Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=Oterri;2842536]Not true. I was in Colombia for less than a week and my both phones got blocked. And just today I already got a message from Tigo regarding my phone blockage. It has been just 4 days.

How do register with your passport. Can you please explain?[/QUOTE]That makes you an exception too. LOL. I try not too be too assertive on these things as my only goal is to share information. If I said it otherwise, someone may jump out and start another debate which I try to avoid as it is useless in my view.

The only way I have done it is take my passport to a company store to have them register it. There are other ways to register it like via a link that was mentioned but I have never received a link or done it.

[QUOTE=Oterri;2842536]Not true. I was in Colombia for less than a week and my both phones got blocked. And just today I already got a message from Tigo regarding my phone blockage. It has been just 4 days.

How do register with your passport. Can you please explain?[/QUOTE]This is for Claro.

You need to go to an OFFICIAL Claro company store, such as the one inside the Andino Mall. You need your passport (or a copy), and the salesperson will register your passport with the SIM on their computer. Then you go to the cashier and pay for a package. It is then official.

Warning: if you go to an unofficial store or corner kiosk, and if you buy and use a SIM, it is not official. I had a bad experience once. I mistakenly thought a phone store was an official Claro office. The MFer salesperson lied to me; he BSed something like that the passports were invalid. He wanted to sell me his phones for sale with a preloaded SIM. I'm assuming it would have worked since he would have made a profit on the phone. I mistakenly bought a SIM from him (of course I was overcharged). I loaded it, but only Social Media worked. No minutes or data. I was told by Claro that the SIM was "unauthorized". Be careful if you go to an unofficial store.

It seems the SIM has to be registered to someone. Either your passport at the official Claro store, or a SIM from the street that is registered to a local; but that can be dangerous since that person can cancel / change.

Some people here are reporting that their phones gets locked when using an unauthorized SIM. Don't really understand that. Of course the phone company (such as Claro) can lock you out of their system, but can they lock your phone with ALL phone carriers, including inside the US? Don't know.

Either register your SIM legally, or get the SIM from a person you can trust 100%.

Note: you can get a legal SIM when you exit El Dorado Airport baggage area; it's right in front. But price is more than triple for maybe one third the data. It is priced in US dollars, so obviously it's a rip-off. But it might be worth the convenience for some.

I am not a techie. I know that internet connections in Colombia can be bad at times. But why not just use Whatsapp? It is free and ready to go as soon as the plane lands. I believe nearly 95% of people and businesses use it. What is the huge advantage of having a local sim? I assume 15% less problems with connections. I do not speak Spanish. But texting has worked out fine for me and you can make calls with Whatsapp. I am getting laid just fine without a sim so please list a few big advantages of having a local sim?

[QUOTE=GreenBud;2842586]This is for Claro.

You need to go to an OFFICIAL Claro company store, such as the one inside the Andino Mall. You need your passport (or a copy), and the salesperson will register your passport with the SIM on their computer. Then you go to the cashier and pay for a package. It is then official.

Warning: if you go to an unofficial store or corner kiosk, and if you buy and use a SIM, it is not official. I had a bad experience once. I mistakenly thought a phone store was an official Claro office. The MFer salesperson lied to me; he BSed something like that the passports were invalid. He wanted to sell me his phones for sale with a preloaded SIM. I'm assuming it would have worked since he would have made a profit on the phone. I mistakenly bought a SIM from him (of course I was overcharged). I loaded it, but only Social Media worked. No minutes or data. I was told by Claro that the SIM was "unauthorized". Be careful if you go to an unofficial store.

It seems the SIM has to be registered to someone. Either your passport at the official Claro store, or a SIM from the street that is registered to a local; but that can be dangerous since that person can cancel / change.

Some people here are reporting that their phones gets locked when using an unauthorized SIM. Don't really understand that. Of course the phone company (such as Claro) can lock you out of their system, but can they lock your phone with ALL phone carriers, including inside the US? Don't know.

