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I just encountered the most greedy f--king bastard I have met in Colombia.
Taxi driver.Now thats simple enough,you just pay them the  fare where you are  going ,right?
Yeah,unless you get hooked up with the guy at an agency party,he takes you to a club,collects 250% what the bill should be,then wants 400% more than the taxi fare should be to take you home.I was with some virgin f--king gringos,they were going for it.I went along with the bar bill even though my bill should have been 10,000 not 45,000.I thought OK,these guys bought a bottle of rum,even though I was drinking beer,so just pay a share of what it is,not really doing the math.In hindsight he collected about 340,000 pesos for what was probably a 120,000 peso bill.Then I gave 3 girls 20,000 pesos for an 8000 peso cab ride and him 20,000 pesos for an 8000 peso cab ride and he wanted more.Said he had to come back for the girls.Finally this overly generous grigo goes off."they do not need your f--king ass,I gave them 20,000 for an 8000 peso fare.I gave you 20,000 and I WANY IT BACK RIGHT NOW."I was pushing his ass and about ready to punch him out.He gave me my 20,000 back.I gave the girls a ride home plus my ride for 9000 pesos.I should have asked them for my money back from them,I did not.
And,at the agency party,they kept collecting money for beer.Could have bought a f--king truckload for what they collected.Just people  trying to get by using every excuse to try and make some money on you.Hey,just tell me if there is a charge,don't f--k with me for beer money.
I am pretty tired of f--king leeches right now.
Actually I get pissed off at myself for going along with bullshit.Only when it gets really extreme do I call them on it.My automatic response is thats sounds like too much,but I just pay.
Yeah,agencies don't get big bucks to come throught the door anymore.So they throw parties and f--k with you.Pretty tired of it right now.

Pete

... in response to Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Pete E on Dec 31, 2004

Hey Pete, I was in BAQ one time with a date and a taxi tried to rip me off with the fare – I paid him half and somewhere along the way he picked up an English expression: the MF word which he yelled at my date and me profusely as we exited his taxi at the mall. I turned around and told him to call the police which shut him up.  I used to hang out with a gringo in Cali that used to say there was a "special place in hell for taxi drivers and whores."  Frankly, i don't know about the latter, but most taxi drivers are bandits. Happy new year!

... in response to Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Pete E on Dec 31, 2004

The shaft...  been there

When I was in Bogota.  My chica and me stayed at a bed & Breakfast near the embassy.  Well,  A daily tour of the city was about 20.000.00 Pesos arrainged by the owner of the B&B.  Next day the same guy charged three times that for a simple ride to the airport.  This is the way tourist are treated unfortunately.  I guess its better to negotiate your price for most things.  I was pissed but let it go.  Way to go Pete!

... in response to Re: Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Ken2 on Jan 1, 2005

60,000 COP for a taxi ride to El Dorado?
Uh huh, should run about 15,000.

I'd have refused to pay.

... in response to Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Pete E on Dec 31, 2004

I've probably paid for more than 100 taxi fares in my 4 trips to Colombia, not an impressive number since you're paying round-trip fares for the ladies to the agency. Anyways, I've only had one bad experience in a taxi in Medellin. The problem was that it was around 2 AM and there wasn't a soul in sight when he quoted me the number being displayed on the meter, instead of converting it to the corresponding COP amount. He was charging me about twice the appropriate amount and I knew it. I thought about it for a minute and asked myself if one lousy dollar was worth the possible risk. I then gladly handed over the full amount and counted my blessings. Sometimes you're better off losing some money, then potentially losing a pint of blood.

... in response to Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Pete E on Dec 31, 2004

Only 2 confrontations I ever had in Colombia were both with crooked taxistas.  My wife's dad owns a couple of taxis, and even he'll tell you there are some really crooked ones out there.  Just like in any other profession.  

Which agency by the way?  -TNC

... in response to Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Pete E on Dec 31, 2004

Now that's a cutting-edge example of why one shouldn't go the agency route.

Lots of leeches who think we're all Warren Buffett.  And so many clever ways of relieving you of the burden of lugging around all that cash...

