General Info

[Mr Enternational]

When you rented the car did you get the insurance option? Thinking about renting a car in santiago, never rented a car in the dr before.

No. When you use the credit card, the card company has their own insurance that covers it. When you have an accident the rental agency is supposed to deal with the credit card people to get their money. In my case, instead of sending AMEX the proper documents to process the claim, they just went and charged the damage to my card, which they were not supposed to do. If you want insurance from the rental car place then it will probably run you about $20/ day.

The fact as you mentioned that the DR rental companies are very loosely associated with the US as franchisee, makes it a particularly complex situation. I rent with Nelly (through Ace) and they have the damn 1500 dollar security hold on a card.

I used to swear by Nelly, but they started charging some extra fees for something. Also, they are only open until a certain time, so when I have come in later than that time I have had to use another agency. I was using Budget before Nelly so I just reverted to them. The only other company I used was Avis, because it was the only one open when I came into Santiago about 4am. Budget also does the $1500 hold. They charge once for $1000 and another for $500. Then they make you sign a blank old school credit card slip that they imprint your card on.

[Grandnash84]

Maybe I will never understand business in the DR. After my accident, I returned the wrecked car for another one. They could not use the same card for the new car so I had to use a different card. In this process, unbeknownst to me, they made up a new contract. (I rarely read, I just sign.) Under the original, the car would cost me $217.60 for 8 days ($19.14/day plus tax). I turned the new car in 1 day early and did not notice until later (because I was in a hurry to catch my flight) that they had charged me $289.06 for 7 days ($30/day plus tax). I called Budget's US number to file a case on June 19. They said that it would take up to 30 days to investigate.

If you did not know, the car rental places in the DR are franchises and really operate independently of the actual foreign corporations. I have been in DR another time since then and rented from the same agency. I showed them my paperwork from the time before and inquired about the price difference. The agent told me that since the payment had already been processed I would have to call the US office and start a case on it. I had already done that so I was good. I never heard back in almost 2 months so this morning I called Budget USA as soon as they opened. The lady said they still had not heard anything from Santo Domingo so she went ahead and refunded $98.58 to my credit card.

I had the accident on June 8, and on June 9 called American Express to file the claim. I was emailed a list naming documents that I would need to email to them (driver's licence, police report, info of other driver, auto insurance in home country) and a list that Budget would need to send to them (Closed rental agreement. Final contract stating total charges billed to renter and return date of vehicle, Accident / Incident report, Photos of damage, Demand letter, Appraisal or estimate of damages, Fleet Utilization Log or proof of payment for completed repairs). As soon as I returned to the USA and was able to scan my documents I emailed them right off.

Soon after that I noticed that Budget Santo Domingo had charged my American Express $6449.95 (card has $10000 limit) for damage to the vehicle. I contacted the AMEX adjuster who was handling my claim by email and she told me to call the normal number and have them make it where it would show a hold on my card, but I would not have to make any payments since the claim was still being processed.

This morning I received an email from the adjuster saying that 60 days after the accident Budget Santo Domingo has still not sent any paperwork to them so they are closing the case. From the email: "What do I do if the Car Rental Company contacts me or charges the damages directly to my card? Please reach out to us by calling the number on the back of your Card to set up a dispute. ".

I will say that a month ago Budget Santo Domingo did send me the documents that they were supposed to send to AMEX, but I am not trying to do their work for them and forward them on. I do notice that the car repair total was $4604 plus $828 (18% tax) for a total of $5432. That was the estimate from the repair shop. So their sneaky asses transferred the $5432 over to the rental agreement and then retaxed that total repair bill another 18% for an additional $977, making the total $6409. They tacked on another $40 for me renting the car for those few hours before the accident.

When you rented the car did you get the insurance option? Thinking about renting a car in santiago, never rented a car in the dr before.

[Tempoecorto]

i do notice that the car repair total was $4604 plus $828 (18% tax) for a total of $5432. that was the estimate from the repair shop. so their sneaky asses transferred the $5432 over to the rental agreement and then retaxed that total repair bill another 18% for an additional $977, making the total $6409. they tacked on another $40 for me renting the car for those few hours before the accident.

the fact as you mentioned that the dr rental companies are very loosely associated with the us as franchisee, makes it a particularly complex situation. i rent with nelly (through ace) and they have the damn 1500 dollar security hold on a card.

keep us up to date on this odyssey, hopefully, it is only a hold and you would come out unrep001hed.

