Government Scams

[m_bisson]

Well, it sure seems like the people with the power are constantly abusing what they have, forcing society to suck it up and pay a pretty penny. What examples of this have you seen?

One that affects me personally, and is ass-backward, is the security guard licensing. It's $80 a year for a security guard license. Similar to the cost of having a vehicle licensed ($74). Recently, the government thought it would be a good idea to start TESTING security guards annually. The test is $60 + HST. The book to study from (similar to the driving handbook for beginner drivers) is about $50 or more depending on where you get it from. If you fail the test you must pay to re-write it, and if you do not pass then you are not allowed to renew your security guard license. So, it's $150 a year for an industry where the majority of workers make minimum wage.

The justification for this is as follows: "The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services is committed to professionalizing the private security industry and increasing public safety by ensuring that practitioners are fully qualified to provide security guard and private investigator services."

The money goes to a private company, NOT the government. :bang What the ****?!?! I'm basically being FORCED to be a consumer of the company that does the testing in order to have a job. I make about $16/hour as a part-time guard, which is great considering I'm a full-time student. But I often ask myself "why am I putting up with this crap?"

Wouldn't it make more sense to test drivers more often instead of once in a lifetime? I think having safer drivers on the road would increase public safety a whole lot more than making sure security guards are familiar with the Trespass to Property Act (which is the same as it was when it first came out). :loco

Please, share your own hideous stories of the government abusing you.

[Pokey]

They government says that I MUST pay car insurance - to a private company. The rates are not monitored by anyone and the private company can set them as high as they wish. Whatever the rate, I MUST pay it.

[rukus]

The rates are not monitored by anyone and the private company can set them as high as they wish. Whatever the rate, I MUST pay it.

i dont want to get fully into it, but insurance companies are one of the most heavily regulated businesses, and set not by the businessmen, but by actuarial analysts.

for more info on how they work and how your rates are set read here (http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum/showthread.php?65033-I-help-set-rates-for-a-Major-Canadian-Insurance-Company!-Some-thoughts-.-.-.) and here (http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum/showthread.php?102242-Insurance-Questions-Answered-A-Claim-Adjuster-s-Perspective)

i hate ins. co's as much as the next person. they screwed me repeatedly during a major claim from a motorcycle accident. but if you're going to bitch about the costs, at least read up on how it works.

[Pokey]

^^ ok sounds regulated, BUT if they try to make 10% profit and the profit is calculated after expenses, if expenses rise, so must the rates. Insurance companies have some of the nicest buildings, best health plans, gyms etc for their employees. This is all in the "expenses" column - expenses which I pay for. If they want to upgrade their pool, they are able to show that expenses went up therefore we are looking at a premium increase.... Maybe it's not quite like this, but from an outsiders point of view that's how I see it.

http://www.johnhancock.com/resources/images/pages/about/thumb_innovative_structure.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Manulife_Plaza.JPG/450px-Manulife_Plaza.JPG

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/2851139365_e0c8db1aa3.jpg

[iconicrocket]

As far as I know....

Manulife doesn't do P&C insurance. They do life insurance and health insurance...

And rates for auto insurance are regulated, insurance has to apply to the government of Ontario to have their rates increases approved. Rates have to be approved.

http://www.fsco.gov.on.ca/English/insurance/auto/rates/q3-2010.asp?view=print

[ovie8]

^^ ok sounds regulated, BUT if they try to make 10% profit and the profit is calculated after expenses, if expenses rise, so must the rates. Insurance companies have some of the nicest buildings, best health plans, gyms etc for their employees. This is all in the "expenses" column - expenses which I pay for. If they want to upgrade their pool, they are able to show that expenses went up therefore we are looking at a premium increase.... Maybe it's not quite like this, but from an outsiders point of view that's how I see it.
[/IMG]

The fundamental interest in insurance companies is really in investments. Insurance is their main source of cash flow to make these investments like buying nice buildings. When you get into the mechanics of accounting, expenses are segmented.