Castles, Caves, and MASSIVE SCAMS 🇷🇴 (What Went WRONG?!) | The Traveling 3, Ep. 19

[@thetraveling3]

HOW WE GOT REIMBURSED: After the making of this video we were actually able to get our money back! Here's what we did: - we made the rental purchase on our credit card, Chase Sapphire Reserve. - after the rental company refused to reimburse us, we submitted a Chargeback claim for fraud/dishonest business practice with our credit card company and included all emails, rental agreement etc. as proof. - the credit card company did an investigation which took about 2 months, and determined that rental company did fraudulently charge us for the insurance, so they reimbursed us for the car insurance that we were fraudulently charged. IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU, make sure to file a claim with your credit card company FIRST! Also, ALWAYS have all communications in writing and never delete those emails!

[@cyber_player38]

Next time be more careful when you rent a car.

[@rauluifalvi4942]

Where in this world you rent a car with 5$ per day?

[@thetraveling3]

Lesson learned!

[@thetraveling3]

Ours was advertised for $11/day, along with MANY cars from other rental companies. Do a quick search on Expedia and you will see there are many car rental companies who do this in București, Romania.

[@iulykenoby6058]

why didn't you file a complaint with the police? we also have consumer protection, an institution that deals with the protection of all consumers (customer s), this is how this company can disappear, there are such scams all over the world, I was fooled by big car rental companies at the Vienna airport so don't blame Romania for this, all Romanians speak badly about their country, I see that you do this too.

[@fd2824]

I would say many rental car companies operate this way. EcoVia in Italy once tried to charge me €200 for an almost invisible dent that I didn’t cause. This happened years ago when rentals were much cheaper. I blocked the card, canceled the payment, and filed a complaint with the European Consumer Center. In the end, I didn’t pay a penny. And yes, there are all sorts of shady businesses around the airport-starting with overpriced water. I know someone who accidentally drove into the long-term parking lot and immediately exited, but he still had to pay €20 for nothing. The operator showed no mercy.

[@thetraveling3]

Very sad! We've rented cars in Turkey, Albania, and Greece and never had even the slightest problem , and we have family throughout Europe, and we've never heard of this sort of scam. Hopefully, more people start talking about it so travelers can be aware and know what to watch out for.

[@arjay9736]

I love your voice it's profound and so clear you can even make documentaries using your voice it is that much clear

[@thetraveling3]

Thank you 🙏

[@sorinpopa1442]

Really sorry for that car rental company scam ! Incredible how they not been out of bussiness yet or arrested . But if u plan to get back def. need to check Oradea and TImisioara ,Iasi , Cluj or Alba Iulia with that massive Citadel or Corvin Castle or the Sea Side from Constanta etc.

[@thetraveling3]

Thank you! 🤗 We definitely plan to go back, thanks for the recommendations 🇷🇴

[@bitterblue8115]

In foreign countries always rent from the big multinational companies like Enterprise, Sixt, Hertz... you might pay more but the costs offset in better customer service and so on...

[@thetraveling3]

We agree 🙌

[@iulianalex9690]

​@@thetraveling3100% agree !

[@Joohnny_C]

05:22 Long lines in Romania mean one more thing besides the fact that sometimes we lack in organizing things. It also means that my💙💛❤Romania is beautiful!

[@thetraveling3]

Absolutely! There's a reason everyone's there 😍🇷🇴

[@adynature3082]

I hope you enjoyed your vacation in Romania! Comment for the algorithm! 🥰

[@thetraveling3]

Thank you! We had a wonderful time 😊🇷🇴

[@mihailaurentiustan3223]

I'm so sorry you got such a bad experience with the rental company. As a Romanian I do confirm they try to scam you. Take loads of photos of the car before and after and use a credit car to pay for the rental. Excess insurance is another option to go for. I hope you give Romania a second chance!

[@thetraveling3]

Thank you for your kind words 😊 Yes, we will definitely be coming back to Romania. A few bad apples don't represent everyone 🇷🇴❤️

[@popescubogdan213]

It happened to me, exactly the SAME WAY with Klass Wagen. Claimed reimbursement but since all was paid with a Romanian card, I had no success whatsoever

[@thetraveling3]

We're so very sorry to hear that! 😢 We are really surprised that this kind of scam is not common knowledge because apparently it happens very often and there are so many companies doing this kind of thing. This is exactly why we shared our experience in this video, to bring awareness and help others travel more cautiously. So sorry for your experience 😔

[@Joohnny_C]

10:59 That YES from the bottom of your heart❣ Just love it. By the way...10:41 are you Romanian? If yes then your english is astonishing! Hats off from a transylvanian guy!

