Medellin Reports

The country's public sector is behind in technology. I've had occasion to deal with private sector technology in Colombia and the difference is striking. Multinational companies that operate here are at international standards. I suspect the public sector problems are due to extreme technology debt, as in grossly insufficient financial investment. Ironically, over the past few years the Antioquia government has been heavily promoting the Valle de Aburra as "technology valley. " It's laughable. I know for sure the technology deficits in the financial services industry here are intentional. It's for the same reason there are so many hoops to jump through for basic financial transactions like opening a bank account or leasing an apartment. The government heavily restricts technical innovations so it can maintain the control it needs to prevent narcos taking over more of the country. Narcos have virtually unlimited financial resources but their ability to leverage them is hampered by how difficult it is to make electronic transactions. Think about the multiple questions you have to answer to pay for something with a credit card. The last time anyone asked me in North America, Europe or Asia whether my card transaction is credit or debit was during the 1990's if not longer ago. Here it's every transaction, along with whether you want to include a tip. Restaurant servers perform a ceremony in which they present the check and wait for you to study and approve it before they input the total, as if the charge can't be voided and re-entered if something is disovered later. You get used to it but it can be tiresome.

[QUOTE=Vitrea;2739155]That is soooo true. I wonder why Colombian (and Mexican also) tech resources are so terrible. It is 2022. Nothing fucking works. Check-mig is just a Database collecting site. A high schooler could write the code. Bancolombia to Viva air to utilities to car registration to credit card systems (to do business) all are terrible. Anyone know why? Lack of talent in tech?[/QUOTE]

Has anyone stayed there? Is it worth the price?

I know the building is girl friendly, as long as ID is provided, but are there any restrictions or extra fees?

How is the lobby bar / restaurant? Gym?

Always wanted to check it out, but I usually visit MDE for extended periods of time, so prefer more affordable options. Next time will go down there for only a few days and want to splurge on a nicer apartment.

I agree the Bancolombia app is a big improvement over the website. The website is also now better than it used to be but I would not describe it as good. I discovered something about the Bancolombia app that I'm surprised hasn't come up for me before. I had to change my account PIN when I got a new phone. I didn't realize that app uses a mobile token. It makes sense in the context of the government's heavy emphasis on monitoring and controlling even the smallest financial transactions. We have to register our mobile phones so the app is restricted for use on one phone at a time per user.

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2739216]I'm not a computer or tech guy by any means, but I suspect part of the problem, which I've haven't heard mentioned yet, is that there are issues when someone uses the "English" version of the websites. A perfect example is why the United States is often listed as "Estados Unidos" instead of the United States, with my point being, that there are probably more glitches using the translated version of the websites versus the Spanish versions.

Also on a side note, I have a Bancolombia account, and in the past have had lots of problems associated with logging in, and getting locked out, and having to contact them to get back in. However over the last few years they seem to have gotten their act together, as their online banking seems on par with my accounts in the USA. I know that may sound suspect, but that has just been my most recent experience with them. They have an App for your phone, it's not in English, and I know enough Spanish to use it on my phone, and it works great. However I recall trying to do some online banking via my computer and recall trying to do something in the English version, and there were problems. Hence I suspect there is a "translation" issue associated with all these glitches.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Knowledge;2739016]I'm not one to defend the government but to be fair I must say checkmig is one of the better functioning government web resources. Count your blessings you don't have to deal with the tax, immigration, or bank web sites. You never know what will happen after you make a keystroke.[/QUOTE]If that's a better functioning website, I feel for the rest. It has worked for me 2 out of 8 times to come into Colombia. I just expect to show the screen that it says I have already entered my info and to argue with the check-in people at the airport.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2739282]Yep. Had problems for over 1 year now. Have tried to use different cards and different accounts to no avail. So I have just been having the chick I am with order it and pay cash.[/QUOTE]Seems it may be a situation in which Colombia based companies don't accept international credit cards online. I have tried two clothing stores and Claro. The clothing stores state upfront that international credit cards are not accepted. Claro goes through the complete transaction, but I don't receive the data package nor is my credit card charged.

[QUOTE=FunLuvr;2739377]Seems it may be a situation in which Colombia based companies don't accept international credit cards online. I have tried two clothing stores and Claro. The clothing stores state upfront that international credit cards are not accepted. Claro goes through the complete transaction, but I don't receive the data package nor is my credit card charged.[/QUOTE]I had the same issue online with Claro, big waste of time. I know now to just go to the store and I'm done in 5 minutes.

For the guys who post FB pics of themselves arriving in Medellin, use the FB Stories feature. There are two main advantages.

The likes you get are private to you and not shown to other people. It also expires in 24 hours. Chicas know this and are more likely to send a reaction when they can avoid advertising themselves as putas to your other friends.

You also see the chicas that view your story so you know they're active. It doesn't mean they're interested in seeing you but at least you know they're using FB actively. It can help you filter your hit list on the first few days.