[Tempoecorto]

This is the fattest girl I have ever done in my life. I stepped way out of my weight range with this one and only did her not to hurt her feelings.

Beautiful skin color and face. Good for you Pooter. On the size aspect, no comment if this is your fattest, I. E. , I am not in your league. Is she a Haitian and how does the pimping out story get initiated. Morbid curiosity. He he!

[Frannie]

Another tip on using ATMs is always use one outside a bank, rather than a stand-alone one outside a store or filling-station. For two reasons:
(1) If the machine "eats" your card or you have other problems, you will save a day or two in getting the problem resolved.
(2) ATMs outside banks, especially if watched by a security guard, are less likely to be tampered with, such as having card cloning gadgets fitted.

More or less true, but I would use the bank ones in bank working hours when possible. I think it is also OK to use the ATMs outside La Sirena or La Pola in Sosua (in air-conditioned booth), or inside the large Playero supermarket in Sosua, as there is security and in the case of La Sirena in Puerto Plata the ATM is outside with security, but there is a branch of the bank inside. There is a Banco Popular ATM and bank at Santiago airport, but no night security right by the ATM, though it is close to where a lot of people are. There is also a Banco Popular ATM in the lobby next to the Emergency Room at the Clinica Dr. Hernandez in Puerto Plata, and I think there is also a machine in the lobby at the hospital in Sosua, though my memory is not all that it should be.

One may also sometimes have to use the ATMs indoors at Santo Domingo airport. Again the Banco Popular ATM is preferred. Scotia Bank in PP has an armed guard, and there is also a machine inside the Metro Bus terminal / pharmacy in Sosua that is fairly safe to use.

I would avoid BanReservas, though this is the only ATM on the outside concourse at Puerto Plata airport, because they seem to have low minimum withdrawals, so ratio of ATM fee to amount drawn is unfavorable. I would also avoid other local banks, as some will not allow withdrawals on foreign cards and might possibly swallow your card.

Anyway Banco Popular, ScotiaBank, and BanReservas are reliable enough, so I stick to them.

As Pooter says, make sure you touch base with your home bank before you go and take a stack of US bills or Euros to change if needs be. If you don't need them, you can always take them back home.

[OldKool]

this why i choose to never rent anything in the dr. is gives them a license to [CodeWord123] with no vasalene.

[Charles Pooter]

... you got to be kidding me.

This is the fattest girl I have ever done in my life. I stepped way out of my weight range with this one and only did her not to hurt her feelings.

She was the girlfriend of the young son of my then (more or less) regular. It was her eighteenth birthday and he didn't have any money to buy her a present. His solution? Pimp her to me, share the payment with her, and buy her a present out of his share.

[Mr Enternational]

Maybe I will never understand business in the DR. After my accident, I returned the wrecked car for another one. They could not use the same card for the new car so I had to use a different card. In this process, unbeknownst to me, they made up a new contract. (I rarely read, I just sign.) Under the original, the car would cost me $217.60 for 8 days ($19.14/day plus tax). I turned the new car in 1 day early and did not notice until later (because I was in a hurry to catch my flight) that they had charged me $289.06 for 7 days ($30/day plus tax). I called Budget's US number to file a case on June 19. They said that it would take up to 30 days to investigate.

If you did not know, the car rental places in the DR are franchises and really operate independently of the actual foreign corporations. I have been in DR another time since then and rented from the same agency. I showed them my paperwork from the time before and inquired about the price difference. The agent told me that since the payment had already been processed I would have to call the US office and start a case on it. I had already done that so I was good. I never heard back in almost 2 months so this morning I called Budget USA as soon as they opened. The lady said they still had not heard anything from Santo Domingo so she went ahead and refunded $98.58 to my credit card.

I had the accident on June 8, and on June 9 called American Express to file the claim. I was emailed a list naming documents that I would need to email to them (driver's licence, police report, info of other driver, auto insurance in home country) and a list that Budget would need to send to them (Closed rental agreement. Final contract stating total charges billed to renter and return date of vehicle, Accident / Incident report, Photos of damage, Demand letter, Appraisal or estimate of damages, Fleet Utilization Log or proof of payment for completed repairs). As soon as I returned to the USA and was able to scan my documents I emailed them right off.

Soon after that I noticed that Budget Santo Domingo had charged my American Express $6449.95 (card has $10000 limit) for damage to the vehicle. I contacted the AMEX adjuster who was handling my claim by email and she told me to call the normal number and have them make it where it would show a hold on my card, but I would not have to make any payments since the claim was still being processed.

