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I have a beef with Medellin Rental/Credit Agencies

Hello,

I have a beef with Rental/Credit agencies in Medellin.

My wife and I went on the great apartment hunt in Medellin over the past week. It started off being damn near impossible from the get-go as almost every apartment is rented via a rental agency, which are only open while my wife is at work (Do apartment ownders have to go through an agency? Or are they just that lazy).

After a couple days of looking (My wife missing two days of work), we found our apartment in the Castropol area of El Poblado. It was perfect for us... nice, affordable, parking, pool, and close to Lleras, Exito, work etc... Since I have rented my whole life (life beginning at 18 when I moved out of Dad's house), and have moved frequently, I saw no real problem in getting the place.

I was shocked at the amount of paper work my wife had to submit to be approved by a credit agency in order to rent the apartment. I suggested to the lady at the agency that I pay for all 6 months in advance (I did not want to, but just to avoid the paper work and get into the place we want... we are currently living with my wife's father). But this, for whatever reason, was not acceptable. Also, the fact that she was married to a Canadain, and I had saved a sufficient amount of money over the past five months to allow us easily afford to rent a place for a year, meant nothing.

So it took us 2 days to get all the paper work and submit it to the credit agency (my wife being the renter). SInce we needed a cosigner who had both property and a job, we choose my wife's father, who inherited a bit of land in El Poblado, and who runs a business in Laureles. We used up about 4 hours of his time (during working hours), as we needed his bank statements, copy of his chamber of commerce paper, copies of his citizenship card etc... (he had to track down papers and walk to the bank in the middle of his work day)

My wife and I also had to track down recent copies of documents showing that her father does not owe money on the land he owns (we waited in line for an hour and paid 8,000 COP at some building near the Alpujarra stop on the Metro). In addition, my wife needed to get her own bank statements, along with a letter from her employer stating how long she has worked for and her salary.

So, we finally got all the paperwork in order, and submitted it yesterday morning. The office manager at my wife's work got a call from the credit agency and confirmed the information (her salary and start date). My wife then got a call shortly after, in which she confirmed the same.

Later in the day we got a call from the rental agency saying that we were denied by the credit agency as there was a discrepency between the letter from my wife's work and what they heard from the manager.

As my wife was in the office, and heard word for word what her manager had said, she was shocked and realized there must be a mistake. So, calling the credit agency this morning, she wanted to know what the discrepency was. They told her that they did not have to tell her. Anyway, I know some swear words in Spanish, and I think I heard them all plus a couple new ones as I listened to my wife "speak" to the lady on the phone. I guess the lady was being a bitch and basically said that we were denied and they were not going to tell us why. My wife insisted that since we had paid for the credit check, we were in fact clients (or customers) and deserved to know why we had been denied. No such luck... and the swearing began...

So my questions to the group are:

1. Does anyone know of a good rental agency in El Poblado or Envigado (or San Diego) that uses a credit agency that is not full of shit? (the rental agency we used was very good... I guess there is nothing they can do to affect the credit agency's decision)

2. When you pay 22,500 COP for a credit check, and are denied (for reasons unknown) does the credit agency have to explain to you why? Or do we keep paying these arseholes again and again without knowing what the hell is going on? Would it help if my wife went to the credit agency and complained?

3. Is anyone renting out a 2 to 3 bedroom apartment in El Poblado, Envigado, or San Diego for 550,000 to 700,000 COP per month (admin included) estrato 5 or 6, with parking? If so, I'm interested. Private message me. We are more than happy to submit to anther credit check and/or put down a hefty deposit.

4. Are there other ways to rent an apartment in Medellin other than using rental agencies (we tried El Colombiano but found it to be pretty sparse)?

5. Does anyone know why it is so damn hard to rent in Medellin???

Any and all help, as usual, is great appreciated. MY WIFE AND I NEED TO MOVE OUT OF HER FATHER'S CASA BEFORE WE ALL KILL EACH OTHER!!!! THE FINAL SHOWDOWN IS COMING SOON!

Dave

By daver on Apr 1, 2005, 08:40 in Friendly Talkzone.

santiBOG says on Apr 1, 2005, 16:23:

Welcome to Colombia Get used to it bro. Wait until you sell a car, start your own business or want to collect your pension in Colombia. It's UNBELIEVABLE. It's called tramitomania and we are #1 in the world.

Can't help you with your questions as I am unfamiliar with rental agencies. I do know that the credit agency DataCredito is known for its one-sided, ujnfair and arbitrary policies against consumers.

