that works eh.
Perhaps we should all take a deep breath and sing a few choruses of kumbaya and we will all get on.
Ola dos cevesas por favor then this quickly gets old so expect to be sent to secondary for further examination
So when we have our bit of fun and humour you dont like it but when you do it we are expected to take it in our stride. Funny how that works eh.
Perhaps we should all take a deep breath and sing a few choruses of kumbaya and we will all get on.
Apr 29th 2013 | 4:48 am
#74
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 40,070
From: Ontario
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
Apr 29th 2013 | 4:48 am
#75
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 10,000
Re: Declaration Cards and other countries.
Im on the internet FFS if you really think I display this attitude at work you are sadly mistaken. No Im not in customer relations Im considered to be a Peace Officer as stated in the Criminal Code of Canada in other words I work in Law Enforcement.
Here is some food for thought. The vast majority of complaints CBSA receive in writing are from Canadian citizens. Admittedly some are justified but a lot are complaints because they had to be officially dealt with be it not declaring items that are either prohibited, controlled or restricted.
So why didnt they declare those extra 4 cartons of smokes or extra bottles of booze.?
Now you dont have to take my word for it but I deal mainly with foreign nationals. How come they very rarely complain or in most cases actually commend me on the way I treat them.
As I am the only CBSA officer I know of on this site who posts in all of the Canadian sub forums I expect a bit of good natured banter and ribbing and the odd time the nasty comment. I accept this and in return give it back.
Maybe you dont like it and thats ok with me. There again being helpful on the Immigration forum is not one of my strong points either.
Here is some food for thought. The vast majority of complaints CBSA receive in writing are from Canadian citizens. Admittedly some are justified but a lot are complaints because they had to be officially dealt with be it not declaring items that are either prohibited, controlled or restricted.
So why didnt they declare those extra 4 cartons of smokes or extra bottles of booze.?
Now you dont have to take my word for it but I deal mainly with foreign nationals. How come they very rarely complain or in most cases actually commend me on the way I treat them.
As I am the only CBSA officer I know of on this site who posts in all of the Canadian sub forums I expect a bit of good natured banter and ribbing and the odd time the nasty comment. I accept this and in return give it back.
Maybe you dont like it and thats ok with me. There again being helpful on the Immigration forum is not one of my strong points either.
I note you did not reply to my earlier comments. Don't you think you need to make an effort to help people or is it all one way?
