I have a very large problem here with these "middleman" companies. This is exactly what GIC Argentina is. I recently returned from an 8-month stint living in Argetina, getting certified for TEFL, and teaching English. I became acquainted with this GIC program through an internet search. Knowing what I do now, this was my first mistake. NEVER, EVER go through one of these google internet search sites that advertise setting foreign students up abroad with housing, programs, etc. They charge absolutely ridiculous commission fees (often 100% commission).
When I first registered with GIC, I selected for them to arrange my housing, as well as my TEFL program. For the TEFL program, they wanted to charge me $2000. After searching more about the specific program online, I found that I was able to register DIRECTLY through the company that offered the program (TEFL Buenos Aires) for only $1500. The only thing GIC would have done for me, is make a couple phone calls, and enroll me in this same TEFL program, but charge me $500 more for it. That was their commission fee, $500, just for making a few phone calls and putting my name on a list for this TEFL program. $500! Insane. I registered directly through the company that hosted the TEFL program, (which only had 3 students in it), and saved myself a whopping 25% off the GIC price. It was very easy to do, I just looked up the programs main website, and easily registered through there website. GIC would have made $500 just for making a couple phone calls, something one can easily do themselves, and something I did eventually do for myself. $500 is more than a months rent in Argentina…..to put that into perspective.
Next up, the housing. This was my biggest mistake. Again, NEVER have someone set you up with housing over the internet, without first SEEING through pictures or something, an actual image of the residence where you will be staying. While GIC did put me in a great location for my TEFL class (which was their priority, to put me in housing nearest to my TEFL class), they again charged an absurd commission. They charged me $600 a month, or $175 per week. After arriving in Argentina, and seeing the accommodations, I wasn't too happy- but I figured that this was just Argentina, and to not be too snobby of an American. Then I found out that a few of my roommates- also foreign college students- were paying the landlord directly. Want to guess the price they were paying to the landlord? $300 a month, or more or less $75-80 a week. So again, my other roommates were paying the landlord directly, at $300 a month, while I was paying GIC $600 a month, for the same exact housing. Again, GIC charged me a 100% commission! THAT IS INSANE! And we all know that GIC just pays the landlord the $300 that she asks, and pockets the other $300. So again, all they did, was make a few phone calls, and shake a few hands, and made $300. This was something I again could have easily done on my own. Now what really pissed me off, was when my residence began having cockroach and bug problems, and rats from the meat store on the corner. Disgusting. Plus, the power went out once a week, and the internet rarely worked. Maybe I could handle this if I was paying $300 a month, but at $600 a month, you've got to be kidding me. No one pays double the normal for rent and gets a rat and cockroach infested house. That is just horrible business.
Needless to say, I found an apartment easily on my own after that, in a much much better location in the city, and for a price of $300 a month. I used an Argentine apartment website called compartodepto.com. I asked GIC to immediately refund my last 2 weeks in this residence, which they did so, and refunded me my money without hassle. The guy at GIC (and I say guy, because it is just one person who works for GIC) was compliant and wanted to do what he could to fix the problem. I do not have any complaints about the customer service. I had extremely limited contact with anyone from GIC, and only ever heard from the employee at GIC when I emailed him, extremely upset about my housing. But when I did contact them, they were helpful and compliant.
So overall, never go through any online "middleman" service that is going to put you into a program or find you a residence. They will charge you absolutely absurd commission charges, for simple tasks you could easily do yourself, if you know where to look. Just do some research on how to apply for programs and housing DIRECTLY through the companies offering them, because going through foreign student sites and what not will have you easily flagged as a dumb foreigner, and you will be taken advantage of monetarily. Unfortunately this is quite the common character trait for Argentinians (and they admit it themselves).
Do not use any middleman services, like these study abroad groups, or things like that. While some people may have had good experiences, my housing experience was awful, and even more so, for the price I paid. So if you are looking to study abroad in Argentina, apply to any programs directly through the program. And for housing, first book yourself into a cheap hostel- and then look for your own housing/apartment while in Argentina, so you can see the residence and talk to the people who are directly renting the apartment. This way, you will not be AS easily ripped off. These online websites specifically target foreigners that want to travel to the country alone and without any knowledge- and want to have things settled for them when they arrive and be comfortable, but you are paying an extremely inflated price for this service. I found it very, very easy to do all of these things on my own when I was in Argentina (I had intermediate SPanish speaking abilities then). So overall, do not get lazy and just pay someone to do these simple tasks for you. Do your own research, and apply directly to the companies, because otherwise, middleman services like this will always take you for a ride. At least they took me for one.
