110 CultureShock! Chile
or utility office. Payment can be made either by cheque or
in cash. You can also instruct your bank to deduct utility
charges directly from your current account. Paying on-line has
caught on in Chile, making bill paying much more convenient.
Payment by mail is rare.Cheques and Credit Cards
Many Chileans make all purchases with a cheque. Laws against
writing bad cheques are very strict and it is considered a
serious offence. Therefore, cheques are accepted everywhere,
i.e., stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc., provided that you
show your carnet or passport. People normally write their
carnet and telephone number on the back of the cheques
they issue, to facilitate the transaction.
A cheque cruzado (showing two parallel lines drawn on
the front) cannot be cashed, it can only be deposited. A
cheque a fecha is a cheque with a future date. There is no
obligation to wait until then to cash it or deposit it, but the
system is generally honoured so these cheques can be used
as credit or as collateral. A cheque al día has the current
date so that it can be immediately cashed or deposited.
Crossing out the words al portador (to the bearer) printed
on the front of cheques, makes it a cheque nominativo, that
is, only the original bearer can cash it. A chirimoyo is slang
for a bad cheque.
Credit cards are widely accepted, although your carnet
or passport number will be requested. Debit cards are also
widely used.EMERGENCIES
Crime
Crime in Santiago is similar to that in any other major city.
Pickpockets are a problem, particularly in the downtown
area, especially if you look like an easy target, i.e., a lost
tourist. You should not stroll through downtown after dark,
particularly near the Plaza de Armas, which can become
quite seedy at night. Being alert and knowing where you
are can help you protect yourself. A few years back, the