zeppole

>>According to Zeppole, I am breaking the law by participating in a 1600 euro cash transaction.<<

This has been in many news reports. It was a key feature of Italy's internationally-watched reform package passed at the beginning of the year.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...-12082011.html

Even if your rental landlord doesn't take credit cards, they are of course able to take a wire transfer. If your agent is reputable, he or she should have no problem accepting your wire transfer. If you are reluctant to do that because you have doubts about the landlord or the apartment, you should look for another landlord and apartment.


annhg,

I think you miss the persistent underlying aggressiveness and tone of sarcasm of some posters, especially from janisj. If she didn't mean to insult the poster, she's very obtuse about how her posts and use of italics come across on Fodor's. I've finally just concluded she's the one who is thick, but as for other protests on Fodor's that everybody is only here to help newcomers, when does it register that the overall tone is put-downs, and on the basis of what? Most of the advice about Italy I read on Fodor's is, to put it kindly, less than well informed or up to date.

janisj

z: Not that I need to defend myself, but if you notice - the ONLY post I made on this thread was:

>><blue>"<i>This seems a little fishy and somewhat dangerous to me.</i> "

What sounds 'fishy'? Do you expect the owner to wait until you leave? In fact, many owners require full payment 60-90 days before arrival. . .</blue><<

Not one snide/disparaging/'thick'/insulting word. Not one. I asked what she thought was fishy, when she expected to pay, and advised that many landlords require payment weeks in advance.

Isn't this a bit of pot calling kettle black??

annhig

for any other europeans reading this thread, the SEPA system should help with making payments - for banking purposes it effectively extends the eurozone to non-euro european countries like the UK and Norway, making payments across borders quicker and cheaper.

the snags- not all UK banks are members, and very few brits know about it. My DH only found out about it from a german customer who asked rather huffily why he didn't use it. He does now!

here's the best link i could find, which gives links to other useful websites:

http://www.ukpayments.org.uk/payment...s_area_(sepa)/

however for those outside europe, you are still thrown back on cash or conch-shells.

jj - i don't get why people only post half the story and then get huffy when they don't get the reply they want. had the OP told us all information, we'd have understood why s/he thought that it might be fishy.

janisj

>><i>had the OP told us all information, we'd have understood why s/he thought that it might be fishy.</i><<

Exactly. Makes all the difference in the world.

annettafly

Yes, Janis, it is definately a case of the pot calling the kettle black. You told me in a post on Feb 6---when I asked if the "mean-spiritedness" in the forum was normal---that I'd be fine as long as I "just don't post about Italy". Good advice, but it's my destination.
Z, are you being "obtuse" or intentional in the "put-downs" for my failure to have read any of the "many news reports" or caught any of the "internationally-watched" coverage of Italy's reform laws? Do I have "doubts" about the landlord or the apartment? Only the normal ones that would prevent even a "thick" person from paying in full for something they haven't even inspected. I can relate to Robin's concerns.

Robin_O

@ Henry, Thank you, thank you, thank you for that link. It was so helpful!


It's not important or even relevant that you "understand" why I am asking a question. What is important or relevant is the question itself which was "is paying in cash for an apartment rental in Italy a normal practice". A simple "yes it is a normal practice" or relating a personal experience (like many people helpfully replied), was and is all that is required. Answering my pertinent question (for a person who has never traveled to Europe before) with two other questions is not required, appreciated, or in any way helpful.

annettafly

Try not to take it personally, Robin. If you look at some of the other discussions here you'll see that "it is a normal practice" on this forum to show no mercy to the uninformed. I had never gone on a forum in my life until my first post here six weeks ago. I've continued to use the forum because most of the responses are helpful and there are regular participants doing a great job of explaining the complicated. I just brace myself for those few who will be snarky or belittling.

Apres_Londee

>>>It's not important or even relevant that you "understand" why I am asking a question.<<<

It's usually very important to understand why someone is asking a particular question, in order for other posters to give a helpful response.

This is a discussion and advice forum, not an answering service.

Robin_O

I appreciate the sentiment annettafly. I am not one to accept unnecessary rudeness from anyone, anywhere. The point of these forums is to ask questions, and/or share information and experiences and that's it.

bigtyke

I paid cash for the two apartments we rented in Germany, but it was at the end of the stay.