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juanalejo says on Apr 1, 2005, 16:39:

Sounds Familiar I exactly what happened to me when I tried to open a bank account in the UK. At the moment I was working at a British company, travelling permanently to London and earning part of salary in GBP, but after company letters, statements from my banks in Bogota, photocopies of utility bills with name stamped on them (which meant you have to own a place not rent), photocopies of my American, Schenghen and UK visas and a month of waiting I got a letter stating I was denied an account and banks privacy would not allow to tell me the reason why. That is called bureaucracy, and if in UK is as bad what can we expect of a less developed country like Colombia.

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daver says on Apr 1, 2005, 16:57:

juanalejo,

The thing is, I was a foriegner for a couple years in the US. In fact I was a non-immigrant worker (TN VISA) so I was not even a resident of the US. Within 1 month I was able to get a social security number, a drivers license, car insurance, a cell phone, a car, license plate and registration, a bank account, and an apartment. It took me 3 weeks for the Soc Sec Number and the rest, just one week.

Not that they were just handing stuff out to me without caring I was Canadian (additional checks would hold me up for maybe a day or 2) but once the FBI cleared me for the SSN number, things went smoothly.

Anyway, in Medellin, they dont even consider me to be here at all. It was my wife the credit agency denied (which confuses the hell out of me as we are not borrowing money) and my wife is a Colombian citizen (born in Envigado).

Anyway, I guess I will have to put up with red-tape every step of the way. I thought getting married here was hard.... but everthing is just as confusing as the notaries....

Oh well,

Dave

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miamimike says on Apr 1, 2005, 18:08:

Until these countries are more Transparent... "Once a year the World Bank conducts an "ease of doing business across the globe" study. Colombia has made some small improvements, but as a region, Latin America is perennially near the bottom of the barrel. It's a nasty position to be in: bloated bureacracies lead to more corruption and are an impediment to small entrepreneurs and investors. The existing rich get richer and everyone else stagnates."

Transparency in their business practices, for both residents and visitors alike--these central and south american countries will never Progress. With stories like that of the OP why would someone want to live there permentently?

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

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poco says on Apr 1, 2005, 18:19:

Time is short but Thanks for posting the complete information. Surprisingly similar to what can happen in the US. Credit reporting problems with ANYTHING in the US and you’re “Screwed” and NO ONE will help you fix any problems because NO ONE will make any MONEY. Fixing identity theft in the US can become a part time job.

Your wife missing work,, really bad,,, need a Colombian for this to work well. I HIDE when conducting business or at a minimum do not utter one word.

Suggest locating a TAXI driver who also works commission. Sounds stupid,, can or will be a waste of some looking at “bad” locations, prices. He’ll want to show you “his” but he will have buddies. This is a good source in the smaller towns. Plus, everyone knows everyone in small towns so the credit reporting drops out which seems your primary problem. If your wife is known or satisfies an owners “trust” then you will only need to deal with the notary for the “lease”. At least you have plenty of “Documentation” !!!

Another idea is to “walk” the area talking to doormen, potential neighbors, etc. Cartagena is an example. Walk up the doorman and ask. Maybe get a phone number and have the wife call?

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Mr. Hollywood says on Apr 1, 2005, 19:09:

One idea Dave, just a suggestion, but why don't you attempt renting an apartment on your own as a "rich" foreigner renting a temporary pad in Medellin? Hide your wife and her Colombian credit rating from the system entirely.

I rented a very nice apartment in Bogota in about 3 days with another foreigner as my cosigner, etc and NO credit check, since I have no credit record in Colombia.

Granted, I pay a lot more rent that what you're looking to do, but there's got to be a number of people in Medellin who are accostumed to working with foreigners and making shit happen NOW.

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vladimiro says on Apr 1, 2005, 20:07:

I had the same problem in Medellin If you offer to pay a few months up front they'll accept you. I found a nice estato 4 apartment situated between estrato 5 and 6 apartments for 390.000/ month in one of the nicest areas of Medellin. I'm not sure why its considered estrato 4, its a nice modern 2 bed apartment, gated, guarded with parking garage but it doesn't have a pool. I just paid 6 months rent up front. I found it on the internet over at propiedades.com.co It was about $800-900 USD.

