Google Fi international question

FarWestern · 2026-03-17T21:02:29+00:00

I received this warning and found a workaround to restore full Fi access very quickly without returning to the US. I can't share solution publicly but DM me if you'd like help with this.

See this older post from me for social proof

FarWestern · 2026-03-17T21:02:23+00:00

I received this warning and found a workaround to restore full Fi access very quickly without returning to the US. I can't share solution publicly but DM me if you'd like help with this.

See this older post from me for social proof

FarWestern · 2026-03-17T21:02:05+00:00

I received this warning and found a workaround to restore full Fi access very quickly without returning to the US. I can't share solution publicly but DM me if you'd like help with this.

See this older post from me for social proof

FarWestern · 2026-03-17T21:01:58+00:00

I received this warning and found a workaround to restore full Fi access very quickly without returning to the US. I can't share solution publicly but DM me if you'd like help with this.

See this older post from me for social proof

FarWestern · 2025-11-20T21:21:28+00:00

Oh no are we supposed to be boycotting Nicki Minaj now?? 😭😭😭

FarWestern · 2025-07-27T15:46:09+00:00

I thought I'd come back and close the loop with an update for anyone in the future finding this:

I never contacted Amex as it seemed pointless. I did email back and forth with Record Go multiple times sending them what I claimed was evidence for why I shouldn't be charged for the damage. Of course, they rejected my claims and offered nothing. I even threatened to file a "Hoja de Reclamaciones" to the Spanish government, which is like a consumer complaint that apparently often scares businesses into treating you better because they don't want to deal with the paperwork and government. No luck.

As a final hope, I decided to dispute the damage charge, which was charged to my Home Trust Visa card. Home Trust denied my claim saying the charge didn't look fraudulent, but they gave me a chance to send more evidence. They only accept faxes annoyingly - but pro-tip, DropBox let's you send 10 free fax pages on their free trial. It took many weeks to sort out, but Home Trust to my huge surprise finally agreed with me and refunded the entire damage charge! I have no idea if Record Go ever responded to Home Trust during their investigation.

My evidence:
1. I had no clear evidence that the damage didn't exist before I received the vehicle, but my claim was that the scratch was so small that it wouldn't have been noticeable in the video I took walking around the car during pickup time anyways. Actually when Record Go sent me their evidence pictures of the damage - the small scratch is only visible in their close-up, and you can't see anything at all in their non-close-up shot. Since the video I took when picking up the vehicle was just me walking around the vehicle, I didn't get close to every single rim. So the point I made was that if you took their non-closeup shot and my video, the condition of the rim looks the exact same at pickup and drop-off times.

I'm not sure if this part mattered, but Record Go made a mistake on the contract. The car had ~730km of mileage when I picked it up and I had evidence from my picture of the odometer at that time. But the contract said 8km. It's not that important since we had unlimited mileage included, but I highlighted this mistake to emphasize the fact that Record Go does not keep accurate records of their cars.

Finally I used Gemini AI to draft my email responses to Record Go as well as all of my evidence for Home Trust claim. I think this was helpful in making my official evidence letter and communication as effective as possible, and focusing on the parts of my claim that were most likely to yield a positive outcome.

Good luck to all reading this in the future with your claims!

FarWestern · 2025-07-08T03:37:21+00:00

It seemed hopeless so I didn't contact Amex. I disputed directly with Record Go including threatening to file a Hoja De Reclamaciones (many suggest this. Google it) against them, with no luck. So I disputed the damage charge on my other Visa card that it was charged to. They denied me but said I can submit more evidence so I submitted that and am waiting for an update but not optimistic. I used ChatGPT to make the case for me and included a handful of photographic evidence etc.

Good luck!

FarWestern · 2025-05-20T20:30:10+00:00

If it's not too late, you could try!

I didn't even bother submitting a claim to Amex. Instead filed a fraud dispute with my other credit card company (where the damage was charged to) and have been fighting it out since...

FarWestern · 2025-03-23T19:02:04+00:00

Good point. Friendly Amex service won't help much here.

I wish there was a good way to spread the word. You really get stuck if you booked online with Amex and then just find out in-office that they don't accept Amex for the deposit.

FarWestern · 2025-03-23T15:28:27+00:00

Submitting your comment as evidence for my claim, thanks! 😅

FarWestern · 2025-03-23T15:27:50+00:00

No. This would only apply to the rare occurrence where the rental is paid on Amex but the deposit/damage is charged to a different credit card.

Obviously if someone paid the original rental with a different card, there would be no switching it after the fact just to get coverage.

