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ColombiaBoard says on Jan 28, 2008, 12:05:

Depending on where you live in the US you can get some excellent calling cards specific for the latin market. For example, in Florida the best cards are the Presidente card and the Diamond card, you get lots of minutes.

Maybe the post office had him pay the import duty for the items your mom sent to him.

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sothrn_belle says on Jan 28, 2008, 12:09:

Thanks so much! I will look into those cards. I live in Utah but we have a latin market here in town so I will check with them.

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slguy says on Jan 28, 2008, 12:12:

If you want avoid the import duty problem. think about opening a checking acount that provides a debit card you could send to him, for his use. Periodically put cash in the account, and he can use an ATM in Colombia to access it. Small cost, and it gives him the flexibility to use what you provide him in whatever manner he most needs.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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jorgegdiaz says on Jan 28, 2008, 12:50:

go to a Mexican store, ask for cards to Colombia. Some have connection fees but lower /min rate others don`t have connection fee but higher rates. Depends how long you call him.
Buy a card online (you can get a clean & clear card for about 2 cent/min)

San Gil has plenty of internet cafes. May be he`s afraid to use a computer.

I did something similar with a credit card a few years ago in my moms name. I use it to send gifts or help with bills whenever there was a need. May be a debit card is a good option. WAMU doesn`t charge you to pulse out of their network, just a 1% foreign transaction fee. Be careful with overdraft charges.

He will have to pay at the post office some import tax ONLY if you declare a value on the package you send him.

Cheers,

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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MaFe says on Jan 28, 2008, 12:58:

Ha...Jorge is right....where do you live? You can aslo go to 711's, they sale cards there...Fabulosos I think...
Go to a bodega, Indian super market and you will def find a calling card!

My coworker uses this site...he says it's safe...
http://www.callingcardplus.com/

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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scumbuster says on Jan 28, 2008, 13:04:

I have been useing this online card for years. There may be something better now but it does have a good rate. http://www.enjoyprepaid.com
once you buy the card you can avoid the long pin# by registering your phone # online and it will automatically recognise you so you dont need the pin.

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jorgegdiaz says on Jan 28, 2008, 13:24:

On a second thought, I don`t know if you can find Mexican stores in Utah, I know in TX you can...
I use to use this site
http://speedypin.com

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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sothrn_belle says on Jan 28, 2008, 14:17:

I think you're right Jorge (that's my father's name too) he's not very computer savvy, I don't even think he owns one. Thanks so much for the import information and I think you're right because I remember my mom saying that she sent a list of the items inside the package but I bet she thought that she was required to. Thanks to everyone for the calling card information, I've never seen a Mexican store in Utah but I know of an area that is largely hispanic in population so I bet I can get cards out there. Do you think I can send medication? He's diabetic and says that meds are very expensive there but I don't know what he considers expensive since I don't know the exchange rate or how much he pays. I wish Colombia had a health program for the elderly like they do here in the states, then all of this wouldn't be such a big problem.

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MaFe says on Jan 28, 2008, 15:52:

I thought you could pay for your health care in Colombia...
Does anyone know about this? My aunt retired there and pays a yearly fee to have health care, I was also told that many Colombians go down to get plastic surgery and join a health plan that covers plastic surgery!? So if insurance there pays for plastic surgery why not for the elderly?

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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LilaM says on Jan 28, 2008, 16:18:

For diabetics, the social insurance covers all the medicines, and the treatment... Insuline, but it doesn't includes the test stripes or the glucometer... but you can find a way to get them with a Tutela... anyway... to answer your question yes is all covered, he just have to go to the doctor every 3 months to get a prescription... and that's all.

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

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LilaM says on Jan 28, 2008, 16:26:

Well you have two types of insurance...

Basic one=EPS---- covers all the preexistent illness... diabetes, cancer all that stuff.
The plastic surgery is covered if is reconstructive or something that shows that if you don't have that surgery you can die, or be sick or whatever...

Complimentary=Medicina Prepagada -------covers extra expenses that you can have... such a better room while you are at the hospital, high expenses diseases if they appear when you are paying this service... it depends. But some of them cover that if you show that you need it so badly...

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

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sothrn_belle says on Jan 28, 2008, 19:38:

Thank you ladies, I will have to look into that and find out the cost. If it's not too expensive then maybe I'll purchase it for him. I'm actually looking through the process of having him return to the US because my grandmother (his mother) is gravely ill and he hasn't seen her since he left the US 20 years ago.

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juli says on Jan 28, 2008, 19:44:

I'm not sure about Bogotá but there's four types of healthcare here - in order:

Prepagada (ricos 5,6)
EPS (obreos 3,4)
Sisben (pobres 1,2,3)
Fogasin (super pobre, gamines, homeless,1)

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juli says on Jan 28, 2008, 19:47:

In NYC area Orbitel Calling Cards purchased at wholesale places ($7 for a $10 card) yields you like 5 hours to a landline and 3 hours to a cell phone. The quality is exceptional but you need to dail a pin. Network is very reliable and the company is Colombian.

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msaucey says on Jan 28, 2008, 21:18:

sothrn_belle.... you really have to look at where your father is.... San Gil is a reallllyyyyy small town... Sending him items to sell would probably not be very beneficial... Unless, it will be geared toward the "Adventure" weekends that San Gil is currently becoming popular for on the touristy side.... But, still extremely slow and low tourism since it is a small town...

You would be better off sending him the money, instead of going through the excess of buying items then paying for shipping... chances are he would get less for them then what you paid for them...

In UT, there's an area north of Salt Lake City.. I want to say West Jordan where you may be able to find a few latin supermarkets... Heck, even a swapmeet might be able to provide what you're looking for.... Or if you are on the eastern side of Salt Lake City, there's a supermarket called Save-A-Lot, you can purchase $5 cards for $4... But, I agree with Juli, if you can find anyone that sells an Orbitel card, BUY it... You would be able to use the card for a long time...

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

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tlextoo says on Jan 29, 2008, 07:45:

Jorge...I have used speedypin numerous time because it is convenient, I can use pinless calling, but I have noticed to Colombia in particular, the 'lines' are terrible. almost unable to hear on one, if not both, ends. Have you had similar problems at all?

I have started using Yes (recommended by a Calañea amiga, so I kept looking for Jes). For a $5 card, sold at stop-n-robs in Texas, you get 2.5 hours to a cell...not sure about landlines.

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jorgegdiaz says on Jan 29, 2008, 10:03:

I used Clean & Clear from my cell (T-mob) to call land lines. Worked fine

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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sothrn_belle says on Jan 29, 2008, 15:14:

"I have started using Yes (recommended by a Calañea amiga, so I kept looking for Jes). "
HAHAHAH... i didn't catch that until the second time I read it. too funny.

I love this board!! everyone is so nice and helpful. thanks for everything, the medical info, calling card info... everything! I hope I can find that "Jes" card...lol... it looks like the best deal so far.

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jorgegdiaz says on Jan 30, 2008, 05:48:

Nice people here, WHERE?

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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LilaM says on Jan 30, 2008, 09:09:

Here

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

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vicshere says on Jan 30, 2008, 09:10:

here or at least my bobbs are

listo

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