Apartments - Don't Go With These Guys
Don't ever do business with Cuevas & Ureta Propiedades. They are guilty of an abominable and intolerable business practice, and should be shut down.
So here's the deal. Admittedly I fucked up by slapping down a $160,000 peso (about $300 USD) security deposit and later deciding against moving into that department. No problem, the guy said, we'll be in touch about getting your money back. Alright, that guy was cool. And I didn't expect the money back right away, a little paperwork isn't the problem.
The problem started when I called the office and encountered this bitch called Faviola, I was shocked at the completely unnecessary and frightening threat she posed to me. Well, first she told me that her bosses were out of the country and so she wouldn't be able to have a check ready until the end of the week. Okay, kinduva pain in the ass but whatever, I'm fine with that.
BUT THEN she said that she was doing everything she possibly could to get me my money back, but that there could be a charge.
A charge?! How much?
The total amount, she told me: 160,000 pesos.
No way, that's totally illegal and you know it!
Alright, she said, like I told you I'm doing everything I can to get you your money back.
Yo, Faviola, it's not even a question. Taking my money now is completely illegal and I find it abusive and intimidating that you even pose that possibility. It's totally unnecessary. What's your game?!
Well, I eventually got my money back and the drama is over. But why was there drama in the first place? Why would she even pose that threat? Two possibilities:
1. Lucky Day Syndrome. Perhaps I'd be like a timid, subservient local unused to exacting rewards from an historically dysfunctional legal system. Worth a shot, eh Faviola?
2. Punishment. She knew she'd return the money all along, but wanted to punish me for causing them to lose a week while they thought we would take the apartment. I suspect it's number two. Psychological manipulation. Pretty fucked up. I'm not going to make a generalization about all of Chile at this point. Just point to who I know is wrong and tell my readers about them:
Cuevas & Urieta Propiedades is an abusive and unprofessional racket, I recommend that you never do business with Cuevas & Urieta Propiedades.
Besides, they're a corredor which is not a good idea when you're looking to rent an apartment in Santiago Chile. Corredores don't do that much besides squat on apartments and charge you 50% of the monthly rent. It's much better to go for con dueño, that means you'll deal directly with the actual owner of the property, and won't be charged up the ass.
Apartment listings in Santiago can be found in El Mercurio or Rastro.com. Look for the word dueño!
Once again, though, in case I didn't make it clear, Cuevas & Urieta Propiedades is abusive and corrupt, and I wouldn't waste my time dealing with them if you're looking for apartments in Santiago, Chile. And besides, on second look, the apartment was a real piece of shit anyway.
So here's the deal. Admittedly I fucked up by slapping down a $160,000 peso (about $300 USD) security deposit and later deciding against moving into that department. No problem, the guy said, we'll be in touch about getting your money back. Alright, that guy was cool. And I didn't expect the money back right away, a little paperwork isn't the problem.
The problem started when I called the office and encountered this bitch called Faviola, I was shocked at the completely unnecessary and frightening threat she posed to me. Well, first she told me that her bosses were out of the country and so she wouldn't be able to have a check ready until the end of the week. Okay, kinduva pain in the ass but whatever, I'm fine with that.
BUT THEN she said that she was doing everything she possibly could to get me my money back, but that there could be a charge.
A charge?! How much?
The total amount, she told me: 160,000 pesos.
No way, that's totally illegal and you know it!
Alright, she said, like I told you I'm doing everything I can to get you your money back.
Yo, Faviola, it's not even a question. Taking my money now is completely illegal and I find it abusive and intimidating that you even pose that possibility. It's totally unnecessary. What's your game?!
Well, I eventually got my money back and the drama is over. But why was there drama in the first place? Why would she even pose that threat? Two possibilities:
1. Lucky Day Syndrome. Perhaps I'd be like a timid, subservient local unused to exacting rewards from an historically dysfunctional legal system. Worth a shot, eh Faviola?
2. Punishment. She knew she'd return the money all along, but wanted to punish me for causing them to lose a week while they thought we would take the apartment. I suspect it's number two. Psychological manipulation. Pretty fucked up. I'm not going to make a generalization about all of Chile at this point. Just point to who I know is wrong and tell my readers about them:
Cuevas & Urieta Propiedades is an abusive and unprofessional racket, I recommend that you never do business with Cuevas & Urieta Propiedades.
Besides, they're a corredor which is not a good idea when you're looking to rent an apartment in Santiago Chile. Corredores don't do that much besides squat on apartments and charge you 50% of the monthly rent. It's much better to go for con dueño, that means you'll deal directly with the actual owner of the property, and won't be charged up the ass.