[@thetraveling3]

Thank you! 🤗 Yes, I'm Romanian. Grew up in Canada and now live in the US 🇷🇴🇨🇦🇺🇸 🫶

[@eugeniladi7670]

Glad you liked your visit. As for car rentals, best practice to safeguard oneself is to read all the small print and ask specific questions about pricing, insurance, etc. Do not make assumptions about your credit card insurance. Read reviews before renting and work with reputable operators. Things do not work the same everywhere, one makes assumptions at their peril. Always take a video/pics of the car when you pick it up and when you return it, unless you have full coverage on the rental. And wait, did you just say "as a Romanian myself?" So, presumably, you speak the language, know the culture and are a savvy traveler but you still fell for this?! Buyer beware. Fortunately Chase reimbursed you for the charges. We live, we learn.

[@thetraveling3]

Excellent advice! Wish we knew this back then lol. We have been traveling for almost 10 months, and this is the only time something like this has happened. It's easy to look back and say, "Obviously, this is a bad idea," but unfortunately, we missed several red flags because of exactly what you said: we erroneously made several assumptions. Annita is Romanian but grew up in Canada, so the culture is very different. We also have family throughout Europe, and no one we know has ever heard of this kind of scam. Unfortunately, we learned many things the hard way through this experience. This actually happens very often, apparently, and we shared our experience to help other travelers be aware.

[@eugeniladi7670]

@@thetraveling3 You positive attitude is what matters in the end, and the fact that you got your money back. Romania has evolved and improved significantly in the last couple of decades. However, it can still be hit and miss for unassuming tourists who rely on the internet information, which is not comprehensive or always accurate and up to date. One can get a wonderful experience throughout, or fall victim to all sorts of petty scams designed to part them with their money in dishonest ways. That is why working with a local, reputable tour operator, vacation agent or local honest broker could help a lot and worth every penny. For people who value time more and want to ensure they will get the insider knowledge and hidden gems, hiring local expertise can make the difference between a flawless visit or one tainted by mishaps such as the one you experienced. Speaking the language, knowing the places, being able to quickly read the room and fine nuances is where a guide comes in handy and can save visitors trouble, headaches and money.

[@ELECTRICLIFE4U]

I'm sorry for what happened to you and I think you should contact a lawyer to see what he can do to recover the money, but also ask for moral damages...Unfortunately, there are also such people who cheat and who I'm ashamed. Unfortunately, they are everywhere in the world.

[@thetraveling3]

Thank you! We did reach out to a lawyer, however, we were actually able to get our money back through our credit card company (Chase Sapphire Reserve)! The process took some time, though, and we received our refund after the making of this video. We are very thankful and now know to be more cautious, and we hope we can bring awareness to others as well.

[@gigihentz5510]

Most of the car rental from Europe at least would do such tricks...i was about to be scammed sort of the same way while in Italy...

[@thetraveling3]

So glad you didn't get scammed! We've been traveling for a while now, have rented cars in Turkey, Albania, and Greece, and also have family throughout Europe, and we've never heard of this sort of scam. Hopefully more people talk about it so it becomes common knowledge.

[@Albebacck]

In Romania always rent from Autonom they are the best

[@thetraveling3]

Thank you for that tip!

[@2noiembrie83]

When it comes to ALL online offers, if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Sorry for your problems.

[@thetraveling3]

Absolutely! The thing is, though, that there are so many companies doing this so it may not seem odd initially.

[@cipriannecsutu]

Never hesitate to ask the police for help.

[@thetraveling3]

Good point! Unfortunately we were already out of the country when they told us they wouldn't reimburse.

[@cip5949]

Mai uitati va la recenzii cand apelati la servicii, sa vedeti ce au altii de zis

[@thetraveling3]

Corect! Din păcate am învățat lucrul ăsta în mod dificil.

[@teeeo]

❤

[@thetraveling3]

🤗🫶

[@FPT2030]

PRICELESS CAR ??? IS THIS A REAL COMPANY OR HAVE IN THE NAME "SCAM"

[@thetraveling3]

This is a US based company that operates as a franchise nationally and internationally.

