Abel Ramos Resurfaces – But still does not deliver the work that he was contractually obliged to provide for US$2,000

We are always happy to recommend people that do good jobs for us and the VIP Members of WeLoveCostaRica.com however once in a while, we come across a someone who acts in a ‘very unprofessional manner’ he said in a typical British understatement.

When we first met, Abel Ramos was very persistent, charming and even though we were discussing cutting edge technology he came across as being knowledgeable and confident in his ability to do the things that I wanted to do…

He had initially approached me to offer his professional services to our VIP Members and always, I wanted to thoroughly check references and his actual work before we even though about recommending him to anyone. This proved to be a very expensive check…

Since he had come from California and had only been here a short time, his references were extremely limited and although I did telephone someone who knew Abel, being the mild mannered type he didn’t say anything too negative about Abel but didn’t say anything too positive either.

My project was a bit ‘different’ so I thought I would give Abel Ramos a shot to do a one month project involving aerial tours and a few other things whilst I was on vacation. Before we signed an agreement and paid him his first US$2,000 payment which was 50% of the total to be paid at the end of the project, all my emails were answered within minutes. That has since changed…

After returning from vacation and seeing that Abel Ramos had accomplished absolutely nothing that he had agreed to do for me I sent him an inquiring email and he told me that: “I’m moving here in Guanacaste and setting up my new office here.”

Warning Sign #1: Abel Ramos takes US$2,000 and moves five hours away…

So exactly two days after our first month’s work should have been completed, when he had told me how thrilled he would have been working with me long-term, he had moved five hours away from the location where he was paid to do the aerial photography tour work, he was “considering” an offer to “join forces with” someone else and could show me no work whatsoever that he had done for me for the US$2,000 that I had already paid him.

Warning Sign #2: Lies: According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, the word ‘lie’ means “to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive” or “to create a false or misleading impression.” So if someone tells you he’s going to do something and then does not do it but takes your money anyway, is that lying?

He mentioned “a small problem,” that “I’ve installed bootcamp on my IMAC. The installer was in Spanish and I accidentally told the installer to format my MAC drive. I’m not happy about that.”

Of course I had to ask him what that meant to me and he said that the work that he had done would have to be done all over again. Since the work should have been completed in the first month and since I had still not seen proof of one hour’s work never mind one month’s work, I had now mentally written off the US$2,000.

Abel reassured me that “JUST FYI scott, I’ve been working my ASS off. I told you, I’ve repeated to you AND I will tell you AGAIN that I intend on finishing what I’ve started with you.” And “Hands down, If you told me that we would work together for sure, I would be back in Escazu in a heart beat.”

Call me crazy but why on earth would I want to promise extra work to someone who has so far shown me NOTHING of what he was already contractually obliged to provide me?

He tells me that: “I know that our relationship is new, but try giving me the benefit of the doubt here. I still work very fast and like I said, I’m ahead of the ballgame at the moment.”

Warning Sign #3: Not responding to my emails.

Now unlike before – when he still wanted money – Abel would take many days to reply to me.

I asked him again: “When exactly are you planning on doing this? It is six days since your last email and I have seen nothing. I am not happy Abel – I am more than a “little ticked” (an expression used by him) and want to see something. You can tell me until you are blue in the face about how hard you have worked but look at it from my point of you…”

I emailed him saying that: “All I know is that you made me a lot of promises about how talented you are and what you could do for me. I trusted you and paid you a lot of money in comparison to what I pay most of my associates and so far, all I have got from you so far is a series of of excuses and I have seen absolutely NOTHING… that you have done. So when exactly are you planning on doing this work?”

Warning Sign #3: He promises to pay me back… And promises… And promises…

1. In his email dated 30th July 2007 Abel Ramos stated and I quote: ” I can give you $400.00 right now. AND If you can be patient, I will come up with the rest in less than a month.”
2. On 2nd August 2007 he stated and I quote: “Can I give you $400 every monday? I may have more money sooner and I’ll just take care of the entire balance. yes?”
3. I said that: “I will expect your first payment on Monday 6th August” and he replied: “Thanks scott, I’ll make it on time.”
4. On 8th August 2007 he said that: “I am doing my best to get you your money. I will be calling my parents today as my last resort.”
5. On the 10th August 2007 he said that he would deposit the money on Monday 13th August 2007.
6. On August 13th 2007 the money had not been deposited but on August 14th he stated that: “I need to make it in to my bank and deposit… I will be in my bank today and handle you…”
7. On August 15th “I assure you that you will receive your “measly” $2,000.00 please just be alittle more patient with me.”
8. On August 21st 2007 “I’m able to make a payment tomorrow for sure, and looks like I may be paying you off within a month. Let me know if you still want the money, or if your the type that just wipes your ass every day with a 2k dollar bill.”

If anyone would like to see these original emails sent to me by Abel Ramos, we would be happy to oblige…

Abel Ramos was spotted attending the American Real Estate Expo at the Hotel Ramada Plaza Herradura on 10th February 2008 where he was representing a company called www.WhereIsTheNextParty.com – I have no idea what ‘WhereIsTheNextParty’does does but whatever business Abel Ramos is associated with is one that I will never, ever do business with, and I will encourage everyone that I know to do the same.

On one of the sales brochures provided at the show, Abel Ramos is also listed on the Artola Estates company brochure for people wanting to buy land from them, when you email them for more information, you receive an automated email response from Abel Ramos who is the ‘Marketing Director.’

The website “marketing solutions” company that designed the Artola Estates company website is ProjectM2 which is the very simple website of Abel Ramos. The website promises (but does not show any examples) of “interactive web design”, 3D modeling and animation” as well as “Google Earth solutions.”

These are also the kind of projects he promised Scott Oliver of WeLoveCostaRica.com when Scott Oliver paid Abel Ramos $2,000 but, Abel Ramos still has not delivered any work – of any kind – more than nine months later.

And as of today – 10th February 2008 even though he has repeatedly agreed in writing to return the monies paid to him as you can see from the emails he himself wrote, Abel Ramos has not paid a dime and he has provided none of the work that he was contractually obliged to do for the US$2,000 that was paid to him.

I am pit-bull loyal to my friends and trusted business colleagues and have helped bring them a lot of business but please don’t don’t lie to me and don’t even think about messing with our VIP Members or we will make your bad conduct very, very public.

Needless to say, I will be watching Abel Ramos, Artola Estates, ‘WhereIsTheNextParty’ and ProjectM2 like a hawk…

If you have also had an ‘experience’ with Abel Ramos that you would like to share please feel free to contact Scott Oliver the founder of WeLoveCostaRica here.

To send this to your friends in Costa Rica just click on the ‘Tell A Friend’ button’ which you’ll find on the left hand side menu.

Written by Scott Oliver, author of How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa and Costa Rica’s Guide To Making Money Offshore.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.