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Renting in Catania, Sicily

Things to know when dealing overseas (specifically in Italy):
1. Always keep your receipts: Many vendors print your complete credit card information on receipts and they may later try to charge you for things you already paid for.

2. There is no better business bureau: Not that the BBB is super effective but it does carry a certain amount of weight. If you rent from an international chain you are at least guaranteed to have local options when making complaints.

3. The mentality is snatch and grabs: In most tourist spots (especially in Italy) the mentality is that people are going to only come once so you may as well screw them as much as you can when they do come. They don’t think of repeat customers.

4. They will steal your car: This one may seem confusing. Here’s what happens, you rent a car, they steal it back at night and then charge you the insurance deductible. Use a club or something. Make sure your stuff is locked up tight.

Read more about some specific experiences:

  • Problems at Hollywood (part one)

  • Hollywood Rent-a-car will scam you(part two).

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    Mikemolin

    RACIST! How dare you make these blatant racist and totally false remarks about Sicilians and Sicily? I am a Sicilian American who has been to Sicily a few times and foundit to be a wonderful, clean, lovely place populated by fine, intelligent, honest, educated folk, I am a Sicilian American and have been to Sicily and Catania and crime is very low especially car theft. Merchants do not "steal" anything from tourists and in fact the people are super friendly and helpful.. I am always very leery when Americans and especially Anglo types-- or pseudo Anglo types--go to Sicily bringing with them over three centuries of racial hatred baggage. Racism is an evil and you should be totally ashamed of yourself/

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    Dan

    What are the false remarks and what does race have to do with anything?

    I met some really great sicilians in Sicily. Some very helpful and good people. I also had my friends held hostage by thugs and the police wouldn't help. If the crime rate in Catania is very low then provide evidence to that effect.

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    Mikemolin

    According to crime statistics published by the Italian Notional Police, Interpol, and many EU law enforcement agencies, Catania and Sicily as a whole has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. This is fact. Americans has been brainwashed for over three centuries that Sicilians and Southern Italians are criminals and have criminal tendencies. I find your racist remarks not uncommon amongst those of your race. We, Sicilian Americans and our fellow Southern Italian American brethern have kept totally silent and have thus allowed this ugly racist ranking to proliferate and to be nurtured by all those "Mafia" films and crap. We are totally fed up and demand that racists like you be exposed for what you are. Racism and racist hate are destroying our planet. Shame on you!

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    Dan

    I never thought Sicily was a dangerous place or that crime was pervasive there until I went there and was the victim of insurance fraud. Also, having a mafia enforcer threaten me and my friends or a prostitute kicking my friend in the face, or being ignored by the police after robbery and assault. I never assumed it was a race problem.

    Your stats sound awesome, do you have a link that I can look at?

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    Mikemolin

    Racism does exist and in fact even with an African American President is rampant in America. Meditate and come to terms with your racism and racist hatred that is so embedded in WASP's and other Northern European Americans. It is part of your "Id". Just because you had a "bad" experience does not give you to right to make racist slurs and racist remarks. But from you obstinate comments , it may be too late for you to "repent". You are a virulent confirmed racist and bigot. I suggest you join the KKK and especially David Duke's hate group, where racists like you will be so at home since he considers Southern Italians and Sicilians as some sort of "negroid" inferior sub-humans.

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    Dan

    rofl, yeah I'll get right on that.

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    Sam

    I agree with Mike. Getting ripped off in another country is very racist of you. Come get ripped off in America and let's see if you complain about THAT!

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