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dwmte says on Apr 2, 2005, 07:24:

hi, dave... like the above poster, welcome to colombia. the system is so fucked and full of shit as to be a demonstration of how not to create a system of government/business.

never let your wife and her family be a part of your transactions. the posters above speak the truth. do it yourself as a foreigner just there for a spell...maybe up to a year.

i first rented a large property, in 1989...it was 500sq mtrs of house and 800 sq mtrs of land. back then, i paid $750.00 per month. they started to hit me with all the 'shit' when i just told them to speak to my lawyer...i wasn't interested in listenting to their story and or excuses. my lawyer, cost me #350.00 maybe $400.00 u.s. but was well worth it. i refused to be a part of the bullshit they love to fill their lives with. too, having an attorney--and a well known one--really worked in my favor. she was known, respected and had all the right answers. i didn't even speak spanish.

i even offered to pay some/all the rents up front...wasn't even necessary. i kept the place for about 2 1/2 years and the owners...both own restaurants in poblado to this day...adalfo podesta and alvaro vasqo...very reputable restauranteurs in poblado, are friends to this day. i eat at their respective restaurants each time i'm in poblado.

dw

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daver says on Apr 6, 2005, 07:33:

Hi The rental agency used another credit agency and we were approved with the same application?? Of course, we had to pay 15,000 more for the additional credit check... I think they are running a really small scale scam in making people get two credit checks.

Anyway, we get the keys today, and I also have a job interview at 1pm. Things are looking up! (Except when I go car shopping and see the crazy prices people pay for shitty cars here... and they seem offended when they suggest I buy a Renault and I tell them I won´t set foot in French peice of crap car...anyway...looks like a 1990 Mazda 323 for me....only $10.0000.000...sigh).

On another note, I made my first purchase on my own (without my wife´s help in Medellin). Some little strip-mall on Trans Inferior on the corner of calle 1. Went for a walk while my wife was at work and bought a Club Colombia! Seems pretty easy, but was a BIG step for me (My Spanish is still at a 2 year olds level...)

Anyway, gotta get my resume ready for the job inteview....Cheers

Dave

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KOMACHI says on Apr 6, 2005, 09:47:

lucky you! I went through the same nightmare but this time was in France, only it cost me 5600 euros (14 months rent deposit) plus a monthly pay of rent, a whole month paying hotel waiting for this lazy frogs to get the contract ready, a type of contract that is only issued to child molesters or ex-cons cause we couldn’t even quit the apartment in case of death, we would have to pay rent until the end of the contract, and a waiting period of 5 F&^% months to get the deposit back.
Not to mention the innumerable times this place got problems and this people couldn’t handle it, just charge us money for every unimaginable stupid detail.
You think here is difficult? Yes coming from the US... I think so. But please! France is the king of bureaucracy and snobbish!

(^-^)/ ...como quiero a mi chinita y a mi Colombia carajo!!!...

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WidowerfromCanada says on Apr 7, 2005, 20:58:

Hey Daver, take off , eh ! I will send you a 24 pack I am glad things are working out for you. When are you bringing your wife back to Canada. Have you started that process yet? Let me know how it is going ?

hmmm ummmm ,So my fellow Canadian as you are in the family down there now. Does your wife have any nice single sisters or cousins etc... ? hahahahahaahha.

If she does PM me. I wish you both the best and all the happiness in the world.

Jeff

Love is like a butterfly , if you chase it you will not catch it but you can hope the butterfly of love lands on your shoulder.

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daver says on Apr 22, 2005, 14:39:

WidowerfromCanada,

You send the two-four of Labatt Blue, and I´ll send you some phone numbers of single women my wife knows.....

Canadian business at its best....

PS. Bottles, not cans. Thanks!

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sieteinfantes says on Sep 21, 2005, 17:38:

About a few day Any ideas about a just getting a place for 2 to 3 days in El Poblado that is like a suite?
And how are the prices now between Bogota and Medellin?

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Rubiazo says on Sep 21, 2005, 19:05:

Bureaucracy I have experienced it just about everywhere I have went. i don't have too much experience but from what I have heard Brazil is the most fucked up place in the Western Hemisphere for official bullshit. Although in some ways they are VERY progressive.

As far as getting apts that doesnt sound half as bad as what people go though in NYC or London or Tokyo or anywhere else there are 10 people who want an apartment for every apartment available.

I rented a unit in my house in the Bronx out recently. There were a LOT of pissed off disappointed people who didnt get that apartment! And believe me, I went through official hell on my end too, with government inspections etc. In NYC your credit check with the agency runs you $50-60. And NO WAY IN HELL am I going to rent out privately. The agency is my first line of defense in not getting somebody who is a complete nutjob. And I wouldn't consider someone being a fellow Canuck as a plus necessarily either!!

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utopiacowboy says on Sep 21, 2005, 21:41:

Someone actually went back to resurrect a 6 month old thread? I wonder in what part of Medellin Vladimiro lives?

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Hunter says on Sep 22, 2005, 11:40:

sieteinfantes You can rent 1 or 2 bedroom suites at the hotels in Medellin, I would have a quick search on this site for Medeelin accomodation/hotels.

Hunter

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