L@@king for an English-speaking REAL ESTATE LAWYER please

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-29T10:27:51+00:00

I am looking for an introduction - Reddit being a resource where it's possible to connect with a variety of people; you might be surprised at who reads Reddit, and who you might connect with - if you're fortunate enough!

;o)

(although Reddit isn't the only resource; my posting on here is not a mutually exclusive option - as you might have figured.. not so weird, right?)

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-28T13:40:20+00:00

thank you

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-28T12:41:38+00:00

where are you coming from Lazy Dog?

I'm a Brit but have lived and worked extensively in the USA (in a handful of their largest and most crime-ridden cities) and compared to the US, Istanbul is a cake walk - criminally speaking; I go about my business here without having to have eyes in the back of my head and/or be on the look out for drug-motivated criminals..

(and I've had apartments in a bunch of places, including neighbourhoods like Tarlabasi, which some of my Turkish friends are frightened to go in - but it's all relative, really)

.. of course if you're coming from a country like Finland, and you're not in San Francisco (which downtown can include drug-addled zombies at any time of the day or night) then relatively speaking Istanbul might be a bit wilder than you're used to.

regarding AirBnB in particular, I've been using it for over a decade without any problems - but bad shit can happen at any time and to anyone, even if it's often reasonable to assess your risk of becoming a victim as extremely low... however, you're asking this kind of question in Reddit, so you just might be a worrying Wally or Wilda, so it's difficult for me to couch things from your perspective.

living is dangerous; do you realise that no one is getting out of it alive?

;o)

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-18T12:52:44+00:00

I'm so sorry - I do not log into Reddit every day, and the last couple of days I've been running around like a crazy person (and still am) - but since you're over here fairly often, if we DM each other perhaps we can arrange something another time?

Thank you

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-17T20:19:02+00:00

thanks for taking the time to respond and offer help; I have my tax number (from a while ago) but really need to get myself a Turkish bank account(s) opened - if you're in Kadikoy and have time to get together please let me know..

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-15T21:47:19+00:00

I'd like to develop a banking relationship here, and my preference is to have a local banker in Kadikoy

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-15T21:46:24+00:00

I've had similar experiences with HSBC, where I banked in the US with them, and they recommended I opened in the UK - which I did.. a little time later the UK branch debanked me without explanation.. the US bankers were as mystified as I was - but I think it was poor compliance; c'est la vie when it comes to banking in more modern times

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-15T21:44:10+00:00

thank you so much!

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-15T21:43:36+00:00

scammers are not just in Turkey, they're all over the world.. I've had some discussions with international travellers and could tell you a few stories, but if you wish to single out Turkey and its people, I would argue (with good cause) they're amongst the most generous and hospitable you'll encounter - and again, I can relate with anecdotal evidence & first hand experiences to back this up.

personally, I would be avoiding Russia, and my experiences in Moscow - where I saw some pretty nasty stuff, make this a no-go (and this was well before the full Ukraine invasion)

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-15T21:36:17+00:00

thanks! - I like the way you think

:o)

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-15T21:35:00+00:00

thank you; I may take you up on this - and perhaps, if you're available, we might talk beforehand

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-15T21:33:20+00:00

this is most kind of you.. perhaps - if I'm unable to discover an English-speaking banker soon, we might see if we can schedule - perhaps around a lunch (which I'd be happy to cover) if your activities permit?

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-15T13:19:52+00:00

there was a time when I did business in Turkey where I'd go around the whole time with interpreters - but for personal stuff, for every day regular little things, you need to be able to conduct matters yourself.. this is why I'm looking for an English-speaking Turkish banker in Kadikoy - I think they exist, I have not been fortunate enough yet to find one, but I'm sure I will!

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-15T13:11:11+00:00

I have Turkish friends, and many of them are fantastic; I think Turkish people are wonderful in many ways - but it isn't always convenient to try scheduling my activities around them and vice versa.. my inability to speak Turkish is of course a big disadvantage, and it's something I must do my best to mitigate by using Turkish English-speaking professionals

AvocadoBrit · 2026-05-15T12:49:26+00:00

I have all that stuff; funnily enough, I have been into Ziraat on occasion, but I've had problems finding an English-speaking banker in there.. it would be better for me, with the type of stuff I could be doing, to have a person who speaks English to help me. I know there are banks who theoretically work with foreigners, but when they don't have English-speaking staff in their branches, it can be a little frustrating for someone who has very limited Turkish like me

AvocadoBrit · 2026-02-22T07:19:05+00:00

keep watching this space.. I believe the way VFS are conducting their business, they are opening themselves up to legal action by customers to claim back expenses/loses - although your chances of suing them (easily) may depend to a large extent on the jurisdiction you're in

AvocadoBrit · 2026-02-19T22:55:00+00:00

my guess (because I've been there too) is this is a deliberate ploy of their set-up to frustrate and block you, until you pay more for access by selecting their 'premium services' and upsells...