[@Sofia-0001]

200 $ 18 days, what looks like a Kia Sportage? There is no such offer, for an SUV like, with little over 10$ a day. Welcome home 💜

[@thetraveling3]

Thank you! 🫶 If you do quick search on Expedia, you'll see many such offers in București.

[@FPT2030]

romania have police and justice. you must go to police and sue them if they scamm you but is this real ??

[@thetraveling3]

Yes, it happened to us. Sadly this has happened to many people at the Priceless location in București, as you can see by the many 1 star reviews on Google and Trip Advisor. We were able to get our money back through our credit card company, and I wrote a pinned comment with details on how we were able to do that.

[@cucurucu753]

I am very sorry for the nasty thing that the car rental company did to you. As a romanian I feel ashamed for that! However I want to point something out. Do you know that saying: "when something looks to good to be true, then probably it is indeed something wrong with it". I mean, c'mon, only $200 for 18 days!!!??? That smells like "something is wrong with it" from miles away... However, what I just said is in no way an apology for what the nasty caf rental company did to you.

[@thetraveling3]

Absolutely! 💯 We completely agree about the "too good to be true" standard, and we are usually savvy travelers. However, this situation was unique because there are actually MANY car rental companies in București who do this sort of thing, so if you look on Expedia you will see many cars for $5-$20/day, which is why we didn't question it too much. We thought, "That seems cheap, but maybe that's just how it is in this country." Big mistake! And apparently, many people fall for it, so that's why we shared this experience to help others be more cautious.

[@cucurucu753]

@@thetraveling3 I suppose the best in such case is to compare with well known and famous / reliable international companies like Hertz and if you see a huge difference in price then it should be very worrying. I went last year to Romania and rented a small car from Hertz for 2 weeks with insurance (although not the most complete insurance) for about 1000€.

[@thetraveling3]

Yes, sadly we learned this the hard way. But honestly, we had no idea that so many companies can legally operate this way in an EU country, AND they are supported by platforms like Expedia. We've never heard of this sort of scam even after renting cars from local companies in Turkey, Greece, and Albania. We also have family throughout Europe and we've never heard of such a thing, which is why we felt it was important to share this with others. Lesson learned: never assume anything, always question everything.

[@stefanvederuscalon67132]

Perhaps you should have verify before selecting the car rental lady!

[@thetraveling3]

Of course, there were several red flags that we should have caught. And yet we didn't, along with at least 200 other customers who were scammed in the same way. This is why we are hoping to bring awareness to others so that others don't make the same mistakes that we did.

[@stefanvederuscalon67132]

@thetraveling3 they literally have a 1 star on Trustpilot after one google search..come on...they are ridiculously cheap for a reason

[@thetraveling3]

Yep! That was our first mistake: trusting that Expedia only allows legitimate companies on their platform. We'd used Expedia in the past without problems, didn't think to look into each individual company. Lesson learned!

[@biancaman4930]

since you're a Romanian, you should know scammers can't wait to scam foreigners, they love your money. Having to wait in line at the most popular/touristic place in Romania doesn't seem shocking. Also overpriced food and hotels are normal in tourism places everywhere in this world! You should see how much you wait in Viena, Schönbrunn Palace and how overpriced it is to drink a simple coffee. You need to document more before travelling, otherwise you get what you get. Simple as that. PS: You could of easily buy a car for 1000 EU hahaha, so why believe 3,700 is ok to pay for a rental lol

[@thetraveling3]

Thanks for watching! 🙌 We didn't expect to find scammers on a platform such as Expedia (lesson learned). We simply mentioned the food near the palace was overpriced so we found something more affordable a short walk away - this is a normal thing to mention in an informative travel vlog so that people know the restaurants at the palace are not the only option. We actually did go to Schönbrunn a few weeks before this and there was barely a line (see our Vienna video), so we didn't expect to wait over an hour especially since we bought tickets online. Not only that, but the local Romanian tourists in the lineup next to us were also surprised at how long the line was.

[@biancaman4930]

@@thetraveling3 you had an easier day in Vienna then. I spend half of day in line there during the summer haha. It was exhausting. Maybe there's a lot more foreigner tourists coming to Romania nowadays, haven't been there since I was a kid.

