This month Citibank will be charging 2%
Until this month Citibank did not charge for using a Citibank ATM in Colombia. Starting this month they will be charge on any location outside the US. 2%
[QUOTE=Gimmedub]I bank with Wachovia and typically use Davivienda ATM's to withdraw my $ - today I got 2000pesos/1US... with ATM fees included it's $1946 pesos/1US$ (I take out the max $500,000pesos)...
Now I gotta find a citi-bank ATM so I can stop getting ripped off on these international and non-wachovia banking fees.[/QUOTE]
Economic Progress & Quality Decline
[QUOTE=Juanambu]Frescas Flores prices have shot up and the quality is way down.[/QUOTE]I also have noticed a deterioration in the quality of women at the upscale places (Flores Frescas, Loutron, Lucitania, etc.) compared to several years ago. Generally, the women are less attractive currently than in the past.
Also, the "marriage agencies" in Colombia cannot attract and retain beautiful women like they did in the past either. Many agencies are bankrupt or close to bankrupt. Even some of the oldest and largest - for example TLC Worldwide - are bust. Technically, TLC is a "romance tour" operator (not a marriage agency) but they are conceptually similar enterprises.
I think that the quality decline is due more to the incredible rise in popularity of the "prepago" networks, not to Colombia's limited economic progress. Of course both are a factor, but I think that the women vastly prefer the "prepago" system because they can protect their reputations much better. A woman cannot protect her reputation at Flores Frescas or plastered as featured merchandise on the web site of a marriage agency.
If I were a beautiful Colombian woman temporarily in need of extra money and/or seeking to meet an affluent man for an ongoing relationship, I certainly would prefer the "prepago" route over the alternatives.