Spent 2 weeks calling a German letting agent trying to organise somewhere to rent in Guetersloh. Copious emails sent, calls made, voicemails left and countless broken promises to call me back. Every time I ask " do you even want my business" the response is always "yes".
It fleetingly crossed my mind, after being spat at by the agency for being an immigrant and "should pay local tax" after discussing the 183 day rule with them, that maybe, just maybe the agent was giving me the run around because I'm English. Nah, silly Suity, don't be daft lad.
So I contacted the agency once more, giving the number of the letting agency, my contact there and forwarded the mountain of unanswered emails. Bizarrely when he called them he got straight through and was able to speak directly with my contact.
She explained the problem is that I'm not a native German speaker and none of her landlords want to let to a foreigner.
Fair enough, but (I asked him) what is her excuse for not returning my calls or emails? Deadly silence on the call.
Is it because I'm English as well?
More silence.
So it's basically racism then?
Oh that's a harsh word.
Can you suggest a more appropriate one for being discriminated against because of nationality?
Suffice it to say, hotels and motels are expensive and coupled with the travel costs would make it ridiculously expensive and mean that rather than turning a modest profit and recovering my position and restocking the Warchest I will effectively be treading water for 3 months (arguably better than sliding backwards but still)
My first taste of being an immigrant, and it's not all that nice.
It fleetingly crossed my mind, after being spat at by the agency for being an immigrant and "should pay local tax" after discussing the 183 day rule with them, that maybe, just maybe the agent was giving me the run around because I'm English. Nah, silly Suity, don't be daft lad.
So I contacted the agency once more, giving the number of the letting agency, my contact there and forwarded the mountain of unanswered emails. Bizarrely when he called them he got straight through and was able to speak directly with my contact.
She explained the problem is that I'm not a native German speaker and none of her landlords want to let to a foreigner.
Fair enough, but (I asked him) what is her excuse for not returning my calls or emails? Deadly silence on the call.
Is it because I'm English as well?
More silence.
So it's basically racism then?
Oh that's a harsh word.
Can you suggest a more appropriate one for being discriminated against because of nationality?
Suffice it to say, hotels and motels are expensive and coupled with the travel costs would make it ridiculously expensive and mean that rather than turning a modest profit and recovering my position and restocking the Warchest I will effectively be treading water for 3 months (arguably better than sliding backwards but still)
My first taste of being an immigrant, and it's not all that nice.
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