JJ127

Dr. Abate wrote me back and told me I had caused him to "deploy work and time under pressure for nothing". He then told me "DO NOT contact me for an apartment, not in 11 months or 11 years."

We exchanged other emails as I foolishly tried to make him understand how rude he was to a potential customer, but he was so adamant in thinking he had every right to talk to a customer as he did. He made several comments about how arrogant Americans are.

mcnyc

Ouch! Thank you, ringading, for letting even this not-so-newby know about this agency. I vaguely remember the name Mr. Abate, and some rather humorous posts, but it has been quite some time now.

Enjoy Rome. It's very special.

NeoPatrick

bardo, I'm curious why on another thread here you told someone to check websites such as SlowTrav for comments before renting an apartment. Aren't comments like those found here the type that you are encouraging people to find out about an agency before renting? What's the point of looking at what others say if you insist that negative comments should be ignored?

kybourbon

I've seen posts complaining about Dr. Abate as early as 1999. Check out this thread about a Dr. Abate sighting from 2002.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...&tid=95041

kybourbon

Opps! I meant the post was from 2000 and one poster had saved and posted one of Abate's previous rants to the thread.

JJ127

I found those post afterward and was really mad at myself for not doing my usual thorough research before contacting an agency.

Thankfully, I didn't lose any money - and more importantly, I didn't rent an apartment from him.

Afterward, I did do my research and found all the info on him - and only then did I remember the old posts. My CRS disease is really getting bad...

franco

One of the problems with Mr. Abate is that he seems quite smart. Much of what he says is actually spot-on - his remarks on slowtravel (quoted on their thread) about that site's highly unlikeable moderators' practice of not allowing hotel managers to respond to negative reviews, or even worse: of chastising them if they dare weighing in, this practice is most probably illegal indeed. And his remarks about recommendations in Italy are absolutely true, as well; Italians do sense that you'd rather need bringing a recommendation testifying to your good behaviour as a renter, than they to the quality of their apartment - that's why many of the best rentals throughout Italy are not even available on the web but exclusively on recommendation by somebody the owner knows personally.

The problem is Abate's incredible manners; my own conflict with him took place back in 1999, and I had completely forgotten his and his agency's name; but when reading ringading's post, I immediately recognized the tone and style of this lunatic agency owner, and memory came back. I, in 1999, had criticized some (very rude, as well) remark in his online request form, and he came back telling me "you're showing a nature prone to false accusations", and so on. I don't recall more details, but I repeat, it was so impressive that I immediately recognized him through the post here.

kybourbon

A picture of Abate or as he calls himself Mastro Geppetto.
http://www.romanhomes.com/overview/meet_your_hosts.htm

bardo1

FWIW, I DID look at slowtrav reviews before renting. I also duly noted DR Abates social deficiencies. However, thet had an apartment I wanted. None of the reviews had anythoing to say about the apartments themself and they looked fine to me. The apartments looked exactly like the photos and all appliances, etc. worked just fine.

As it happens, There WAS a rough email exchange at one point early in the process. After sending the deposit I didn't get an email confirming reciept for about a week so I sent an email asking why he had not responded. WELL, he emailed me back the next day and said 1) he had received it (no thank you) and 2) how dare I question his honestly, professionalism, etc. (I implied no such thing). Anyway, I knew from some online reviews that he was easily offended and quitte quirky but I decided to let it roll off my back.

I never Dr. Abate personally but the representative that met us, Julie, was absoluty charming, helpful, graceful and well mannered. She lived right there in the Campo area. Her English was perfect.

I accept that I probably have much thicker skin than most. I can only relate my own experinces, not pass along those of others.

Dayle

OMG! I can't believe the infamous Dr. Abate of so long ago has struck again. Thought he was hauled off years ago!

Cimbrone

What an awful, egomaniacal ogre of a man! Would a rash of outraged emails to Roman Homes on behalf of a (now) fellow Fodorite be in order?

Mango7

MAMA mia

Mango7

abate

Main Entry:
abate Listen to the pronunciation of abate
Pronunciation:
\ə-ˈbāt\
Function:
verb
Inflected Form(s):
abat·ed; abat·ing
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French abatre to strike down — more at rebate
Date:
13th century

transitive verb1 a: to put an end to <abate a nuisance> b: nullify 1 <abate a writ>2 a: to reduce in degree or intensity : moderate <may abate their rancor to win peace> b: to reduce in value or amount : make less especially by way of relief <abate a tax>3: deduct omit <abate part of the price>4 a: to beat down or cut away so as to leave a figure in relief bobsolete : blunt