SALLY SORTS IT: The expensive taxi scams plaguing Brits abroad – and the one check you need to do before EVER entering your PIN

By Liam On Jun 11, 2024

When My wife and I were in Paris at the end of April, we took a five minute taxi ride along Avenue George V. The driver refused cash and then told me my Halifax credit card was bad. I ended up paying with my John Lewis chip and pin credit card.

When I checked my account online a few days later, I discovered that I had been charged €500 (£425) plus almost £12 in exchange fees.

I contacted NewDay, the provider of the John Lewis credit card, and was told the charge was for a restaurant bill. I explained that the payment was for a taxi ride and not a meal.

The agent said it was my fault because I paid with chip and pin.

GT, Knutsford, Cheshire.

What should you do if you become a victim of fare fraud during your holiday? Sally Hamilton explains

Sally Hamilton replies: With the Paris Olympics kicking off next month, I thought your unfortunate experience would serve as a cautionary tale for sports fans heading to the French capital so they can avoid this kind of fare fraud.

The driver has clearly confused you by refusing two payment methods. By the time you used the John Lewis card, you were rightly in a hurry to complete the transaction.

If I were being charitable, I might suggest that the driver simply made a mistake when typing in your fare. I’m afraid this is unlikely as the payment was paid directly into a restaurant’s account. This was a scam.

It’s not the first time I’ve come across this annoying trick.

Another reader was duped in Paris last year by a driver who initially pretended not to speak English. He refused cash and then hid the screen of his payment terminal so the victim couldn’t see that he charged her €777 (£655) for a five-minute taxi ride instead of €7.77 (£6.55) .

When she later saw the charge on her Sainsbury’s credit card bill, she could see that the excess amount had gone to a hotel 300 miles away.

Despite my best efforts to convince Sainsbury’s that she was the victim of an obvious scam, she was blamed for entering her PIN and refused to refund her. She took her case to the Financial Ombudsman, who unfortunately took the same view.

I felt even more sad for you because your trip to Paris was special; Not only did you attend your granddaughter’s wedding, but you and your wife also celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary.

Going for a drive took the shine off an otherwise wonderful holiday. You were right to be angry that the driver had taken advantage of your trusting nature.

You told me you would have preferred to use Uber, which has never caused you any problems, and you wanted me to warn others.

Due to my previous experience with a fake taxi bill, I had low expectations of success with your case. But after I explained the situation, John Lewis quickly investigated and confirmed that it would reimburse you anyway – a total of around £437, including exchange fees.

A spokesperson for John Lewis/NewDay said: ‘We were sorry to hear that this customer has fallen victim to a chip and PIN scam.

‘We are working hard to keep customers safe, but it is vital that everyone remains vigilant and checks the amount they are prepared to pay.

“As this is a known scam, we have refunded the customer and issued a new card.

‘We urge customers to think before parting with money or information, and to dispute payment requests if they are unsure who they are paying or what they are paying for.’

I would follow the company’s advice to be cautious. Readers using a taxi in Paris (or anywhere else) should never enter their PIN until they are sure the amount on the payment screen is correct.

In the unfortunate event that you are caught and immediately realize it, try to take a photo of the offender’s license plate number and report it to the local police. Then contact the card issuer in question – and hope it’s more John Lewis than Sainsbury. answer.

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

In 2020 I was scammed and £173,500 was taken from my First Direct account. I got half the money back, but since then I can’t make payments from my account without customer service intervention. It was frustrating, so I started banking with Santander. But First Direct won’t let me withdraw £9,500 still in my accounts. Please help!

CS, via email.

First Direct restricts a customer’s account if they believe they have ‘fallen under the spell of a scammer or are susceptible to one’. It is believed that you may have fallen victim to a cryptocurrency scam, which has restricted access to your account. It has now released your money.

***

Last September, my son and I boarded a flight to Gibraltar, but due to high winds our plane was diverted to Malaga, Spain. The captain said we could travel to Gibraltar on our own and easyJet would cover the costs. We paid €223 for a taxi but my claim was rejected by easyJet.

R.P., Southampton.

EasyJet says customers can claim the cost of alternative transport if their flight is delayed more than 24 hours. Although this was not the case on your flight, easyJet has agreed to reimburse you as passengers were informed at the time that you were entitled to onward travel.

***

After a beautiful Saga River cruise along the Rhine, my suitcase took a major dent on the way home. When we got back to the UK I called Saga and was put through to the insurance company, who said I would have to pay a £70 excess. The case was worth about that. Is there anything you can do to help?

SG, via email.

Saga says we’re sorry to hear about the damage to your luggage. The company says that although the correct procedures have been followed, given the value of the case, it will offer you £100 to replace it.

SCAM WATCH

Beware of scam letters claiming to be from International FIFA World Cup Lottery, consumer group Which? warns.

The letters state that the recipient’s name has ‘drawn lucky numbers’, and that they have won hundreds of thousands of pounds and must call to claim the money.

But you are transferred to a scammer who tries to obtain personal and financial information.

Once fraudsters have this information, they can apply for credit cards and loans in your name.

If you receive this letter, please report it at royalmail.com/reportingscammail.

Can Sally Sorts It help you?

Do you have a consumer problem that you need help with? Email Sally Hamilton at sally@dailymail.co.uk – include telephone number, address and a note addressed to the offending organization giving them permission to speak to Sally Hamilton.

Please do not send any original documents as we cannot take responsibility for this.

No legal liability can be accepted by the Ny Breaking or This is Money for any answers given.

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