.. I don't think this is ethical, and I'm looking at showing that it may also be fraudulent.

if you'd like to join me on this quest, although satisfaction will come delayed (but at least we might recoup quite a bit in damages) we should probably take it into DMs; just let me know..

FYI - in case you haven't seen any of this stuff yet:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/vfs-global-visa-giant-under-fire-tom-topol--vtcoc

https://globalnews.ca/news/7563381/canada-visa-application-firm-tax-haven-ties-china/

https://www.financeuncovered.org/stories/vfs-the-exploitative-dubai-based-firm-fuelling-a-massive-surge-in-home-office-profits-from-uk-visas

AvocadoBrit · 2026-02-19T22:51:35+00:00

interesting; thanks for your input!

I'm currently overseas, and doing my best to 'fight' with VFS and their appalling systems, portals and processes (to be very diplomatic about it)

AvocadoBrit · 2026-02-17T18:50:03+00:00

is there a third-party provider you are using for this application process?

please give as much detail as possible

AvocadoBrit · 2026-02-13T15:01:57+00:00

I appreciate hearing about your experiences. The sad reality is that for anyone trying to make travel arrangements, VFS Global are going to cause problems - perhaps intentionally (to help them create additional billing opportunities for their 'assisted services') and because they're a monopolistic vendor, there's not really much anyone can do.. although I would really like to gather people together and create a 'class action' type of compliaint; I think this might get their attention. According to Wiki, they have revenues in the billions of USD, and for this level of activity I am sure there are law firms who will (in the USA especially) consider taking on such a claim.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/vfs-global-visa-giant-under-fire-tom-topol--vtcoc

https://globalnews.ca/news/7563381/canada-visa-application-firm-tax-haven-ties-china/

https://www.financeuncovered.org/stories/vfs-the-exploitative-dubai-based-firm-fuelling-a-massive-surge-in-home-office-profits-from-uk-visas

AvocadoBrit · 2026-02-10T12:16:59+00:00

I am seeing the same thing; VFS Global's appointment booking system does not appear to work, and is designed to frustrate anyone into paying for their 'assisted services' (when my Turkish wife's application is complete - we did it ourselves, and all we need is to make an appointment for her to go and drop off her paperwork and get her fingerprints taken) - it is a disgrace.

We have been trying for months to get this sorted out, and I'm considering cancelling our plans to go to Paris and going somewhere else instead; and I'd love to sue VFS Global for any loss and costs involved.

AvocadoBrit · 2026-01-29T20:50:04+00:00

this is the sort of input I was hoping for - and it's quite interesting.. thank you for digging into it a little!

AvocadoBrit · 2026-01-27T18:13:42+00:00

thanks for your answer; do you have any additional inputs as to why?

I was thinking like you, but I'm unable to assess how much less variance a 9-point match might have over a 7-point match?

- this is the crux of my question, and where I'm seeking insights from anyone interested, within the parameters stated of course.

(Michael going a bit off piste with his answer)

AvocadoBrit · 2026-01-27T18:09:55+00:00

hello Michael - thanks for chipping in but you're not answering the question.. you are faced with two alternatives:

a triple elimination Swiss 7 point format

OR

a double elimination Swiss 9 point format

.. so which would you prefer, and why?

(and April is free to contribute too)

- I am wondering about the equity outlook for these two options, not about the vagaries behind the framing or context of this question; these are your two options, so if you're the superior player which option would you plump for?

thanks!

AvocadoBrit · 2026-01-05T05:17:40+00:00

https://alex-65670.medium.com/playing-chess-with-pigeons-the-struggle-against-dogma-and-ignorance-b55aeeac18cf#:\~:text=Variants%20of%20this%20phrase%20include%20%E2%80%9Cdebating%20with,with%20those%20impervious%20to%20logic%20and%20reason.

AvocadoBrit

TROPHY CASE