QCOSTARICA – Following the ending of the contract with the company Consorcio Exact Change, which offers the service of exchanging currency at the San José airport, Aeris Holding Costa Rica has started procedures for selecting a new provider.
The company managing Juan Santamaria International (SJO) airport announced the end of the contract with the Spanish exchange services provider, due to the fact that it has not completed the process of registering with the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) and the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (SUGEF).
Therefore preparations are being made, for the coming months, to release specifications for a new tender for the service.
Fernando Soto, Inspector General of Concerned Body for Finance and Restructuring Management at the airport told Crhoy.com that “… The reasons given resulted in Aeris terminating the contract with the company and it is currently initiating procedures for a new contest “” … Meanwhile, the company Global Exchange Casa de Cambio will continue to provide the service of exchange at the airport. ”
“… In 2014, the Consortium Exact Change won the DC-14-04 contest to operating exchange services, for which it signed a contract with Aeris on 27 November.”
Source: Crhoy.com
Finally the end of the equivalent of highway robbery at the airport! Innumerable tourists lost thousands of colones exchanging at these thieves’ teller windows. It was absolutely embarrassing to see the rates these people were buying dollars! Hope this thievery comes to an end and several exchange houses or banks are allowed to participate simultaneously…
Sadly Aitor, it’s like that ALL over the world at airport Money Exchange kiosks. You’re paying for their outrageous rent & the convenience. Just like if you get money exchanged at a bank – if it’s not U.S. $s (& some banks also Canadian $s or Euros), they have to go through the process of ensuring having enough $$ for you so you don’t have to go to the main offices in Downtown San Jose which would be their normal process.
People can always go to the BCR atm machines & withdraw colones &/or go to their window to at least exchange US$s.