[QUOTE=FunLuvr;2739377]Seems it may be a situation in which Colombia based companies don't accept international credit cards online. I have tried two clothing stores and Claro. The clothing stores state upfront that international credit cards are not accepted. Claro goes through the complete transaction, but I don't receive the data package nor is my credit card charged.[/QUOTE]You know one of the motives for not accepting international cards? Its bcos of chargebacks. Foreigners can raise chargebacks for the slightest problem and their banks are willing to initiate a refund for the slightest inconvenience, even when the purchaser is clearly in the wrong. As a merchant processor, I am very used to that. But Colombian card holderrs do not get the same protection and are unable to make the same chargebacks bcos VISA and MC do not offer the cardholder the same protection in Colombia. So foreign cardholders pose a much greater risk to a Colombian merchant.

Am sure there are other reasons, but this is one.

I don't think it's about chargebacks because those same companies that don't accept foreign charge cards online will accept them when they are presented in person. In my experience the larger retailers like Grupo Exito and Homecenter accept international charge cards online as well as in person. Telecommunications and utilities like Claro, Tigo, and EPM don't accept my foreign charge cards online but I have no problem using them in person. Tigo has kiosks in its locations that I use if I happen to be near one when my bill is due. Mostly I use a Colombian card to pay online. I avoid the EPM office like the plague.

[QUOTE=JustTK;2739431]You know one of the motives for not accepting international cards? Its bcos of chargebacks. Foreigners can raise chargebacks for the slightest problem and their banks are willing to initiate a refund for the slightest inconvenience, even when the purchaser is clearly in the wrong. As a merchant processor, I am very used to that. But Colombian card holderrs do not get the same protection and are unable to make the same chargebacks bcos VISA and MC do not offer the cardholder the same protection in Colombia. So foreign cardholders pose a much greater risk to a Colombian merchant.

Am sure there are other reasons, but this is one.[/QUOTE]

I have no problem with a foreign credit card on Rappi. I don't think I've ever used my Colombian cards on it. On the other hand, I had to hustle to Premium Plaza to buy concert tickets in person after the tuboleta web site rejected my foreign card over and over again. In person there was no problem paying with my foreign card. It was a pain in the neck because I had to change my plans for the so I could get the tickets before they sold out.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2739282]Yep. Had problems for over 1 year now. Have tried to use different cards and different accounts to no avail. So I have just been having the chick I am with order it and pay cash.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Havana927;2739255]Question.

Any one of have issues, using your card on the Rappi app, order keeps getting canceled because of verifying card crap.[/QUOTE]Try pay via Apple Pay or Google Pay and you don't need to register it with Rappi. I am not sure about the availability of Google Pay.

Hi guys,

So I was reading the last 25 pages in the last couple of hours and I'm trying to understand something, without much success. Maybe I should read more pages but I'm not so optimistic that I'll find my answers.

I'm reading a lot of reports about hooking up with FB girls, and I'm struggling to understand how do you guys know who to contact? And even if you do, are you using your real FB account or some fake account you've created just for this?

I really want to visit Medellin some day (and that could be as early as next month. Still trying to decide if I want Thailand or Colombia), and I'm really into meeting local girls in my hotel. Preferably for what they call in Thailand a LT session. I also have Tinder if that helps.

Any advice for a newbie like me?

Thanks 🙏.

My advice is to write the word "facebook" in the search field at the top of this page. There is a great deal of specific information and instructions. If you use the search feature it will filter out content that does not reference facebook.

[QUOTE=RomRich;2739501]Hi guys,

So I was reading the last 25 pages in the last couple of hours and I'm trying to understand something, without much success. Maybe I should read more pages but I'm not so optimistic that I'll find my answers.

I'm reading a lot of reports about hooking up with FB girls, and I'm struggling to understand how do you guys know who to contact? And even if you do, are you using your real FB account or some fake account you've created just for this?

I really want to visit Medellin some day (and that could be as early as next month. Still trying to decide if I want Thailand or Colombia), and I'm really into meeting local girls in my hotel. Preferably for what they call in Thailand a LT session. I also have Tinder if that helps..[/QUOTE]

Be advised that sort of content shows up on the facebook pages of other people in the "people you may know" category and in stories reels. Which other people? Anyone you may or may not know personally that facebook's algorithms target based on interactions with any kind of facebook or non facebook content anywhere on the Internet that you may have had in common. Facebook's tracking persists even when you are not logged in. So, for example, if you search for long term parking for your local airport that can be a bridge across which content from your "secret" facebook account finds its way to people from your home town.

[QUOTE=Tasss;2739414]For the guys who post FB pics of themselves arriving in Medellin, use the FB Stories feature. There are two main advantages.

The likes you get are private to you and not shown to other people. It also expires in 24 hours. Chicas know this and are more likely to send a reaction when they can avoid advertising themselves as putas to your other friends.

You also see the chicas that view your story so you know they're active. It doesn't mean they're interested in seeing you but at least you know they're using FB actively. It can help you filter your hit list on the first few days.[/QUOTE]

Barranquilla? At any rate, a flight would be my choice.

[QUOTE=Member#2001;2739174]Anyone here interested in a road trip to venesula let me know. WIll be leaving the 7th ot 8th from barrenqua figure stay there for about a week. I heard its mellowed out a bit. Pm me.[/QUOTE]