A US tourist was charged over £2,000 for a single plate of meat at a restaurant in Jerusalem.
And while the restaurant’s owner said it was an honest mistake, a former employee claims the restaurant has used the same tactic before.
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The incident came to light after a plea on the Secret Jerusalem Facebook page on August 29.
Laura Ziff wrote on the page: “I need help please. Can someone provide the address for a restaurant right by the Jaffa gate called “Old City Shawrma (sic)”. That is the name on the receipt that I received. Also if the restaurant possibly has a different name in Hebrew.”
She explained that the restaurant’s owners had made a mistake and that she was charged US$2,900 for a single shawarma (similar to doner kebab) plate.
A receipt of the transaction showed that she was charged 10,100 Shekel, which is worth around £2,329.
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Laura explained that the owners had been promising a refund to her credit card since August 12, but she still hadn’t received anything.
After her post went live, several local media covered the story.
On Keshet 12’s Morning News program, someone who claimed to work for the restaurant said that it’s not the first time it’s happened to tourists, according to The Jerusalem Post.
The former employee claimed: “It works like this: They don’t have a menu. They ask tourists for NIS 80 for a shwarma platter and charge them in Euros or dollars.
“Sometimes the person notices and catches it, but sometimes he gives you the credit card and then signs. He sees 80; sometime the word ‘dollar’ doesn’t show up. It’s crazy.”
Israel’s Channel 13 program Hatzinor contacted the owners of the Old City Shwarma Restaurant, who said that the charge was a mistake.
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Laura’s update on September 2 explained: “I have received phone calls and texts from the business owner Hasan and his brother Adam.
“They both apologized that the refund had not been completed and had been trying to work with their bank. I contacted my credit card company and they provided some additional information that should assist Adam in making the refund happen very quickly.”
And on September 3, she added a local man had been in touch to help with the refund.
She said: “As of this morning we spoke and he provided proof that the owners of the restaurant have contacted the bank and are in the process of refunding the money.
“I absolutely believe him. I am assuming that my next post will say that the funds are in my account and the matter is closed.
“I expect that due to bank issues this may take a few days. “
Earlier this year, a tourist was charged £521 for just six pieces of calamari in Greece.
The restaurant was later raided by the police.
At another location in Greece, a group of Brits were charged £72 for soft drinks.
