In terms of scams this one is rather minor, but I’m just wondering if this sort of thing is common or I just happened to choose the wrong place for coffee in New Delhi…
A Scam In New Delhi Over Bottle Of Water And Coffee Bill
I was in New Delhi and stopped at what I thought was a restaurant (it was actually a hookah bar) in Connaught Place called Plum. I did not seek this place out, but was in the mood for my last cup of coffee and decided to stop by because the restaurant had a coffee banner outside and I found myself standing right in front of it.
The dining area was very nice and the bar looked nice. I was seated and a menu was handed to me. I didn’t snap a picture of it, but it matched the menu on the wall for coffee…255 INR for a cortado, which is my coffee drink of choice.
The waiter was visibly agitated that I only wanted coffee and encouraged me to order food or an alcoholic beverage (which are taxed like crazy and often cost a lot more in India than in Europe or the USA).
Nope, just the coffee please.
The coffee came and to Plum’s credit, was excellent.
I drink coffee very quickly and asked for the bill, which was brought over shortly thereafter.
Instead of 255 INR, I was charged 395 INR for the coffee (plus a 10% service fee and taxes). I pointed to the wall and said the coffee was 255. He shook his head and said the “new” price was 395.
That was one scam, but then came the second scam. Each table had a bottle of water on it. If you consume the water, you are charged. I didn’t touch it…but the waiter pointed to the bottle and said I opened it and he would add that charge to my bill.
Sure enough, the cap had been twisted open, though it was full.
I wasn’t happy at this point and in a forceful voice I said that I did not touch the water and would not pay for it.
He tried to argue with me that it was opened and I said that someone opened it and I didn’t touch the water…obviously not, because the bottle was full.
I suspect I was targeted for that…pathetic as it was over a few hundred rupees.
I paid my bill and left…but I recommend you avoid this place for the billing shenanigans.
Was I scammed or was this all just a misunderstanding?
“It’s one coffee, Matthew. What could it cost, 5 dollars?” Apparently, yes. (You maybe got scammed a dollar.)
The menu on Google Maps does show the price for a Cartado as 395, but if you were given a menu with an old price, then it was wrong to charge more. And seeing as how they wanted to charge for water also, it was clearly a scam attempt.
If you can, I would leave a review on Maps.
The water on the table thing is pretty common in most upmarket cafes in India nowadays – supposedly for convenience. The best way to deal with it is to ask them to clear it away before you place your order.
To save others the work, 255 INR is U$2.65. Without a service charge that’s $2.78 with taxes. The 456 INR is $4.74. So, if there was a scam, they settlement for a bit less than $2 of grift (or about $1.70 if the service charge is legit). I would suggest not thinking of it again, not that I’d be able to heed my advice.
Learning so much as my first upcoming trip to India is in Oct, Mumbai & Goa.
Simple rule of life, never trust anyone named Ajeet.