Either register your SIM legally, or get the SIM from a person you can trust 100%.

Note: you can get a legal SIM when you exit El Dorado Airport baggage area; it's right in front. But price is more than triple for maybe one third the data. It is priced in US dollars, so obviously it's a rip-off. But it might be worth the convenience for some.[/QUOTE]It is an agency of the government of Colombia that locks phones that have not been properly registered in the country. The lock only applies when you are in Colombia, but to all the carriers there. And it is based on the phone itself, not any particular SIM (the IMEI). You have a couple of weeks or more to complete the registration, but if you do not register is by their deadline your phone will be blocked even if you have already left the country. In other words, you might have only been there for a week, but they send out a text message and if you do not respond the phone gets blocked anyway, which you find out the next time you visit the country and try to get a SIM from anyone.

And the resellers of SIMS might be perfectly good people, and that would be fine if your phone was already legally in the country, but until it is registered as a legal phone in the country by going through the process of registering it, you can buy SIM cards from whoever you want and they will not work once you have been blocked.

[QUOTE=Zeos1;2842613]It is an agency of the government of Colombia that locks phones that have not been properly registered in the country. The lock only applies when you are in Colombia, but to all the carriers there. And it is based on the phone itself, not any particular SIM (the IMEI). You have a couple of weeks or more to complete the registration, but if you do not register is by their deadline your phone will be blocked even if you have already left the country. In other words, you might have only been there for a week, but they send out a text message and if you do not respond the phone gets blocked anyway, which you find out the next time you visit the country and try to get a SIM from anyone.

And the resellers of SIMS might be perfectly good people, and that would be fine if your phone was already legally in the country, but until it is registered as a legal phone in the country by going through the process of registering it, you can buy SIM cards from whoever you want and they will not work once you have been blocked.[/QUOTE]The takeaway from all this phone discussion as far as I see it is for a someone who won't be in Colombia for much time is to obtain International service if your carrier offers it and use your USA phone if that is where your from.

A Colombian phone and number unfortunately will not work if you have apps that may require secondary verification in instances where they only do it by text, hence you may have some difficult situations, as an example with some USA banks they will not send texts to an overseas number such as when there is an issue with your ATM cards.

My advice to those here for short periods of time is not to bother with a Colombian phone.

I know someone who needed information from Social Security while in Colombia and could not obtain it as it required two step verification, but they only offered it by text to his number and not by E mail, so he had a problem to resolve.

I'm sure there are some work arounds for this for the tech savy, but some just are not tech savy.

[QUOTE=LoveItHere;2842605]I am not a techie. I know that internet connections in Colombia can be bad at times. But why not just use Whatsapp? It is free and ready to go as soon as the plane lands. I believe nearly 95% of people and businesses use it. What is the huge advantage of having a local sim? I assume 15% less problems with connections. I do not speak Spanish. But texting has worked out fine for me and you can make calls with Whatsapp. I am getting laid just fine without a sim so please list a few big advantages of having a local sim?[/QUOTE]For me it is 2 things. Mde is a big city, I am often in cabs or rideshares enroute to elsewhere & I need to make plans, advise of lateness, seek dates for the morning etc. Etc. , this is impossible unless I am on a local network.

2) often I am in a restaurant or bar or store etc. Etc. & I need to go outside to meet the ride. Wifi aint workin in the street! I have lost rides because they were around the corner or something & we could not connect.

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2842620]The takeaway from all this phone discussion as far as I see it is for a someone who won't be in Colombia for much time is to obtain International service if your carrier offers it and use your USA phone if that is where your from.

A Colombian phone and number unfortunately will not work if you have apps that may require secondary verification in instances where they only do it by text, hence you may have some difficult situations, as an example with some USA banks they will not send texts to an overseas number such as when there is an issue with your ATM cards.

My advice to those here for short periods of time is not to bother with a Colombian phone.

I know someone who needed information from Social Security while in Colombia and could not obtain it as it required two step verification, but they only offered it by text to his number and not by E mail, so he had a problem to resolve.

