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Jeez, what a freakin nightmare. Hang in there and let us know how you are doing. mobunny

Sandra,

I haven't read the whole thread, only parts of it and I think you'd better come to a settlement with the golf cart company. Do you have travel insurance? Claim it!

The problem you are facing is that a dispute over BZ$ 5,000 has to go to the Supreme court in Belize (not the Magistrate's court in San Pedro). Now the Supreme court is years behind in its cases, so the earliest your case will be done is probably in 1 to 3 years - with smart lawyers it can take 5 years or more. I guess you don't want to extend your stay here that long.

As a foreigner having a dispute with a Belizean entity, it is the court's obligation to make sure that either party can fulfill the debts that are being claimed. When you leave the country you are out of the jurisdiction of the Belize court and then you might decide not to come back.

The only way you will be allowed to leave the country is when you put up a Security of Funds for the amount claimed plus the legal costs the other party may incur when you loose. On top of that you have to pay for your lawyer and I don't think they will start a Supreme court case with a deposit lower than US$ 5,000.

This system is not unique to Belize, in fact I think any country (including the USA) has similar protections in place for their citizens.

Don't take my word for it - I am not a lawyer, nor a specialist - ask an attorney. Keep in mind that whatever the Police tells you is worth near to nothing, as the Judge has to make a final decision (and that can take years).

An other idea is to contact the Belize Tourism Board; they can make a quick decision and their judgment weighs heavily as they are part of the Government, in charge of Tourism. Always keep in mind though, that if the golf cart company insists it can still put the ruling of the BTB aside and go to court.

Short

I agree that BTB might be your best bet at this time.

Since renting a golf cart and bouncing around San Pedro (literally) is part of the charm I WILL be reading the rental
policy very closely. We have never read it, not sure we got one,
just signed away our CC and bumped on down the road..actually
up the road to Captain Morgans.
Anyone have a copy of a Golf cart rental agreement??..different policies for different rentals I suppose. Planned on booking on a cart line for the end of this month Perhaps I should wait to see the out come with Sandra..I have a feeling all golf Cart policies may change...

???booking a cart line........OMG..!!!
get excited just thinking about coming there
THAT was "booking a cart on line".

Oh Sandra_rx, I am so sorry to hear about what you're going through.

Hope the US Embassy and your lawyer can help you greatly on this especially as I know you want to get home to your little one.

For clarification I would like to say that with my previous post I am not choosing the side of the rental company; I am just trying to give some practical advice and explain the way our courts work.

As for the company Island Tours Golf Cart Rentals: I would also urge them to settle quickly for a realistic amount (a new golf cart doesn't cost that much), as they are severely damaging tourism here with their stupid actions. No matter what the other side of the story is, the damage can never be that much.

Sandra, you have my sympathy and support!

Short

Sandra,

I am so sorry that this happened to you and your party. I wish you the best of luck, PRN and a postive outcome.

Short,

Thanks for an insight that I didn't think of.

MODS,

Thanks for not sweeping this under the rug and deleting the posts.

Island Tours, Island Grocery, et al

I'm sure that there are 3 sides to the story, us, them and what really happened. I am sure, like many others would like to hear your side.

Please remember that it takes a WHOLE lot of $$$ to over come negative publicity, and I hope you are sure of your story.

Sandra- how did everything go in court? were you able to get any pics from our trip on tues? if not I will send you some of mine.
I hope everthing went better for you after we saw you at the chicken drop.
email me if you want or PM me here

RNdiver (kristine)

Sandra-rx, I believe short is referring to 'giving security for costs'. Normally, the Defendant would move the court to order the Plaintiff to give such security for costs, as the Plaintiff must take the Defendant as he finds him financially. Perhaps if Sandra were to move the court to order the golfcart company to deposit such security in the amount of the disputed charge, and stay the proceeding until such time as the security $ was tendered to the court, the case would be withdrawn by the golf cart company. I'm not a lawyer, but I've lived in Belize. Good luck to you.