... in response to Re: Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by doombug on Dec 31, 2004

[This message has been edited by Traveller]

Now I have been accused of being kind of stand-offish with Grnigos when I lived in Cali. (I know Pete's story isn't about Gringos.)
But, I will only get taken so many times before I start getting wary about people I don't know. And, they don't have to exclusively from the States. Some people are just a**holes. A German guy in particular......
Anyway, some examples. I met a guy at BB and were talking and we were tossing back quite a few drinks. He was getting ready to go and I said, out of the spirit of drunkness, I'll pay the bill. 50,000 or so. The guy said thanks and that he would pick up the tab the next night. Yeah well, he went home the next morning.
One time a group of guys, including myself, went to Galileo from BB. One of the guys offered to pay for the taxis. Hey cool, that's awful nice of you. The tab for the 3 taxis was something like 30,000 pesos. The guy practically has his head explode when the guys were asking for a total of 32,000. This guy was yelling and waving his arms, in English, that the taxi drivers were trying to rip him off. Seriously, I thought the guy was going to have a stroke. Then the guy started yelling, "Call the police!" WTF! I told the guy that the price was about right. The guy, on his SECOND trip to Colombia, told me that he could get these guys down to 28,000. WTF! He was doing this stuff to get a cheaper fare? The guy was pitching a fit over a $1.40. That's about 46 cents per cab. I said screw it, I paid the drivers myself, 32,000 pesos. The guy acted like such an ass I had no doubt someone WAS going to call the cops. I asked my friend who is a bouncer at Galileo not admit that guy because he had had waaaayyyy too much coke. The party went in and I don't know if my buddy didn't admit him or what, but we didn't see the guy anymore. Might seem kind of mean, but if that guy was willing to draw that much attention to himself over $1.40, I didn't want to see what he would do at the end of the night when we got the bill from Galileo.
This one didn't happen to me personally, but I know the guy who tried to help the other guy out. A guy comes down to Cali and stays at LE. This guy comes down from L.A. with a total of $182 in his pocket for 2 weeks in Cali. After, 3 days, Margreth tells the guy he has to pay for his room. The guy assures Margreth that his uncle is wiring some money to him. She let's him slide another couple of days. On the fifth day she tells him, you either have to pay or go. Well of course he didn't have the money. I think Margreth even gave him taxi fare to the Aristi. He checks in there and after a couple of days the Aristi asks him to pay, he assures them that his uncle is wiring money to him. The Aristi was not as accomodating. They locked him out of his room until he paid. So, having nowhere else to go, he goes back to LE. Margreth lets him hang out but not spend the night there. The guy tells my friend his whole sob story. Tom feels sorry for the guy and gives him 50,000 pesos to maybe get a place to stay and something to eat. The next day at LE, the guy is there again and Tom is there too. The guy tells Tom about a hooker he got the night beore. WTF! And THEN has the gaul to ask Tom for some more money. Loser! This story ends when a wheelchair bound customer is asked to leave LE. He ended up helping the loser out. That's an interesting story too.
Some of you might have heard about the Gringo I almost killed one night. Anybody can ask Andres, he'll tell you about it. LOL! BUT, just because you are paying for the drinks does NOT mean you can feel up my girlfriend. Especially, not when I'm sittng 2 feet away. He knew he f**cked up because he just took off. No goodbye, C-YA, nothing. Bumped into me leaving. That's when my girlfriend told me what he did. I caught that guy outside of BB and had him by the throat when the cops came over. They saw it was 2 Gringos and turned and walked away. Hilarious! That night that guy tapped the dormant 20 year old evil Grunt Marine. Ok, he was fine after everything was said and done (A few bruises, nothing more), but just because you are paying for the drinks does not give you certain liberties.
So, there are a FEW examples of what I have witnessed Gringos do in Cali. So, take no offense if I am not exactly warm and fuzzy when meeting you. Your actions will speak much louder than what you can say and bulls**t me with. It's just I have been and seen people burned by these types of Gringos over the years and when I meet you for the first time, I don't know which kind of Gringo you might be.
Don't even get me started on the guys who sought me out because I own LatinModelos. LOL!
I hope this might give you some insight one what some the guys who live in Cali might have to go through now and again. Like I said before, don't take offense if we aren't warm and fuzzy the first time you meet some of us. Me, anyway.

... in response to Re: Re: Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Traveller on Dec 31, 2004

Hey Traveller,
Did I understand you to say that you were in the Marines in the past?  I have 3 sons, and my middle son is in the Marine Corps right now.  He is in California at 29 Palms.  He just got back from his second tour in Iraq.  He is in a tank unit.
Anyhow, sounds like you had some hairy experiences with some jerk gringos. I don't claim to be as experienced as you, concerning Colombia; but even I have more sense then those dudes! I have been to Cali just once; but I am planning on going back soon. So, are you married to a latina?  Give me your story. I am always fascinated by the stories from the experienced guys.
         