I'm sure there are some work arounds for this for the tech savy, but some just are not tech savy.[/QUOTE]My carrier in north america has free texting to most countries. So I have my phone with me, I get texts, even without any expensive international roaming add-ONS. So I can get my two step authentication texts. I have a second phone, or a phone that takes dual SIMs, and use my Colombian number for calls and business in Colombia. OR, if your carrier offers a reasonably priced international plan go with that. Mine does not, hence the second phone and local SIM option.

My buddy and I decided to head out to Fase Dos last night around 11 pm. Like all places, it can be hit or miss you just got to go and check it out. Some nights you hit the jackpot and it is brimming with talent, but other nights, it sucks, with just older ugly hags playing with their phones. As we entered we scoped out the talent and sat at the bar. About 20-25 girls, but nothing that reall caught our eye. We were about to get up and leave when two hotties came bouncing through the front door, apparently late for their shift. We were going to stay a little while longer. They head to the back and change, and 20 minutes later come out hand in hand with glittery miniskirts and heels, giggling and smiling. Ohhhh my God. We quickly waved them over before anyone else swooped in on them. Daniela, a 19 yr old slender all natural beauty with that beautiful silky smooth long black hair cascading down her back and Ana, another spinner, 20 yr old, blonde with sparkling eyes and the face of an angel with smooth beautiful skin. They were from Manrique and had only been working a week. Conversation was good and full of energy and we as we always do with new girls let them know that we live here in Medellin in laureles, that quickly establishes that we are not gringo tourists here on vacation only for a week and then gone. We have no time pressure to force an expensive, unfulfilling sex act in the back while they are working. We told them we had to bolt, got their Wpp numbers and set up a double date for them to come over Saturday night and we would cook for them and have some drinks. Looks like we just added two fresh new girls to the roster. Que chimba es medellin!

[QUOTE=LoveItHere;2842605]please list a few big advantages of having a local sim?[/QUOTE]Since many of business, online sellers and services (putas included) won't list the prices it's prudent to inquire from a Colombian number (Can't know a price of a damn pizza without going through whole whatsapp conversation, ffs. Well, at least they are responsive most of the time).

In general though, no advantages of randos knowing you're a gringo / tourist as far as I can tell.

[QUOTE=JohnnieCash;2842361]
It might surprise you but a lot people do not mind living the way they do, e. G. There is a lot of improvement they could do with some effort but they don't, because they simply don't care. It's only you that couldn't imagine living in such conditions. Same with hot water. Not a big deal.

Some people that have never been poor and seem to think these people live in constant state of suffering while in fact many if not most of them actually lead a happier more relaxed and socially fulfilling life than many rich folks. Especially when everyone around them is in similar situation more or less. Poor but happy.

There are exceptions of course but in most cases money will be spent on 6th pair of shoes, clothes and other throwables, plus a big screen TV repayment. 1 kg of rice is 5 mil COP in exito.

Money saved on hookers better give to a real charity, all the starving and homeless children fed already? Although whom to help is always a moral dilemma.

Besides, posters writing about the free sex here are mostly after 'she's with me for me not for the money' thing. I'm sure they spend on their GF plenty indirectly, just don't like to be charged by the hour.[/QUOTE]What about Venezuelan refugees that have to other way to earn than working as a hooker to feed their family. I'm sure you think they can choose to go flip some burger or something else instead right?

- To the original poster: Did you forget where you are posting? If you read the forum long enough, you probably realize you posted in the wrong place.

[QUOTE=Zeos1;2842697]My carrier in north america has free texting to most countries. So I have my phone with me, I get texts, even without any expensive international roaming add-ONS. So I can get my two step authentication texts. I have a second phone, or a phone that takes dual SIMs, and use my Colombian number for calls and business in Colombia. OR, if your carrier offers a reasonably priced international plan go with that. Mine does not, hence the second phone and local SIM option.[/QUOTE]Whose the carrier?

