""I went to the Esplanade restaurant with my American friend. It was my second time going there, and I wanted to show her this wonderful restaurant! We were charged for menu items we did not order (twice...). "The markup was huge... it was a shame because the first time, I'd had such a lovely experience with my husband. "When you want to share the beauty of France with someone and it turns ugly, it's like watching a loved one fail at something they're typically good at," Taurie said."
"In the initial investigation, the French journalist posing as an American was purposefully overcharged - he was offered only medium or large for a Coca-Cola, and he systematically served bottled water instead of tap. On one occasion, he was also told he ought to leave a tip, despite the fact that tipping is seen as extra in France and service is already included in the bill."
""We were a group of Americans living here who went to a restaurant. "The bottled water thing happened before we even asked for water. The server himself added a 10 percent tip. I called him out on both and held my ground.""
Tourists, especially Americans, have reported frequent overcharging at restaurants in popular French destinations. Common tactics include charging for menu items not ordered, substituting bottled water for tap without consent, offering only larger pricier sizes, and adding mandatory or hidden tips. A sting operation confirmed many of these practices, showing systematic overcharging and pressure to tip despite service being included. Several residents and expatriates recounted emotional disappointment after trusted local venues unexpectedly marked up bills. Most incidents occurred in tourist-focused towns and at establishments that rely heavily on visitor custom.
Read at The Local France
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]