Medellin Reports

[Haxagonus]

Yea basically any profile you find only with a decent looking girl is probably fake. They are just trying to lure you in so that then they can give you all the girls that are actually available.

They're using photos of girls who used to to work in their agency years ago and probably moved on to tithes things but because she looks good and generates a lot of leads they just use her pictures as the poster girl for the agency and when you actually hit them up one of the girls pretends to be the poster girl and right when they give you the address to call the Uber and the Uber is on it's way they say oh by the way we played you and this is actually the girl that's showing up.

If they ask for 350 mil and for the taxi money in advanced you already know the deal. I tell them oh I don't have a way to send you money for taxis but I can get you Uber and there's like ok then you're paying 410 k in total. I'm like I'm not dumb I live right next you to and the taxi there. And back should be max 20 k.

In the end, Medellin online is just filled mostly with a bunch of scammers. Why? Because there's gringo money now and all the good looking girls said f you to the agencies and the agencies are only left with ugly girls so they have to scam in order to even get close to making what they used to make with actually decent looking girls.

Oh and the girls don’t know about this either. It’s management doing this. I went one time and it was at a spa. they tried the switxheroo when i got there and i was like im
not hsving it and showed the girl the profile and she was like confused because it linked to her number. she called management and they were doing a "domiciilio". yea right that girl probably doesnt exist.

[Huacho]

Now it is possible that you can sneak girls in but I don't like to play that game.

Exactly. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Foreigners won't have a leg to stand on in these situations.

[Surfer500]

Something very annoying that you learn living here is there isn't much organized customer service. Colombia businesses and government are very good at presenting an image of organized procedures and regulations but the reality is you can ask five employees and officials a question and get five different answers. It's especially bad with the banks. My advice is to seek a second or third opinion until you find an informed and motivated employee. The answer you described sounds to me like an employee who said what she thought would get you to go away quickly. I'm sorry this has been such a pain in the neck but I'm confident you will be able to get it resolved.

Yep, I had an issue with Claro regarding Internet service and what I was being charged monthly.

The first person I talked with said they could not lower what I was paying for Internet service and this was after I had posed as a new customer and the rate quoted was lower.

I was told they couldn't lower the price to match what new customers were paying.

So I demanded to speak with her boss and presented my case, and her boss immediately lowered the price to match what new customers were paying.

What you have brought up is correct, there's no consistency to things at many places of business, and I think especially for foreigners, they just want to blow you off.

When I called for the employees boss, she was not a happy camper about this, especially when her boss lowered the price.

And upon leaving and getting it in writing as to what was promised, I told the Supervisor that her employee who tried to blow me off that she was an excellent business woman trying to increase company profits.

[Vern2020]

I'm staying very near the estadio metro stop. Any good short time motel recommendations? Thanks.

[Villainy]

Don't trust the ATMs at the MDE airport. Twice I've had my Schwab card canceled mid-trip because of attempted fraud after I used the ATM at the airport. Since then I've made the habit of always keeping enough COP with me when I leave Colombia to get me back into town and to a more secure ATM when I return.

This might not apply to you, who knows. But Schwab says that if you are traveling abroad it is a good idea to set a travel notice. It will lessen the chance of a transaction being declined because of potential fraud. Now this should not apply to withdrawing from an ATM but it might. When I first started coming to Medellin I religiously set the travel notice to avoid any potential problems. It takes a few minutes and who knows how much time it will have saved you if you have a problem while you are out of country.

[Knowledge]

Maybe you experienced the impact of recess week. It ends today. Colombian schools and universities have an annual vacation this week. It's basically similar to the European summer school holidays and the North American Spring Break.

Wtf is up with online? I messaged a bunch of girls most don't respond. When they do respond they respond I try to confirm the time or the place they don't respond.

I had two girls tell me send me the money for the taxi and I'm like no I will send you the Uber paid. They either don't respond or charge me 60 k for taxis. I live right next to this girl BTW. I legit went to her spot for another girl and it was 7 k from my spot.

I went to see the only girl that would actually confirm that I could go there and they bait and switch me with another girl. And then they do the usual o sorry she's not here she's doing a domicilio I can show you the only other girl that is here I'm like whatever this better be the hottest girl I've ever seen because I'm not tolerating this garbageass service. Girl is also ugly. That's why they're don't get picked. Hire better girls. So I leave.

Wtf is happening? Can I get a decent girl to show up and or respond? Wtf.

[Knowledge]

Another tip is to always travel with a backup card, preferably from a second account. It can save your vacation.