Apartment listings in Santiago can be found in El Mercurio or Rastro.com. Look for the word dueño!
Once again, though, in case I didn't make it clear, Cuevas & Urieta Propiedades is abusive and corrupt, and I wouldn't waste my time dealing with them if you're looking for apartments in Santiago, Chile. And besides, on second look, the apartment was a real piece of shit anyway.
posted by Chileno @ 2:02 PM
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9 Comments:
Wills of course it's physchological manipultion, but that is how it's been for a long time. Most people in Chile don't complain about their rights as a comsumer. One of the reasons why businesses get away with murder.
Glad you got it back, Will.
But are you still moving to the 'fresh air' side of town?
I think we are talking about the same company who are in Av Las Condes near the Sports Mall.
I went with Cuevas & Ureta when I arrived in July 2004. Even though I did not have any problems with the 1 year rental, I did find them a condescending bunch of wankers who wasted my time showing me properties which they promised that met our criteria -and did not. Also going to empty properties without the keys or expect us to wait for hours on end until the owners arrived - having told us that they were there. In the end we ended up with a property listed by them, but in no way would I recommend them.
It was the first of many similar situations of unprofessional or just downright rude behaviour that we encountered in Chile. In the end, after two and a half years we done the right thing and got the fuck out.
Good blog by the way.
Cheers
Pedro
P.S. On your previous post you describe Puente Alto as a slum. But to me it is just like 90% of Santiago - Just nondescript poblaciones. Yes It has slum areas, but then you can find these in Las Condes and Lo Barnechea.
>>>of course it's psychological manipulation
Figured as much. Seems like Chile is truly suffering from a national case of depression which results in unprofessional behavior and bad business practices, among many other negative side effects.
Someone call a doctor.
Tom, yeah, we got it back. Thanks for your good wishes! And we've got a beautiful place in the mountains now.
Pedro, yep, that's the one:
Cuevas & Ureta Propiedades, 14072 Avenidas Las Condes Don't ever do business with them.
Talk about a fucking waste of time that someone would mess with me like that. It really caused stress and anxiety that was totally unnecessary.
Chileans are so cute because they are new to the whole concept of lawsuits so they throw around the threat in the most ridiculous situations but never when it's truly appropriate. For instance, when that guy got shot downstairs and I was taking pictures one of the neighbors threatened to sue me for taking pictures of his house and I said 'go ahead'.
But I'll bet you NOBODY realizes that they can (or at least should TRY to) SUE FOR INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS A LA FABIOLA (CUEVAS Y URETA PROPIEDADES).
And I don't think it's unique to Cuevas and Ureta Propiedades, it happens all the time, it's unnecessary it's unproductive and it's a national sickness that nobody has any real awareness of, I feel.
Also Pedro you're right, you can't classify all of Puente Alto as a slum but I think it's like Cerro Navia in that some parts are worse than other but overall it's more impoverished than Santiago Center and other more affluent neighborhoods to the North East of Santiago.
YOur so constructive. Congratulations.
Regarding PedroC.
When is the last time you went to Puente Alto Will?? It is the heart of Chile's new middle class. It does have slums, but also a metro station, which is making property values jump up. Its where your hated secretary probably lives...
The last time I went to Puente Alto was in transit to Cajón del Maipo. That metro station, the one you dance in praise for, pops out into a city center that looks like a Palestinian refugee camp.
How do you know where Fabiola lives? Tomás, you could do a lot better than Fabiola...
There are two types of deposits refundable and non-refundable. Refundable deposits are useless because you are offering no consideration. There is no point in putting a deposit down if you think you will change your mind and ask for your money back. Then you want to sue. Obviously you are not business person.
And by the way real estate agents suck everywhere. It is zero sum game.
Hey, Anonymous, I'm getting kinda tired of your comments. They're pretty easy to bat down, but you're wasting my time.
If you actually read the post, you'll note that I got the money back. That means it was a refundable deposit. The second I told them that I wasn't taking the apt, the guy said "okay, we'll see to getting you your money back asap."
(Goddammit, I feel like I'm re-writing the post, this is such a waste of time).
Anyway, the PROBLEM BEGAN when Fabiola threatened that there was a possibility that they wouldn't turn it back. That is totally unprofessional, because it was a refundable deposit.
I'm not making a general statement about real estate agents, as you are, nor do I think "being a business person" has anything to do with holding people to their promises, per this situation. Nor would I have wanted to waste months in a fucking third world courtroom suing over a petty 300 bucks.
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