This morning I received an email from the adjuster saying that 60 days after the accident Budget Santo Domingo has still not sent any paperwork to them so they are closing the case. From the email: "What do I do if the Car Rental Company contacts me or charges the damages directly to my card? Please reach out to us by calling the number on the back of your Card to set up a dispute. ".

I will say that a month ago Budget Santo Domingo did send me the documents that they were supposed to send to AMEX, but I am not trying to do their work for them and forward them on. I do notice that the car repair total was $4604 plus $828 (18% tax) for a total of $5432. That was the estimate from the repair shop. So their sneaky asses transferred the $5432 over to the rental agreement and then retaxed that total repair bill another 18% for an additional $977, making the total $6409. They tacked on another $40 for me renting the car for those few hours before the accident.

[OldKool]

I use BANK Popular or Western Union both give the best rates with no complications.

[Charles Pooter]

I know the fees are high

Usually but it depends on your home bank arrangements and what DR bank ATM you are using. A few guys seem to have good deals on ATM withdrawals if they use specific DR bank ATMs.

I think the exchange rate is accurate, no?

Always a worse rate than from a reputable cambio.

I always laugh at these threads about exchange rates. Guys agonize over dropping (say) 5 dollars if they draw 10.000 pesos but the same guys have no problem paying a puta 3000 pesos instead of 2500 (11 dollars dropped) or giving unnecessary tips and propinas all day long, or paying a motoconchista 100 when it should be 30, or paying 120 pesos for a beer they could buy for 60 down the road, etc, etc.

I think part of it is we all hate banks, especially since the financial crash, and resent giving them an unnecessary cent.

Of course you might save more than 5 dollars if you are changing thousands of dollars, but anyone who walks around with that much cash should be worrying about other things.

On my trips I always used ATMs. Worth it for the convenience. But I soon learned to change money inside the bank. Safer, and you can ask for small bills and coins. Always having the right change in your pocket can easily save you more than 5 dollars a week. Downside is you need your passport so I only do it in situations where I can go straight home and lock it away.

Warning: if you are planning on relying entirely on bank cards, bring two, or even three, as backup. And make it very clear to your home bank(s) that you will be using your card in the DR between specified dates. The DR is red-flagged all over the world for scams and financial irregularities. They may freeze your account if they see an unexpected pattern of usage, in which case you would be f*cked.

Another tip on using ATMs is always use one outside a bank, rather than a stand-alone one outside a store or filling-station. For two reasons:
(1) If the machine "eats" your card or you have other problems, you will save a day or two in getting the problem resolved.
(2) ATMs outside banks, especially if watched by a security guard, are less likely to be tampered with, such as having card cloning gadgets fitted.

[Lou32]

Is pulling cash out of the DR ATMs a good substitute for converting US dollars at some cambio if you are in a hurry?

I know the fees are high but I think the exchange rate is accurate, no?

[OldKool]

I have not had a heifer in along time. It is variety thing for me. Big girls can be very sexy. I am looking forward to banging this heifer. No shame in my game.

No offense but I can get a heifer like that for free right here at home, you got to be kidding me.

[Frannie]

Purchased one way ticket yyz-pop.

No issues making the purchase, purchased seats in advance as well through CSR.

It seems to depend somewhat on the airline. Spirit won't let you board without a return ticket. On the other hand I went down a couple of weeks ago on a one way Delta ticket and came back on AA. One way around if you are concerned is to buy a throwaway ticket for the cheapest flight out of the DR for several months in the future, probably Spirit from Santiago to Fort Lauderdale for about $100 that you may or may not actually use.

[Manizales911]

I Always join the Cupid the month before my trip. Meeting chicas before your trip illiminates first date issues. The girls feel they know you well enough to fuck your brains out. I met a girl today online who put her cards on the table. I told her I was not looking for a wife but wanted a companion for a few days. We put our cards on the table and decided to hookup with sex being on the agenda. This is how I get GFE from attractive non pros. It is great having options other then the street girls. I fine a bit of both make for a great tripl. She is a big girl with a good attitude works for mejajaajaj

No offense but I can get a heifer like that for free right here at home, you got to be kidding me.

[Haunted]

Anybody here bought a one way ticket to the DR, and at some point was told you had to purchase a return flight or you wouldn't be allowed go to the DR or arrived in the DR but not allowed to leave the DR airport unless a return flight was purchased?

Purchased one way ticket yyz-pop.

No issues making the purchase, purchased seats in advance as well through CSR.