Haven't had your experience, but one tip for foreign travel with any card. Try to make your FIRST transaction a card insert with pin, NOT a 'tap to pay'. The higher security insert with pin will validate the card and you as being there (knowing the pin), thus marking you and the card as in-country. If your first transaction is a tap-to-pay (like buying a coffee before the ATM) then you may get flagged as potential fraud. Since they can only validate the card and not yourself, then a generated security call may not reach or ring you out-of-country (since you 'just' arrived, cell phone company may not be forwarding calls properly yet), and your card will get disabled. Using an ATM (even the one right by the exit) with your PIN will count as a card insert with pin. With this approach even my local credit union ATM card has worked reliably in Colombia and many other countries (including Morocco).

[Combo]

The foreigner from the USA and a Colombian National were held hostage at the home in Las Palmas where they were kept since Friday October 6th by the criminal group Los Pachelly from Bello. The victims were tortured, gave up code for the safe, the valuables were taken from the home, while held hostage at home, other members of the criminal organization went out and emptied bank accounts over the days.

https://www.elcolombiano.com/antioqu...lin-PF22637080

We are targets. Best advice is to always keep a low profile.

[MoonShot]

I've been reading the forum a little obsessively.

I looked at AirBnB, but some say "no sex tourism" some say nothing, so I'm not sure if saying nothing means OK. Some say 24 security guards.

Thanks for the help.

You should always message the host and remove all doubt. Saying nothing doesn't mean ok. You don't have to mention girls. You just have to ask about the guest policy and they are more than happy to tell you what they allow. The hosts are very good in getting back to you. There are many great Abnbs that I do not stay at because they do not allow guests or they only allow one registered guest for the whole stay. Now it is possible that you can sneak girls in but I don't like to play that game.

[Fun Luvr]

Something very annoying that you learn living here is there isn't much organized customer service. Colombia businesses and government are very good at presenting an image of organized procedures and regulations but the reality is you can ask five employees and officials a question and get five different answers. It's especially bad with the banks. My advice is to seek a second or third opinion until you find an informed and motivated employee. The answer you described sounds to me like an employee who said what she thought would get you to go away quickly.

I agree with your evaluation of customer service. Last month, I had to buy a new cell phone in Medellin (previous phone's battery got pregnant). I bought the phone at Ktronix. I asked the sales lady if they could register the phone. She told me no, that I needed to go to Claro, which is the carrier I use. The lady at Claro told me they could not register it until 20 days after I purchased it. I knew that didn't sound right, but there was nothing else I could do at the Claro store. I then went to the Mi Claro app and finally got it to accept my passport number. I was able to register the phone through the app the day after I purchased it. I also learned on the Claro site that the phone may be locked after 21 days of when usage starts. I still can't get the Mi Claro app to accept my credit card, so I can't add data through the app.

Another tidbit of information. If you use Symantec VIP authentication with your Schwab account, it will not work if you change phones, even though it transfers all the information in the app to the new phone. You need to call Schwab to register the new phone with the app.

[JohnnieCash]

The foreigner from the USA and a Colombian National were held hostage at the home in Las Palmas where they were kept since Friday October 6th by the criminal group Los Pachelly from Bello. The victims were tortured, gave up code for the safe, the valuables were taken from the home, while held hostage at home, other members of the criminal organization went out and emptied bank accounts over the days.

https://www.elcolombiano.com/antioqu...lin-PF22637080

[Knowledge]

Those guys pass by my apartment. It seems like the group gets bigger every year.

Anyone gone on the unofficial moto ride around Medellin on Halloween. Where everyone dresses up and tricks out their bikes?

I'd love to go this year.

[Knowledge]

That really is excellent advice. Another option is uber or didi. You can pay them by credit card via the apps. There is free wifi at the airport.

Excellent advise, I always forget about that Davivienda ATM on the 2nd floor. This will save you the extra $5 the ATM at the immigration exist charges as an additional fee. Goes without saying, always remember to DECLINE their conversion, let your own bank do the conversion.

[Knowledge]

Those aren't terrible rates for an airport exchange booth. The ATMs will always give better rates.

Airport BOG.

USD exchange rates.

4200 to buy.

4000 to sell.

Hooters.

The had at least 3 games on plus the chicas were nice eye candy.

[Carrib]

Airport BOG.

USD exchange rates.

4200 to buy.

4000 to sell.

Hooters.

The had at least 3 games on plus the chicas were nice eye candy.