Can a foreigner with CDI set up utility bills in their own names? Help!

[Bingo]

Does anyone know if I can set up utilities in my own name? I am American and recently purchased an apartment. The old lady that owned before me keeps hassling me to change the bills to my name. I don't think there is any credit system in Argentina but she has threatened to cancel the services if I don't change them to my name. I tried and was not able to with the electricity company and gas or water. They said I needed a DNI#. That can't be true. I went to sign up for Internet and they wouldn't even let me sign up with no DNI #!

My realtor told me I wouldn't have a problem but almost everything the realtor told me was wrong. I am angry at my realtor. They told me I wouldn't have to pay 21% IVA tax on the realtor fee and then at the closing she changed her mind and said it was required! The realtors here are terrible! I asked if she can help me put the utilities in her name and she refused. What are my options?

 

[Larry]

Does anyone know if I can set up utilities in my own name? I am American and recently purchased an apartment. The old lady that owned before me keeps hassling me to change the bills to my name. I don't think there is any credit system in Argentina but she has threatened to cancel the services if I don't change them to my name. I tried and was not able to with the electricity company and gas or water. They said I needed a DNI#. That can't be true. I went to sign up for Internet and they wouldn't even let me sign up with no DNI #!

My realtor told me I wouldn't have a problem but almost everything the realtor told me was wrong. I am angry at my realtor. They told me I wouldn't have to pay 21% IVA tax on the realtor fee and then at the closing she changed her mind and said it was required! The realtors here are terrible! I asked if she can help me put the utilities in her name and she refused. What are my options?

I am not sure about the other utility companies but I know that for internet you must have a DNI. My friend just bought an apartment in Soho and she couldn't get internet installed. She had to ask me. I was very reluctant to put another bill in my name as I don't want the responsibility if they don't pay. But she set up the billing to her credit card and did autopay. It's under my name with my DNI.

 

[Piranha]

No you can't set up internet without DNI. I could set up my electricity bill under my name. I don't have a DNI and the electricity is under my name.

 

[Opera Fan]

Does anyone know if I can set up utilities in my own name? I am American and recently purchased an apartment. The old lady that owned before me keeps hassling me to change the bills to my name. I don't think there is any credit system in Argentina but she has threatened to cancel the services if I don't change them to my name. I tried and was not able to with the electricity company and gas or water. They said I needed a DNI#. That can't be true. I went to sign up for Internet and they wouldn't even let me sign up with no DNI #!

My realtor told me I wouldn't have a problem but almost everything the realtor told me was wrong. I am angry at my realtor. They told me I wouldn't have to pay 21% IVA tax on the realtor fee and then at the closing she changed her mind and said it was required! The realtors here are terrible! I asked if she can help me put the utilities in her name and she refused. What are my options?

You definitely can't get internet without having a DNI in CABA. I had to ask my friend to sign me up.

 

[Johnny]

Does anyone know if I can set up utilities in my own name? I am American and recently purchased an apartment. The old lady that owned before me keeps hassling me to change the bills to my name. I don't think there is any credit system in Argentina but she has threatened to cancel the services if I don't change them to my name. I tried and was not able to with the electricity company and gas or water. They said I needed a DNI#. That can't be true. I went to sign up for Internet and they wouldn't even let me sign up with no DNI #!

My realtor told me I wouldn't have a problem but almost everything the realtor told me was wrong. I am angry at my realtor. They told me I wouldn't have to pay 21% IVA tax on the realtor fee and then at the closing she changed her mind and said it was required! The realtors here are terrible! I asked if she can help me put the utilities in her name and she refused. What are my options?

Hi Bingo. I can tell you my experience. I have purchased 2 properties so far in Buenos Aires. One was a pozo that was finished last year. Another was another pozo from the same developer that will be completed in January 2028.

I am a non-resident foreigner and only have my CDI #. I hired @BuySellBA to purchase my property and they included in their consulting fee to set up ALL utilities for me. I got the electricity in my own name. There is no gas in the building. The water is included with the HOA bill so I have no water bill so I am not sure about those things but I was told those can be set up without a DNI. The only thing that I couldn't set up in my name was the Internet bill as everyone above mentioned. Thankfully, @BuySellBA set that up for me. Mike used his own name for that so I noticed the bill was under his name. They included that in the service.

I noticed the realtors are terrible in Buenos Aires compared to the United States. I went to go look at some properties that were used properties and the listing agent was late to half of the visits. My agent, Pablo was good. But he didn't list any of them so we were at the mercy of the owner's agent. A few they never showed up! It's a horrible waste of time.

Part of the reason I bought a 2nd pozo was I liked the developer and met them many times and I didn't have to worry about problems or renovating. Almost all the properties I saw needed new kitchens and bathrooms and in terrible condition.

 

[LongIslander]

Hi Bingo. I can tell you my experience. I have purchased 2 properties so far in Buenos Aires. One was a pozo that was finished last year. Another was another pozo from the same developer that will be completed in January 2028.

I am a non-resident foreigner and only have my CDI #. I hired @BuySellBA to purchase my property and they included in their consulting fee to set up ALL utilities for me. I got the electricity in my own name. There is no gas in the building. The water is included with the HOA bill so I have no water bill so I am not sure about those things but I was told those can be set up without a DNI. The only thing that I couldn't set up in my name was the Internet bill as everyone above mentioned. Thankfully, @BuySellBA set that up for me. Mike used his own name for that so I noticed the bill was under his name. They included that in the service.

I noticed the realtors are terrible in Buenos Aires compared to the United States. I went to go look at some properties that were used properties and the listing agent was late to half of the visits. My agent, Pablo was good. But he didn't list any of them so we were at the mercy of the owner's agent. A few they never showed up! It's a horrible waste of time.

Part of the reason I bought a 2nd pozo was I liked the developer and met them many times and I didn't have to worry about problems or renovating. Almost all the properties I saw needed new kitchens and bathrooms and in terrible condition.

Correct. I could sign up for all utility bills with the exception of Internet/Cable after I purchased. I am not sure why they don't allow internet and allow the others. Does anyone know?

 

[Ceviche]

The others are correct. The only bill I couldn't set up was my internet bill before I had my DNI. I have my DNI now and have internet in my name now. Before I had to depend on a friend to set that up for me.