MK5 Golf GTI
General => Random Chat => Topic started by: rich83 on September 28, 2012, 04:03:00 pm
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Just a little tip for any of you who may be going in the future, I suppose this goes for other busy cities too.
- Make sure you know where all your things are and keep checking to make sure they are still there (i.e. wallet, camera and phone)
- Treat everyone with suspicion, even folk that look trust worthy as those are often the ones that will try and 'bum' you
- Do not trust any SNCF staff or other train station staff unless they are behind a counter and glass screen.
- Lastly but most important... If anyone trys to help you buy tickets, politely refuse their help.
Me and Laura have traveled quite a bit in Europe both pleasure and work, and I like to thing that I am quite savvy when it comes to these 'tricks'.
We were conned out of 50Euros on Monday at a ticket machine by a SNCF employee at Gare du Nord in Paris for 2 alleged four day tickets which turned out to be single trip tickets. We were conned in front of a busy queue of people, so this was by no means an undercover con artist.
Now, whats worse is that they all seem to be at it so complaining will fall on deaf ears. When we were back at Gare du Nord on Thursday, we spotted these 'employees' a mile off but alas the chap who conned us was not there.... which was a shame as Laura was, and I quote "Gonna kick him in the bollocks" which would have been quite funny to see!
TREAT EVERYONE WITH SUSPICION!
Rich
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sounds like a bad experience but i wouldnt tar all the french with one brush.
Me and my ex arrived in paris around 10pm and were lost - guy approached us as we clearly didnt know where to go, I explained I was looking for a tube station (cant remember what one) and the guy took us there and helped us by tickets.....I was really suspicious but the guy couldnt have been more helpful.
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Sounds a bit like the plot of Taken. :scared:
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LOL... Yeah it does doesn't it. Sneaky cheese eating surrender monkeys....
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"i dont have much money, i dont know your name, but what i do have is a very specific set of skills" haha
sorry to hear of your loss rich, taken does spring to mind! fooking french!
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Didn't know Paris was so bad, although not been for a while, probably due to their new socialist President with his 75% taxes :wink:
Bangkok is probably the worse place I have ever been for scams, with some of the most elaborate too, need to have your wits about you as it seems everyone is in on it. Crazy place.
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Another one I have heard of many times, when your waiting to cross the road, or similar, a gentleman will approach you and squirt something on your back/leg, without you knowing, and kindly point out you have something on your jacket/trousers and then point out there is a restaurant/public toilet near by to clean it off. Subsquently he/she will follow you in and pull a weapon and demand your wallet!
Stay frosty!