Getting all your utilities and basic services hooked up is one of the most frustrating things about setting up residence in Bolivia. There are delays, gaps in service areas, plenty of requirements before you can sign contracts at each company, offices dispersed all over the city, and pretty shabby customer service at some.

Among all of this, one company stands out: did you know that SAGUAPAC (the Santa Cruz water cooperative) is the largest in the world, and is also considered one of the best? In a country known for its poor public management and unstable economics, this is truly surprising. Unfortunately, not all basic service companies get such high scores, so let our Expat Services team give you a hand - in Santa Cruz and in Tarija.

Here’s what we’ll be taking care of for you:

• We’ll help you get all your utilities hooked up and ready to go once you've rented your home or apartment: water, electricity, gas, local phone, cellular phone, internet, and cable TV. This will include presenting you all the available choices, costs and packages, and/or accompanying you to each company to translate while you get informed, fill out your applications and sign your contracts.

• We’ll remain in contact with each company, making phone calls and putting the pressure on, until all your utilities have been installed and are ready to use. Please be advised that some of these companies have a 2-5 day waiting period between the time you sign your contract with them and the day their technicians install your utilities.

• We’ll show you how to make local, national, and international calls from your phone line, how to make local and national calls from your cell phone, and how to change a natural gas canister if your new home isn’t equipped with permanent gas lines.

• We’ll keep things as convenient as possible for you by doing everything we can ourselves. We'll let you know when you'll need to accompany us or sign something in person so you can focus on other more important matters.

• We’ll conclude by preparing a checklist for you of all the utility company phone numbers you’ll need, the deadlines by which you must pay each bill each month (depending on the contracts you signed) and locations where you can pay your bills.

Professional translators in Santa Cruz (myself included) charge upwards of $300 per day! This is your chance to have an English speaker accompany you everywhere, fully inform you, assist you with all contracts, and leave everything ready to go - for a single flat fee of just $99! If you’d like more information, please contact me and let me know how my team and I can help make living in Bolivia an unforgettable experience for you!