Few people who retire in Costa Rica are aware that foreigners have rights as consumers. I always tell the people on my monthly relocation and retirement tours about their legal rights in Costa Rica. For example, foreigner retirees who buy property are entitled to all of the same rights and protection as Costa Ricans.

Foreign consumers are also protected. If you purchase something in Costa Rica and have a problem with the product you do have recourse. The la Ley de Promoción de la Competencia y Defensa Efectiva del Consumidor, which protects consumers against not honoring a guarantee, false advertising and the sale used merchandise which is advertised as new.

To file a claim against a merchant you have to do the following:

1. Call 800-266-7866 to see if you have a valid claim
2. If your claim is valid there are three ways to file:
   • in person: If you choose to do it in person you have to go to the office of the above institution located 200 meters north of Pizza Hut on Paseo Colón
   • by e-mail: consumo@meic.go.cr
   • or by phoning the number above

It is important to keep all receipts, original packaging, repair ticket, written guarantee, contract, the name and address of the company and most important, a detailed description about what the problem is.

I find myself having to revisit this topic once again to set the record straight. For the last couple of days on Costa Rica Living News Group there have been scores of threads about the cost of living here. Some people think it is inexpensive while others say that everything is expensive. The bottom line is that what you spend depends on your lifestyle and shopping habits.

Once you get settled here and know where to buy things you can save a lot of money. However, if you want to live like you did in the States and buy a lot of imported products at the high-end stores like the Automercado Supermarket, you will probably spend more than you did back home.

Here are a few things that are definitely less expensive in Costa Rica than in the U.S.

Water and electricity: I spend about $55 per month on both. You don’t need heat or electricity in the Central Valley

Transportation: Traveling by bus as many Costa Ricans do is dirt cheap. You can go to the farthest place in the country for under $10.

Domestic help: I pay under $20 a day for my maid who only comes once a week.

Fruits and vegetables: We grow everything here. By going to the weekend farmers markets or ferias you can save a bundle. Do what the locals do.

Medical care: The public health care system is dirt cheap. As a foreigner it will cost you anywhere between $25 to $50 per month depending on your income. The private health care system is also far less expensive than in the States. My yearly premium of under $2,000 which is far less than someone would pay in the States.

Dental work: and cosmetic surgery is a fraction of the cost of the U.S.

Education: A student at a public university pays less than $300 per year. My son goes to a private university and I pay less than $2,000 per year. In the States I’d be paying $30,000 to $50,000 or more.

Entertainment: A movie costs $4.00. I went to see a rock concert and sat near the stage the cost was under $100.

On my monthly relocation and retirement tours my guests always ask about the cost of living here. I give all of my clients sample budgets so they can se what you get for your money and the cost of living.

One of the major concerns for retirees and others who move here is mail service. With the advent of E-mail this is less of a concern than before. Nevertheless “snail mail” is still important especially when it comes to receiving or sending packages or other large items.

You need not worry in Costa Rica. There are several private mail services that will cover all of your needs. They give you a physical address in Miami just as if you were residing there. You can mail letters and packages from Costa Rica as well as receive items you order over the Internet. The last service has grown by leaps and bounds. Both Costa Ricans and Americans have come to use on-line shopping to purchase items that are not available in Costa Rica.

Aerocasillas is the mail company that I have used for the last fifteen years and I am happy to report that their service is excellent. Aerocasillas together with is main competitor, Jet Box, handle about 70,000 packages ordered over the Internet per month. Basically you can order almost anything from the United States except for firearms, chemicals and certain drugs by using one of these companies. I have even seen large car parts like fenders and windshields waiting to be picked up at my local branch of Aerocasillas in Heredia.

My clients send me checks from the U.S. and they always arrive safely and on time. This service is another benefit for those who choose to live or retire in Costa Rica. Living abroad becomes easier very year with the improvement of telecommunications and mail services like the ones I mention above.

I always make it a point to talk about this subject with the participants on my monthly relocation/retirement tours.

Once again, many of the participants in my relocation/retirement tours ask about the Costa Rican Legal System. I am not a lawyer and don’t feel qualified to give legal advice. However, I do have knowledge about some basic procedures that I have learned over the years.

Here is one of the questions I am often asked. How do wills work in Costa Rica?

You need to have a will here or your property will go to the government. You will need to name an executor or albacea. You will also need to have someone translate the final version of your will to make sure everything is correct. Some dishonest lawyers have been know to pull a fast one and name one of their relatives as the beneficiary. Therefore you should never use an attorney as an executor. Don’t use your family members either because of possible disputes later on.

Your “will” from the States won’t be valid if you die here. The assets you acquire here have to be be included in your Costa Rica will. In Costa Rica there are two types of wills: an open and closed will. Both must be done with a lawyer’s help and and must be listed in a public records called Archivos Nacionales in San Jose. Briefly, a closed will is when a person writes his last will on a piece of paper and puts it in a sealed envelope. The lawyer then makes a cover sheet. An open will is done in the presence of a lawyer and lists all of he assets and who is going to get them. This is public information so anyone can know what the will contains.

The whole process is a little more complicated than this so I suggest you contact a knowledgeable bilingual lawyer.

Many of the participants in my relocation/retirement tours ask about the Costa Rican Legal System. I am not a lawyer and don’t feel qualified to give legal advice. However, I do have knowledge about some basic procedures that I have learned over the years.

Here is one of the questions I am often asked. Do powers of attorney exist in Costa Rica?

Yes, to the best of my knowledge there are four types of powers of attorney in Costa.

1.-Special power of attorney is a power of attorney for a single transaction or act. It doesn’t need to be recorded.

2.-General power of attorney has to be protocolized (to record in a notarial register) by a notary and has to be recorded in the Public Registry or Registro Público. This is used when a person gives power to another person to perform “certain” specific acts. This type of power of attorney has to be recorded in the registry before it can be used.

3.-General Power of Attorney or generalisimo is the broadest and most far reaching power of attorney that exists. It is given to an agent who acts for you or represents you. It has to be protocolized (to record in a notarial register) and recorded in writing in the public records like the previous power of attorney before it can be utilized.

4.-Special power of attorney can only be granted to lawyers by their clients to act on their behalf at a trial. It doesn’t have to be registered. However, it has to be authenticated and must be filed in the office or judicial office that is in charge of the proceedings in question.

I hope this makes sense.