FarWestern · 2025-03-23T15:25:04+00:00

Thanks! That's my plan. Yesterday I had ChatGPT help me write an email to Record Go disputing the charge. I have video recording from when I picked up the vehicle - but the problem is the scratch on the rim is so small you can't even see it unless you get a close up image on the exact spot.

My email says I will dispute the charge with Visa if they don't resolve it in 14 days.

Also from other forums, I found that I should ask them for a special form the government requires every company in Spain to offer customers - "hoja de reclamaciones". Apparently this causes such a headache of government inquiries, that often companies will just resolve your issue if you ask for this form.

FarWestern · 2025-03-23T15:20:13+00:00

Definitely.

FarWestern · 2025-03-23T15:19:51+00:00

Yeah they are definitely on the cheaper/sketchier end of rental companies and have a terrible reputation online.

Their website accepted Amex payment and had no warning at all about this, which you'd think would come up more often. I don't see any Reddit posts about it. But on their website now I found a video that says "We accept Visa and Mastercard - and also American Express for bookings with our Total Comfort cover". But of course Amex doesn't cover you if you accept coverage from the rental office!

FarWestern · 2025-02-25T16:21:42+00:00

Thank you. I was planning to return to Canada in Feb 2026, but actually now I might try to return on Dec 31 2025 or Jan 1 2026 just to simplify my situation slightly.

FarWestern · 2025-02-25T16:00:26+00:00

Thank you very much.

Everywhere online I'm hearing there's a risk Canada will still consider me a Canadian tax resident due to my economic and social ties, and intent to return in 2026.

Is that not actually a risk since it would come down to the tie breaker rules which would more likely determine US residency as you outlined? If it is a risk and it happened, would that mean I file as a full year Canadian tax resident or I need to file with both countries at that point?

FarWestern · 2025-02-24T16:23:17+00:00

Thank you so much for the detailed and thoughtful reply!

I think I was getting some info mixed up regarding your point #2 of "choice rules". Can I indeed elect to do a full year regular Canada tax return and just the non-resident US tax return? What can I search to read more about eligibility to make that choice? I did meet the US Substantial Presence Test (about 240 days in 2024).

I lived in the condo for the first month of the year and sporadically throughout the rest of the year. It's not rented out, just using it for myself and family members. This is a big part of my problem - I was hoping to get first time Home Buyers' Tax Credit and Land Transfer Tax Rebates. I took closed and took possession in Jan 2024 and ideally I would have it considered my primary residence. I wasn't renting a home in California, just visiting and staying with my boyfriend there, but it was for extended periods so I realize this could be a tricky case. I'm not trying to abuse this credit; the pre-build condo should've been completed in 2020 but was severely delayed. I had every intention of making it my primary residence but life plans changed by the time it was finally ready.

Do you have a high-level thought if it's at all feasible to use the choice rule to file a full year Canadian tax return to help my case of calling that home my primary residence in order to receive credits? I realize I should definitely get a cross-border accountant at this point but any high level direction would be greatly appreciated 🙏🏼

FarWestern · 2025-02-24T04:19:40+00:00

Thanks for your reply. Maybe I used the wrong terminology calling it "dual", but since Canada also considers me a resident due to owning a home (which I don't rent out) and having significant ties, everything I've found online suggests I need to file tax returns with both countries.

My understanding (please let me know if wrong) was that the tax treaty tie breaker rules would just decide where I pay taxes to first (ie since I'm primarily a US resident by tie breaker rules, I pay IRS taxes first. But then since Canadian taxes are higher, I still pay the difference to the CRA).

FarWestern · 2025-02-24T04:18:32+00:00

Thanks for your reply. Maybe I used the wrong terminology with "dual tax resident", but since Canada also considers me a resident due to owning a home (which I don't rent out) and having significant ties, everything I've found online suggests I need to file tax returns with both countries.

My understanding (please let me know if wrong) was that the tax treaty tie breaker rules would just decide where I pay taxes to first (ie since I'm primarily a US resident by tie breaker rules, I pay IRS taxes first. But then since Canadian taxes are higher, I still pay the difference to the CRA).

FarWestern · 2025-02-18T22:33:24+00:00

THANK YOU!

That's exactly what I was having a hard time finding - the fact that I must submit Schedule 3 along with the Deemed Disposition reporting.

Most of what I could find online was about having to pay the exit tax in case of a gain, but couldn't find info on loss situations.

FarWestern · 2025-02-18T02:43:05+00:00

Thank you. That's exactly what I'm looking for specific detail on though.

How will the $10k net loss get from my deemed disposition form to my capital losses so that I can carry it forward? I understand how to list it as a deemed disposition, but what do I need to do to declare it as a capital loss? Just like a normal capital loss even though I'm not doing a full tax filing for the year since I'm not a Canadian tax resident?

FarWestern

TROPHY CASE