                         OkieMan

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by OkieMan on Dec 31, 2004

Hi,
Yeah, 4 for the Corps. and 7 in the Army.
started as Security Forces Pacific. They liked me so much I got sent to Security Force (Operations). Don't even know if that exists anymore. Then went to 1st Battalion 5th Marines, Weapons Company (Camp San Mateo, Camp Pendeleton). Went to the first Gulf War with them.  We were sent from Panama, back to camp Penedelton for 24 hours, to "The Stumps" for 24 hours,  then on to Saudi Arabia for 7 months. We got there in Aug.(I think Daharan)and when the great Heat Tab came up it was 135 degrees that first day. So, I feel for those guys. Especially, the Devil Puppies ( Antonia and I can call them that) in Fallujah. If you get a chance Okie read "Generation Kill" if you want to know how Marines over there talk and think. That book will bring you as close to what your son is experiencing than anything else I read. It'll also show just how nuts some Marines are. LOL! It's about the First Marine Recon Battalion going up to Nassariya. Excellent, excellent book.
Knuckleheads abound anywhere you go. There are a number of Gringos I have met that are that way. It amazes you how they got as far as they did. Cheap, A**holes, Spazzes, Dickheads, you name it guys like me or Pete, or Heat, or Thunder, or Pacino, or any of the guys who travel to Colombia alot or lived in Colombia have met them all. I mean, I met a guy once who was scared to death (No pun intended cause he did die in Cali) to talk to any women. What the Hell did you come to Cali then? UGH! The guy even shared my name. Go figure.
There are a very small group of guys I will sit down and have beers with and actually talk to. And, that's kind of strange cause I'll talk your damn ear off.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Traveller on Dec 31, 2004

Hey Traveller,
Thanks for sharing. By the way, I am former Air Force. I was stationed in England in the late '70s.  Then I was transferred to Tinker in Oklahoma City.  I was attached to the AWACs unit.  Right before I got out, I went TDY to Saudi Arabia,in 1981.  They are absolutely nuts!   Changing the subject, but do you live in Cali now?  I was there in August, and just got my feet wet, so to speak.  But, like all of the guys on this board; I can't get enough of those latinas.  However, I am sure it is a real challenge to meet the "right" one.  After I went through 2 divorces with 2 american women; I have had enough of them.  My 3 sons' mother was the first.  Ten years later, she starts screwing around on me.  The second marriage should have lasted, but that lady had some problems I did not see coming; too long to go into; but she was a beauty.  I have a step-daughter from that marriage, and we still get along great.  She loves my sons like they were her own blood kin!  That makes me proud, and tells me the marriage was not a total mistake.  Of course, part of the crazy stuff going on with trying to start something with these latinas is the age difference.  Obviously, these girls are hot, but it has taken me a while to get used to the fact that a woman might actually be interested in me.  By that, I am referring to a woman that I would also be interested in; not some old worn-out bitchy hag!  Well, take care.

                            OkieMan

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Traveller on Dec 31, 2004

Hey, I tried to edit Antonio's name from Antonia to Antonio and all of sudden the board says that I have used language that is disallowed by the board. So, it wouldn't let me do the edit.
Didn't mean to slight you there Antonio. Something screwy happend when I tried to edit it.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Greedy  f--king  bas..., posted by Traveller on Dec 31, 2004

No worries brother, Happy New Year! Damn, talk about trying to find green grapes here at this time of night!
-TNC

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Greedy  f--king ..., posted by thundernco on Dec 31, 2004

I went to Table Mountain last night. Saw Taylor Dane and Joan Jett. I tell you what, those women age well. Taylor was great and Joan rocked! Got a good dose of two New york acts. Great New Years!

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by OkieMan on Dec 31, 2004

Wow, you just took me back a bit, thanks.  29 Stumps, ah the fond memories of MCAGCC, CAXes and Yucca Valley.  Hat's off to your boy and you.  Happy New Year! -TNC

