This blog has condemned International Living and others for engendering foreign carpet baggers and I stand by that denunciation. But it is also time to nip in the bud the few local Scalawags* who are preying on the expats who are trying to make a life here.
* Scalawag was a term of opprobrium reserved for Southrons who preyed on the misfortune of others during the Yankee occupation of the South after the American War Between the States: they were considered totally dishonorable and far worse than the Carpetbaggers from the North.
If you read Alexander’s post on SociedadSouthron.net about his real estate experience, you will see what I mean. THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO US! We had to put up with it then, but we do not have to put up with it now.
Consequently, we are going to organize a black list and publish it on UruguayLiving.info. But, this will not be a cyber-lynching, rather it will be UL’s Oficina para Mejorar los Negocios (Better Business Bureau).
- If you have been victimized, please get us whatever proof you have as well as a written narrative of your problem.
- Someone from our office will then contact the alleged offender, and ask them for their side of the story and that they “make it right” or explain the problem from their point of view.
- If they refuse to make it right and their explanation does not satisfy us; or if they ignore us completely, they will get blacklisted.
- If the facts remain unclear to us after we investigate, we will publish both sides of the story, and let the people decide.
By boycotting frausters who employ “bait and switch” as a regular business tactic, we will be improving the situation both for expats and for Uruguayos. Crooks are crooks are crooks…
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I think this is an excellent effort and I believe it is something we all appreciate. Thanks again for all the effort put into this community!
Left by ganso on October 5th, 2006