Robbed in Florence
 

We were waiting for a taxi after checking out of our hotel. A man stumbled and spilled what looked like hand lotion on my wife. As were were distracted trying to remove this, they walked off with our carry on bags. Reported all of this at the police station but got no help from the hotel. Any suggestions about getting the hotel to pay for our loss?

>Any suggestions about getting the hotel to pay for our loss?

The hotel? Why? It´s not like they are somehow complicit in the theft (NOT robbery)

I´m really sorry that it had to happen to you on your vacation, though.

Did you have something like a travel insurance? It might be easier to get them to replace the loss.

I'm sorry about your misfortune, but it is *your* misfortune. Is there any reason why the hotel should be held responsible for the actions of people who were not (I presume) their staff? Or have obligations to people who were no longer their guests?

I hope you had insurance. That's what it is for.

horrible way to end your holiday.

But having said that - Why on Earth do you think the hotel owes you anything?

thats a gypsy/grifter trick in cities all over the world. I think in NYC they use mustard. Its really too bad but did this even occur inside the hotel? Cant see why they might be responsible.

My parents just got back from Europe and I told them about this trick because I read it here months ago. I told them that if anyone spills something on you to immediately grab your belongings, luggage, purse, wallet whatever.

.....Any suggestions about getting the hotel to pay for our loss? ......

Typical Am tourist response ???? Why not sue the City of Florence? They are more responsible for controling street theft than the hotel. Find someone else to blame. Don't take any responsibility for your actions, or lack of action or what you may have contributed to the theft -- too much luggage, valuables in unsecured bags, not paying attention to your surroundings, looking like an easy target, etc.

Nice.

I'm sorry, but other than a claim to your trip insurance, you'll have to file this under "lesson learned". It's so sad to end a nice vacation on such a sour note.

This theft is a variation on an old scam that often involved a newspaper and a squirt bottle of catsup. The scam artist approaches the mark while holding a rolled-up newspaper in which the catsup bottle rests. He squeezes the paper and out comes a squirt of catsup onto the mark. He apologizes profusely, produces a rag or handkerchief, wipes down the mark, thus distracting one and all. While this goes on, his accomplices take advantage of the mess and confusion, often making off with the mark's valuables. This used to be very common in Latin America, particularly on the streets of Buenos Aires. So now you are sadder but wiser. Save your breath, however -- the hotel has no responsibility in this affair. You had checked out, you were off their property, and the event happened on a public street. Sorry.

Well, you didn't get much sympathy (and, really, I wondered if you were serious about the hotel's responsibility), but thanks for reminding everyone that this scam still exists.

Thanks for alerting travelers that this scam took place in Florence recently. I'm sorry for the trouble and expense it will cost you.
:)>-

Hey "fmpden", give us a break. This is a travel message board, take your political agenda elsewhere and take a long look in the mirror before you make comments like you did.

So sorry to hear your tale. I got pickpocketed in tiny Vernazza about 10 days ago. I called my husband, he filed a claim for me with our homeowners insurance, no police report was required. We will get reimbursed for part of the loss.

Beware, kids do this trick in Gare du Midi in Brussels with shaving foam of all things.

um, didn't really see a "political agenda" in the response by fmpden. it's pretty much a fact of life that lawsuits, often frivolous or even outrageous, have permeated American society. Like a burglar successfully suing a homeowner for injuries sustained while committing said burglary? Remember the McDonalds hot coffee lawsuit? ridiculous but true.

Shaving foam is far more acceptable than mustard!
It's good to know some homeowners insurance policies might cover these type of losses, I didn't know that.

Travelnut - when someone says "Typical American Tourist Response", that is just plain rude and ignorant, not a commentary on lawsuits generated in the U.S. (which I would agree with you are over the top). But let's not generalize American Tourists as is so 'in fashion' these days. How does he know that glk11b is even American? Just plain ignorance.

I'm suggesting that the next poster who uses "um" gets sprayed with ketchup, shaving cream and hand lotion.

um, why would you say that?

This scam has been around so long and is so prevalant because it is really brilliant when you think about it. I'm sort of surprised it's not MORE common. I bet if you spill something big enough and/or gross enough, ANYONE would put down their belongings to clean themselves up.

