Unless they actually called the police, which is unlikely,>

for that sum it may be more likely than you think IMO

and again the extra charges pay for the % the B&B pays the credit card agency so why would they renege - what would they have to save if that is the case as it has been at zillions of similar places I have stayed at?

I think we do not know about this to fairly judge only speculate. In U S it is illegal per card agreement I believe to impose a surcharge but apparently not in Italy or if it is tolerated.

Palen Q, my experience is the opposite of yours: I've stayed in about a dozen mid- and low-priced Italian hotels over ten years and do not recall any surcharge for using a credit card.

>>Again talking about one of the most blatantly corrupt countries in the world<<......PalenQ

Yes, let's slam an entire country and it's people because of the actions of one B & B owner. Kind of like blaming all Muslims or Muslim countries for the actions of a few.

PQ, Please stay away from Italy and it's terrible corruption.
Capisce

<i>Tell them you'll pay by credit card, or not at all. If they object, suggest that they call the tourist police.

If their machine is in fact "broken," they absolutely can still call in the credit card number.</i>

+1.

Tell them to find a way or to pound sand. It isn't your responsibility to help them out. They advertised that they take credit cards. It is their responsibility to accept them.

<i>why would they renege...what would they have to save...?</i>
Apparently they are saving something, as several of us have experienced being told the card machine doesn't work, only to have them accept the credit card when we insisted we had no other method of payment.

<i>these places always IME tack on a surcharge for using a credit card</i>
That may be your experience, but places don't always tack on a surcharge. In fact, I've never had a merchant suddenly tack on a surcharge when I whipped out my credit card, although I have had some offer a discount if I paid cash.

<i>...would not make anymore money by feigning the machine was broke</i>
Businesses do indeed make more money by feigning the machine is broken because they don't have to pay the surcharge,which can be as high as 6% of the transaction.

I've also never heard or read of anyone having the police called on them in this situation, but I suppose anything is possible.

Here are some other links re this topic. "Broken card machine" claim happens a lot. All over the world, not just Italy.

http://goo.gl/VyZtd
http://goo.gl/tzo9P (scroll to section on credit cards)
http://goo.gl/zmVJa (read first review)
http://goo.gl/8MeMi (read 2nd review "Close to Leidseplein")
http://goo.gl/LN4Lo

Ok I grant you it could be a scam but look at our friend on Fodors ribeirasacra whose post above says she runs a B&B and when the CC machine goes bust it can take weeks for the bank to fix it - all I am saying that this B&B owner could be just as legit as I assume ribeirasacra is. but it could be a scam as walkabout posts clearly shows.

But I have been in many low-budget Italian B&Bs and almost always there has been a surcharge for using a credit card which is why I always have to use ATM funds to pay simply I am on a low low budget.

And yes Italy, unfortunately is one of the most blatantly and visibly corrupt countries around. Berlosconia is living proof of that!

If the phones aren't working as was the case in the Close to Leidseplien example then the CC machine won't be working either, since it needs a phone line to work. (still sounds a terrible place to stay though )

Please don't travel to such a "blatantly and visibly corrupt country"
Capisce
By the way, WhoTF is Berlosconia?

I ran into the exact same thing in Milan about 5 years ago. Amazingly on the morning of my checkout the CC machine would "not work" and they demanded cash. They said the couldn't call it in due to regulations. I said "tough luck, you advertised credit, I only came her due to that and I'm calling the police right now and you'll pay my airfare home."

We settled for 1/2 of the price cash, after both of us accused each other of being thieves. This is a game played by smaller places to get you in, then try to force you to pay cash, which they are not going to report as income. Call the bluff by demanding the police. They'll always cave.

dave

dave

Way to go Dave. It's good to see that not all Americans are chumps.

<i>Call the bluff by demanding the police. They'll always cave.</i>

Or a receipt with codice fiscale or IVA (tax) number.

we had this happen in Florence. the machine wasn't 'working' when we had to check out and we didn't have cash; our atm card was set at a daily limit of $250 so there was no option. they ended up taking an impression of the card, writing in the amount and taking it. no need to call police in our situation.

yewstulivnitalia - I rest my case with the scores of posts above testifying that this is indeed common practice in Italy - scamming of tourists - blatantly - and obviously many tourists do complain but... it goes on.

Berlosconia ain't she one of Berlosconi's bimbos - underage bimbos at some party of some island?

Have you ever heard of the road to nowhere in Sicily - an autoroute that just ends in a desert-like setting after being partially built for no good reason.

One reason Germany is aloof to bail out Italy is because Italy, especially southern Italy has been a blackhole for EU funds - like the garbage piling up in Naples periodically - some local Mafioso no doubt responsible.

If Italy ain't the most blatantly corrupt country in Europe who is?

again the complaints of this magnitude and incidents that many above report - blatant rip-offs of tourists who not happen IME on such a wide scale in any other European country - seems local cops must be in on not policing this national scandal.

<<If Italy ain't the most blatantly corrupt country in Europe who is?>>

http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/...countries.html

Want to rethink this?

What might be the LAW in Italy?
Do they have 'common law', or a 'UCC-equivalent law' ? I suppose there must be an EU-commercial code in effect. On the face of it, the B&B entered into a contract with the OP, one of the terms of which were that CC-payment was at a minimum implied, if not explicit. Hence the B&B cannot change the terms of a contract without agreement with the OP.

StCirq..... I wonder if the UK will leap up those charts after the News of the World phone tapping .police payment story evolves?



tomboy, what agreement? There is never ever a promise anywhere that you can pay by a CC, not in any shop or hotel. etc.

Interesting chart, StCirq. Italy beaten out for the top spot by central/eastern European countries of the former USSR, former Yugoslavia and ... Greece. Could Italy be the most blatantly corrupt country in Western Europe?

Good point, ribeirasacra. But more generally, I should think that it would be obvious that certain Eastern European countries are far more corrupt than Italy.

Italy's corruptness though is perhaps more transparent than the old commie staellite countries - like Berlosconi manipulating the legal system not to investigate what are serious charges of criminal activity - in any other European country he would either have to have had resigned or would be the subject of an inquiry (well perhaps not in France where Chirac looted zillions when he was Mayor of Paris and was only investigated after leaving office and recently cleared, kind of or at least was not gone after)

But Berlosconi flaunts it and dares the legal system to investigate him - at their own peril - he of course not only owns things like Standa chain but more importantly much of the mass media - the so-called watch dog over government.

But I was indeed considering western Europe when I made that statement about Italy being most corrupt European country as I know little of the shenanigans going on in places like Poland or Albania or Serbia, countries without the decades of democratic traditions as Italy presumably has.

And yes for a country to allow such wide scale endemic rip off of tourists by the c card machine being broke scam is just an indicator of all of this - I do not think this happens as practically a business practice in other western European countries and would not be tolerated - the local tourism authorities would take action I believe.

And heck even the Vatican bank has been found to be dipping its hands in its till...

We've had restaurants in France claim that the credit-card machine was broken and cash was required. Not true.