... in response to Flashback Friday, posted by thundernco on Dec 31, 2004

So, when you were there, were you in a tank unit, or infantry, or something else?  My son is in the M1A1, the Abrams tanks that you see alot of in the news.  His tank was the third one to cross the Kuwait/Iraq border when the war started last year.  Needless to say, he saw a lot of terrible things.  Interestingly enough, he told me that this year was worse than last year.  I am proud of his distinguished service to our country, as you can imagine!
In many ways, he is just a regular kid (now 22).  But, his unit was the best tank unit there and distinguished themselves many times.  Just to give you one example,last year, he and his tank (four man crew) were told to temporarily leave their regular unit, 1st Tank Battalion, "C" Company.  They joined up with the special forces guys and some others and went on a different mission, but, at the time, did not know what it would entail.  The Reader's Digest version of this story is that they were the men that rescued the POW's last year; including Jessica Lynch.  Of course, at the time, they did not know who Jessica Lynch was, or anyone for that matter.  They just did their job.  But, after all was said and done, they all received a Presidential Commendation!  So, as you can see, I am a proud dad!  My son now wants to finish his hitch in the spring and come home.  Two tours to Iraq is enough for anyone.  He lost several good buddies over there.  On this last tour, he was mostly guarding the Iraqi/Syrian border.  The insurgents were attacking them, and generally stirring up trouble.  At least my son got to come home.  Several of his buddies did not!  Have a Happy New Year.

                              OkieMan

... in response to Re: Re: Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Traveller on Dec 31, 2004

Like the one guy that is Colombian and moved to the states, said he was a Cali expert and can't even find R&P at Chipi.  Anyone one can be anything on these boards, if I (when I was living there), or Traveller or Pete or any other locals go out of their way to help you out, don't be a total jerk. -TNC

... in response to Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Pete E on Dec 31, 2004

The same thing can happy in Costa Rica if you aren't careful.  

All you need to do is clarify the fare and agree on it before you enter the cab.  If you don't speak the language you are at an extreme disadvantage.  And if you hang out with gringos who haven't got a clue about the language or how things work in LA, you are a target.  

They probably don't think fondly of people who come to their country who are able to blow more money in a night of partying than the average Colombian makes in a month.  

In Xmas 2001 I tried to take a cab back to the Crystal Palace when all the roads were closed due to La Feria.  He drove in circles and approached Ciudad Jardin from every conceivable direction without success.  After 90 minutes of constant driving he let me out at Unicentro and the cost was about $13.  I never had a taxista in Colombia or CR try to cheat me.

... in response to Re: Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by kented on Dec 31, 2004

The taxi drivers in Cali as a  whole are very honest and the fares are very cheap.
This guy was way beyond the normal role of taxi driver where they turn on the meter and you pay what its says.He was hanging with a bunch of gringos,drinking our  alcohol and then trying to make alot of money on the deal.I would have even let him get away with 2 or 3 times what it ought to cost.But when he already had that and wanted more he was way over the top.And we didn't need him to get between us and the bar bill.I just let that one  slide.He probably made over 100,000 pesos on it and got free drinks himself.
Then there was a cover charge.We paid him,not the bar.Screwed again I bet.
I am not cheap.I am generous to a fault.But even I have my limits.
Actually even taxi drivers working with the agencies never charged me much more than normal fare before.The only scammers that come close  to this guy I found in Cartagena.
No meters.Ask the fare  first,or they might be asking 2 or 3 times the normal fare.
But just for sheer audacity this guy wins scammer of the year.I bet he made 200,000 - 300,000 pesos for what should have cost 10 per cent that.Even after I got my 20,000 back.

Pete

... in response to Re: Re: Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Pete E on Dec 31, 2004

After my wife and I decided to get married, I told her to stop riding the bus and take taxis.  On one of her 1st rides after I go back to the US, this driver drives to a bad dark area of town, jumps in the back seat and tries to rape her.  She knows karate and proceeds to beat the shit out of him.  He was begging her to let him go while she was choking him and kneeing him in the face.... She jumped out and ended up running for a ways.  So I'm trying to make life safer and easier for her and this happens.  Sometimes it's better to not mess with things.

Rod

... in response to taxis, posted by wayne3 on Dec 31, 2004

Wayne3,
I am sure you meant well, but at least your lady knows karate. So, I bet you speak real sweet to her, right?  One wrong move, and she cuts you to ribbons. ha  Just kidding.
So, is she something like the chinese chick that works with Jackie Chan?  I'm a fairly good size guy (6ft, 200lbs),
but I don't think I would want a tough lady beating on me!  Ouch!  Best of luck.

                               OkieMan

... in response to Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Pete E on Dec 31, 2004

Confused Pete

You pissed at the Taxi guy only of with the Gringos as well?

... in response to Re: Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Kiltboy1 on Dec 31, 2004

I'm not pissed at the gringos,and only one of them was even starting to figure out how bad he was taken.The other guys were oblivious to what the guy was doing.

Pete

... in response to Re: Re: Greedy  f--king  bastard, posted by Pete E on Dec 31, 2004

And there in lies the whole problem.
Green Gringos that need more research before they make the trip south. We all have been where they are , so hopefully they have learned a big lesson