[@thetraveling3]

There's definitely a lot more tourism there now. It's so beautiful 😍 🇷🇴

[@Trafic2.0]

Imi pare rau pentru experienta voastra cu acea companie. Sunt o rușine pentru Romania.

[@thetraveling3]

Multumim pentru vizionare 🙏 Sperăm ca alți călători să învețe prin experiență noastră și, eventual, aceste companii să-și schimbe practica.

[@cornelhansen-juhas1971]

Welcome to Romania Guys

[@thetraveling3]

It's a beautiful place 🇷🇴

[@cornelhansen-juhas1971]

@thetraveling3 YES

[@cyber_player38]

​@@thetraveling3scammer.

[@oreste2001]

Very sad,honestly,seeing that people like that make us romanians being ashamed that we are romanians. I myself left romania long time a go,and when some of my canadians friends,on my recommendation,came to visit and they also got scamed.....theyr reaction was....romania is a stuning place,beautiful....to bad romanians live in it....

[@thetraveling3]

Very sad indeed! We don't think this kind of fraudulent practice is representative of Romanians in general, though. We experienced incredible kindness and hospitality from locals and plan to go back some day ❤️🇷🇴

[@bitterblue8115]

But the company they mentioned Priceless is american... so it's not like they got scammed by romanians...

[@thetraveling3]

​@@bitterblue8115Priceless Rental Car is based in the US but operates as a franchise, allowing business owners to run their own operations under the Priceless brand.

[@Daniel-lh4do]

you can adress to the police on line..

[@thetraveling3]

Good to know!

[@alexal5889]

Recomand sa deschizi proces cu sanse mari de castig. Cum dracu sa fie valabila o asigurare aiurea a ta personala pe o masina inchiriata? Totusi ce om normal la cap accepta sa i se retina 3mii euro pentru a inchiria o masina? Daca doar asa se poate mai bine cumperi una. Asta inseamna ca ori sunteti bogati si banii astia inseamna mai nimic pentru voi ori sunteti pur si simplu snobi. De cate ori am inchiriat in alte tari prima intrebare era: does the car have insurance included in the price? Daca raspunsul era nu sau incepeau povesti cum ca depinde si sa vezi, replica mea era f**k off si merg mai departe!

[@thetraveling3]

Ca mulți oameni care călătoresc frecvent, avem un credit card specific pentru călătorii - se cheamă Chase Sapphire Reserve. Acest credit card are foarte multe benefici (puteți face un Google), inclusiv asigurare pentru mașină închiriată. Am folosit această asigurare în 3 țări fără nici o problema (Turcia, Albania, și Grecia). Fie care companie de rental car care am folosit până acum NU au debitat credit cardul, deci NU au scos nici un leu din cont, doar au pus o "reținere" în caz de accident, și când am întors mașina au lăsat retinerea. Nici o dată de când călătorim nu am avut o experiență ca asta, și nici nu am știut că poate fi legal așa ceva. După ce am făcut acest video, slavă Domnului, am putu recupera bani prin compania de credit card (Chase Sapphire Reserve). Am scris un comment cu mai multe detalii despre cum am putut recupera bani, și sperăm ca prin experiență nostră alți călători pot fi avertizați despre astfel de practice frauduloase.

[@Marius-c5b]

Datii in judecata pe hotii aia

[@Marius-c5b]

Aia trag tara in jos

[@alexal5889]

@@thetraveling3 E bine ca ati recuperat banii. Chiar si in caz de accident ei au casco sau ar trebui sa aiba ca sa acopere cam orice dauna chiar si din vina clientului.

[@iulykenoby6058]

Corect bine punctat

[@cinamar221]

where the hell are all those "scams"..?!... didn't see any faakin scam...

[@thetraveling3]

Watch to the end. There also video chapters if you want to skip to that part.

[@JanSesko]

eh well that's the south of romania for ya

[@thetraveling3]

Romania is sooo beautiful 🇷🇴 But if you're referring to the scam, we actually got the rental car in București.

[@JanSesko]

@@thetraveling3 yeah Bucharest is in the south. i would avoid that part of the country and concentrate on the center and west for well spent time and money.

[@thetraveling3]

Agreed! 🙌 We actually only flew into and out of București, the rest of the trip was in other parts of Romania :)

[@Zdamaneta]

@@JanSesko we should move our capital to Iasi or Cluj.