Colombia Forum

elpdiver
Joined 2019
Posts: 1250

4 years ago

Daily life and security

4 years ago

From the other Uber post about change and various people having it. Many people often do not have change for a 50 mil note in Colombia. This has led to me constantly hoarding small bills and change. I have a small coin pouch that I carry and I keep it full of change as much as possible. I also hoard small bills I usually try to break a large bill at certain locations such as the pharmacy in Doce or the Panaderia as they usually have the change. Taxi's is a hit or miss affair and I use my judgement. If in doubt I will try a larger bill just to keep up my supply; but, almost always have the other amount ready. I try to remember to ask as we are travelling if they can break a 50 mil note. If yes great, if not I am prepared when we stop with the exact change rounded up to the next mil. If I taxi gets hit with two or three customers in a row it is very understandable that they may have trouble keeping up with making change and I am not out to make problems for them.

I don't use credit cards in Colombia, period. Well I have used them once for a rental as a guarantee and then paid in cash.

I also split my money I have my regular spending money in a wallet (small stuff maybe 200 mil) In this wallet I keep an expired drivers license and two or three expired credit cards. I also keep one debit card to a certain account that only has a few hundred dollars so that if I do get accosted I have something to give them.

I keep the supply of 50 mil notes secreted separately. If you have nothing to give they are going to strip you down have you take off your drawers and socks and look until they find something. By having something for them to take well it possibly may prevent a worse situation. I also keep a copy of my pass port with the 50 mil notes.

I have only had to produce my passport one time on the way to Narino and have never had to use my throw down wallet. I may stop that practice soon.

To my knowledge I have only been targeted once outside of Laureles. I had gotten a double the maximum withdrawal from two cards as we needed cash. I was with my daughter and she asked for ice cream at one of the tiendas just outside of the Exito. So we ordered and as I went to pay, damn!!! I had no choice but to pull out my huge bank roll and pay ( I suppose I could have walked off...) The muchacha's eyes literally bugged and nearly fell out of their sockets. As I was walking off I glanced back and saw the clerk on her cell. Well damn I thought, I just gave papaya big time.

So daughter and I sat outside eating our ice cream and waiting for the wife to finish shopping. I noticed a teen looking at me across from us sitting. He moved next to me and his leg was shaking so badly that I thought he was gonna piss himself. About then the wife came out and I steered her back inside and we went to a different exit and promptly got in a taxi and went down the street in another direction.

The only thefts I have had were unprovable and were by family.

The other thing that used to bother is that Colombians may have several phones but they never have minutes. They will call and hang up so you will call them back and spend your minutes. This does not bother me anymore and I can play the game as well as them.

LPd

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