"We were waiting for a taxi after checking out of our hotel. A man stumbled and spilled what looked like hand lotion on my wife."

Were you still standing at the front desk of the hotel, bags at the foot of a bellman (or better yet, on the luggage trolley)?

If not, as others have asked, why hold the hotel responsible?

fmpdn: How do you know this tourist is American?

Apologize for classify them as American tourists -- should have just been Americans -- and there is nothing political about it -- just within the past hour, heard a local news report that a high school student jumped on the hood of car in a parking lot causing $2000 damage, was arrested by the police who witnessed the action. Guess who the car owner wants to sue --- THE HIGH SCHOOL. -- Because they should have taught him proper behavior???? Cannot we have accidents and some bad luck without someone else always having to pay.

This is an ancient scam all over the world - and hardly the hotel's fault that you fell for it.

If you don;t have trvel insurance try claiming on your homeowner's - sometimes they will cover it. (Assuming what you lost is more than your deductible and won;t raise your premiums.)

It's very unfortunate about your theft, but I don't understand why you believe the hotel should be responsible. Your loss could've occured anywhere else as well. As another poster advised insurance should cover your losses. Otherwise, it's just one of those things you have to consider as a bad experience.

The worst case I've heard of is feces being used in this scam.

Sorry this happened. It's most unlikely that the hotel bears any blame for this (unless you are suggesting they are complicit with the scamsters).

Author: fmpden ([email protected])
Date: 05/25/2007, 10:12 am
.....Any suggestions about getting the hotel to pay for our loss? ......

Typical Am tourist response ???? Why not sue the City of Florence?

Typical American tourist response? Based on what? I think that statement is a stereotype that is not valid - to wit the many American tourists here that told djk she was way out of line.

I find your statement a typical European retort based not on reality but some kind of things you hear about.

Typical American tourist response - Hogwash!

I have heard about this trick from a friend who has travelled to South America. Someone spills something on you, then tries to help you, the rest you know. Never thought they do it in Europe, too.

That trick is older than life :) But it still works, sure...

Ok I got it now about Paris. Someone spills something on you, watch you stuff. Someone finds a ring and says I should have it, Don't say a word just keep walking. Someone asks me to exchange money offer travelers checks as an exchange. That stuff has never happened to us in any city in the USA and we have been to most.

Idaho Jane you forgot about the baby tossing scam. A lady will toss her baby at you and you have a split second to either catch it and drop your bag or let the "baby" fall to the ground.

(Sometimes it is a doll so don't be too alarmed)

Classy, fmpden, classy.
glk11b, if you didn't have travel insurance, see what your homeowner's insurance will do. However, weigh the benefits of their reimbursement with the costs of having made a claim against your insurance - it might not be worth it.

Sorry for your misfortune, but as others have said this is an age old trick. A group tried it on me in Madrid 25 years ago. I won. NEVER let go of your belongings in any public place. This was your responsibility, not that of the hotel, the taxis, or the city.

Your only hope for compensation would be if you purchased travel insurance to cover this type of event. The hotel is not responsible for the streets. Sorry for your loss and thank you for posting an excellent reminder for others.

Idaho Jane,

and none of those scams have happened to me in any of the cities I've visited in Europe.

The only thing that has happened to me near Sacre Coeur was a young man trying to put a string bracelet on me.

Since I speak French, I told him No, when he continued I told him in a very direct and forceful manner to "get the hell away from me". He looked stunned and backed off, I think I may have scared him. :) :)

Of all the things someone could put on you for this scam, I think the shaving cream is probably the nicest of all. At least it wont stain.

I'm very sorry that this happened to you! It does reinforce the notion that there are two types of travelers: those who have been robbed and those who are going to be robbed.

I will undoubtedly be scolded for saying that.

lyb, how do you say in French: Get the hell away from me!

degas,

the literate translation wouldn't make sense... but the closest translation "laisse moi tranquille et va au diable" or a more vulgar way "laisse moi tranquille et va chier" would certainly get the point across. At to exactly which one I used at the moment, I don't really remember, but I certainly surprised him enough to have him get away from me. I might have used "chier" since the only way to deal with these annoying people is to make them realize that you're not a little helpless person.