I personally have Verizon with an International Plan so total normal, just like in the States and no issues and no need for a Colombian smart phone, however I do have a Colombian burner phone for ventures around the City.

So many horror stories in the past on this board about lost / stolen phones and the headaches they cause which I don't want.

There are at least a few people who are significantly more than $1,000 in debt. Assuming someone you have that amount would use it to pay down their debt, and this is a big assumption, that person would be closer to square one. Which further assumes the person would not run up yet more debt.

[QUOTE=JohnnieCash;2842361]More like for a week.

It might surprise you but a lot people do not mind living the way they do, e. G. There is a lot of improvement they could do with some effort but they don't, because they simply don't care. It's only you that couldn't imagine living in such conditions. Same with hot water. Not a big deal.

Some people that have never been poor and seem to think these people live in constant state of suffering while in fact many if not most of them actually lead a happier more relaxed and socially fulfilling life than many rich folks. Especially when everyone around them is in similar situation more or less. Poor but happy.

There are exceptions of course but in most cases money will be spent on 6th pair of shoes, clothes and other throwables, plus a big screen TV repayment. 1 kg of rice is 5 mil COP in exito.

Money saved on hookers better give to a real charity, all the starving and homeless children fed already? Although whom to help is always a moral dilemma.

Besides, posters writing about the free sex here are mostly after 'she's with me for me not for the money' thing. I'm sure they spend on their GF plenty indirectly, just don't like to be charged by the hour.[/QUOTE]

At&t and t-mobile offer account plans that include international roaming data at no additional cost. I recommend you get one even if you already have a Colombia number. It covers you in a pinch if your Colombia service provider has an outage or your account is out of data. It of course also covers you if you travel somewhere other than Colombia.

[QUOTE=Shemp;2842641]For me it is 2 things. Mde is a big city, I am often in cabs or rideshares enroute to elsewhere & I need to make plans, advise of lateness, seek dates for the morning etc. Etc. , this is impossible unless I am on a local network.

2) often I am in a restaurant or bar or store etc. Etc. & I need to go outside to meet the ride. Wifi aint workin in the street! I have lost rides because they were around the corner or something & we could not connect.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=LoveItHere;2842605]I am not a techie. I know that internet connections in Colombia can be bad at times. But why not just use Whatsapp? It is free and ready to go as soon as the plane lands. I believe nearly 95% of people and businesses use it. What is the huge advantage of having a local sim? I assume 15% less problems with connections. I do not speak Spanish. But texting has worked out fine for me and you can make calls with Whatsapp. I am getting laid just fine without a sim so please list a few big advantages of having a local sim?[/QUOTE]You have to have an internet connection to use Whatsapp. The MDE airport has free wifi, but unless you have an international data plan, you can't use Whatsapp when you leave the airport on the way to Medellin. If you're riding in a taxi or rideshare or bus, you can't use Whatsapp. You can't receive or send messages, or make calls, when you're not connected to wifi. I pay Claro 41 mil for 30 days of calls, text, and data. To me, it's well worth it.

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2842766]Whose the carrier?[/QUOTE]T-Mobile. Most / all plans have free text and slow (2 G?) data for 215 countries. 25 cent per minute. Unlimited minutes and faster (4 G?) data in Mexico and Canada. Decent prices if 55+ with multiple phones.

Didn't want to pay for roaming for half the year, so was forced to switch to T-mobile.

I always get the local 30 day plan for 41 K in Colombia (you can also get the 30 day plan with the same data but limited text/minutes, instead of unlimited text/minutes for ?31K).

If you don't like the hassle of going to a Claro company store, the Google Fi plan seems to be convenient.

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2842620]I'm sure there are some work arounds for this[/QUOTE]You can get a Google Voice number. Get a Google voice number with a US cell number. Then add the Google number to the credit card / bank / etc as the primary number. Then when the company calls to verify, it should go to the Google Voice number, which you can get if you have internet data.

Only potential problem is that some of the banks / brokers / credit card companies might not work with the Google Voice number.