Rome Metro stole my money

Best advice: 'Walk it off". You could spend hours/days getting a fair resolution but remember how much your time is worth per hour. I bet I have lost over 500 euros in the past decade to those machines and early on, I complained with no results. If somebody here has a quick resolution I would love to know too! Otherwise, just remember to use the smallest of bills (I know, not always reasonable).

Jeff, I hate to tell you but the machines DO NOT give change of more than 4 Euro. This message is posted on the kiosk screen in your language of choice in bold white letters on a dark green background. See this post for info on the kiosks and a screenshot of the kiosk display: Kiosks for Bus & Metro Tickets . Unfortunately, I'd imagine the ATAC officials were not too sympathetic when you approached them because they've "posted" those warnings... Their approach was that the machine was working correct... well, is correct. And because the machine is working correctly, I doubt you'll get any compensation. Their attitude will be, "We told you up front - through the signage in your language of choice - before you completed your transaction." This message is also posted on the exterior of the machines, just under the coin entry slot on the top right of the kiosk, in both Italian and English. Good Luck in your attempts to gain compensation, but I think you'll have to take the loss, due to their posted warnings - sorry this happened to you.

Ron -- great info - I'm book-marking your site for my next trip!

Thanks for the info Ron, but that addresses the issue of the machine not giving me any change. But what about the fact that the machine never gave me the 22 euros worth of metro passes? The machine would have had to recognize that I was purchasing 2 tickets in order to calculate that change was even needed. I would have been happier if the machine would have at least given me the passes, but instead it takes my 50 euros and then I still had to buy 2 passes on top of that! I think the solution for me is to never use the Rome Metro again, but I would also like to make people aware of what they can expect from ATAC if everything does not go exactly as they planned!

About you not getting the tickets... you said that some "locals" tried to help you. A popular theft scam is when people offer to "help" tourists. Is there any chance that while everything was confused that one of them might have helped themselves to anything they shouldn't have? Is there a chance that the machine actually did what it was supposed to do and somebody else had your goodies? Just a thought...

That is a good point Nigel, but fortunately I did my research using Rick Steve's website and was fully aware of this scam before arriving in Rome. I actually ran into one of these people during my first visit to the Rome Metro, and I just ignored them and kept going until I found a different machine without the "help". The locals that helped me did not offer any help until after the machine stole my money and I asked for help. None of them touched the machine until we left which was after it had timed out, and I made sure that there was not a balance before leaving. I did get ripped off, but by the ATAC!

another reason I always deal with a human if at all possible and if none are available we have gone to a local travel agency for help.

Gah - what a crappy experience! I hate when machines go on the blink and screw up and the human interface has the customer service skills of a clam. If it were me, I would fume - call the number and see what I could do - and then.... walk it off. Chalk it up to experience. Take a zen attitude. And milk the story for maximum laughs when talking about Europe with my friends!

Also- make sure the train you're buying first class tickets for in Italy has a first class section. Unfortunately, the ticket sellers will tell you there is a first class car and sell you a first class ticket...and there isn't one. Complaints only get ignored.

I agree that you probably just need to forget about it at this point and move on, but Leslie said she has lost 500 Euro (that's almost $700) in the last 10 years in the ticket machines. How? I don't mean to be critical, but why in the world would you continue doing whatever it is you have been doing to lose that much money in machines? I'm guessing Jeff has learned a lesson after losing $50 and will do something different henceforth. You can buy an off-season RT airline ticket with the money you've lost in machines (almost).

Welcome to Italy ;-) I love Italy, but it can be a bit 'trying' at times. I bet someone found a €50 "money excess"...