So, after five months I contacted my Realtor and told him I wanted to get going on a new lease. I felt that since I was the 'perfect' tenant and had not only paid in advance, but I have prepaid almost all the utility bills as well, so they should be happy to have me stay here. Of course the lawyer for the landlord never returned any of my Realtors calls. In desperation, I went back to the Sporting Goods Store (also owned by the same family) where I had met the lawyer and signed the first lease. To my delight there was a very nice guy behind the counter who spoke perfect English. The lawyer does not speak a word of English (at least he refuses to converse in English) The guy then informed me that he was the landlord's nephew who would be moving in next door to me. The apartment has been under construction (off and on) since before I moved in here.
He immediately called the lawyer and explained that I was prepared to pay two months 'up front" plus the one months security deposit, but wanted at least a one year lease. He said in that case, he would only give me a three month lease. Finally it was agreed that I would pay six months again, but I would get a one year lease. At least that is what I think was agreed upon. I explained that since I can only take so much out of the bank in one day that it would take me three days to get the money together. He said he would meet me the following Monday morning with the new lease.
I ran right off to the bank to start withdrawing the money. I was already in the ATM booth when I discovered that I did not have my ATM card with me. I always carried in inside the copies of all my identification in my back pocket. Since I had just drawn money out there days before, I was sure it must be some where in my apartment. It was not! It was not where I stash extra cash. It was not in the pants I had been wearing. It was not in the washing machine or the dryer, I do not know if the machine did not return the card right away (it beeps loudly when it does) or if some how I dropped it or it fell out of my pocket.
It was just gone. First I checked my bank account on the internet and fortunately no transactions had been made since my own withdrawal.
I then called my bank. Or rather I called the automated phone line bank. I could not believe how hard it was to report a stolen card. I understand that on the back of the card there is a number to report stolen cards, but since the card was gone I did not have that number. (Who writes down such numbers, certainly not I). So I had to call what is laughingly called "customer service". Even after I managed to report the lost or stolen card, I still did not get a live person. After a long pause a voice came on to say that a new card was being mailed to my address. " BUT I AM NOT IN THE U.S", I screamed. After a good long time of yelling into the phone I did get a real person. I explained to her that I was in Mexico and a card sent to my U.S. address would do me no good. She managed to cancel that request and ordered one sent to my apartment in Mexico. She had no idea how long it would take, but it would go out FedEx. I asked for a FedEx number, but she said that she did not have it and to call back the following day.
The following day was a Saturday when I discovered that nothing would be done until Monday. I finally did get a FedEx number and by tracking it on my computer found that it had been sent and would be delivered on Thursday. Not soon enough, but what can you do. On Wednesday morning I found that it had already arrived in Puerto Vallarta, so hoping that it would be delivered that afternoon. I went to the Sporting Goods Store and told him that I would have the cash (pesos) by Friday and to please arrange for the lawyer to have the lease ready for me. I did also stop for my morning latte and sure enough when I got back, there was a tag on the door that said the FedEx man had been here ten minutes before I got home.
On the slip of paper they had checked a box that (in Spanish) said to call to arrange another delivery. You won't believe this unless you have lived in Mexico, but THERE IS NO TELEPHONE NUMBER on the tag.
I called my friend who speaks perfect English and Spanish. He called somewhere and they told him that it would be delivered to me the following day. NO time given.
In the meanwhile, I had received several email messages from my Realtor. I told him that I had arranged in ten minutes what he had not been able to do in a month. He wanted to be there anyway "for my protection" I told him that until I get my ATM card, it is all on hold. When I did speak to the guy at the Sporting Goods Store, I told him that my Realtor wanted to be there and to ask the lawyer about that. He told me that he was sure that the Realtor would want a commission for the new lease and if so, I would have to pay it in addition to my six months rent. Since my Realtor had not only not been able to get me a better deal on the first lease, and never gave me a translated copy of the first lease (as promised), I decided I did not need him.
The next morning, I not only did not leave the apartment, but left the door on the street wide open. I had yet to cancel bridge with my partner, hoping that it would arrive at about the same time as the previous day. Again assuming the Mexican FedEx would have a delivery plan. If all else failed, my friend who spoke to some one at FedEx said that I could claim it between 7:00 and 8:00 at night. The trucks would return at seven and the office closed at eight.
While I was waiting, my friend who is visiting from Minnesota arrived at my door to see my apartment. I had him watch the door while I shaved and showered. He had no sooner left when my Realtor appeared at my door. I explained to him my problem with FedEx. He too was surprised that there was no number on the slip, so he called Mexican information. The only listing they had was a FedEx in Guadalajara. He called them and they told him that my parcel was at the Puerto Vallarta FedEx office and if it was not picked up by tomorrow, they would send it back to the U.S!
He said he knew where the office was, so the two of us jumped in a taxi and took off. It is a good thing I had him with me for the taxi driver had no idea where the office was (this is not uncommon with taxi drivers in Mexico). After an interminable wait at the office, the girl returned from the back room to say that my parcel was on the truck and he would be at my home in 15 minutes. We hurried back by taxi (taking the last 50 pesos I had to my name) and sure enough in less than 5 minutes the man arrived. Not in a brown FedEx truck, but in a blue and white "Multipax" truck. The FedEx office here is listed only under "Multipax" (who would know?),
My Realtor then informed me that he had indeed spoken to the lawyer and we would "all" meet at the Sporting Goods store at ten tomorrow morning. I ran to the bank and drew out my maximum and planned to go back early the next day, but that still left me 2,000 pesos short (assuming I did not have to come up with the extra for commission) At this point, I figured that out later. I called my friend here and he agreed to loan me the extra until I could get to the bank on Saturday for another withdrawal.
The lawyer took care of the Realtor by telling him that we did not need him and there would be on commission. I was early, the lawyer was late. He had the lease all typed out except he said that it was only for 6 months. He still does not trust me. I did get it for the same cheap rent, so I figured, what the Hell.
Of course I still could not read it, but I did look at dates. The original lease was written one week before I signed it and before I got the key. Sure enough I am shorted one week again. But I also noticed that it looked like it expired in three months. "Oh, so sorry, I make mistake". I waited for him to rewrite that page, gave him the six months rent, got a receipt. He then had to take it to the landlady for her signature, so I told him I would be back later,
The final copy was there, all signed by the landlady, lawyer and one witness (God knows who!) So for the next six months I am safe and I won't owe any rent. What a relief! In September he said it would go up 500 pesos (about $40.00). Not much, but I can fight that another day. Tonight I get drunk!
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