I was ripped off today in an organised scam.
What annoys me most is that these TOSSERS prey on tourists or weak individuals, not that I'm the latter. However, I was actually very tired and hungry. It was my first day walking the streets of Beijing and I spent a few hours in the Forbidden City.
I grew hungry by around 2pm and left to find a restaurant. As it was the first day I was looking for a menu that was written in both languages so I could quickly order what I wanted. This actaully a challenge unless you're in a really touristy area.
I wandered along immensely widestreets close to hutongs (ancient dwellings) having tried several restaurants which were now shut.
At this point I was approached by a villianous crook on a rickshaw who said "Forbidden city?" I said, "no thanks, but how about some food and I simultaneously gestured fingers to my mouth."
He immediately said yes and I asked him how much, not caring about where he took me. I generally eat most things. He put three fingers in the air and said, "three."
Three yuan is about 20p so alarm bells should have rung really. I offered to pay immediately but he was insistant that I did not pay up front.
I got on the back of the rickshaw. Five minuets later, another rickshaw came alongside and surprisingly the men swapped.
Did the new rider know that I had negotiated three yuan? He nodded and pointed and pretended not to understand.
He stopped around five minutes later outside a rough looking restaurant and got out a card. On the card it said 300 yuan. I smiled and explained that his friend said three yuan and had not shown me any card. He spoke only in Mandarin and became annoyed with me all of a sudden.
Then, a "passer by" who spoke some English piped in and started negotiating with the driver. I am now certain that this is his 2nd accomplice and that the original driver had called him to arrange where I was going to be dropped off.
The new guy explained to me that I must pay 300 yuan (20 GBP) This was an extrortionate sum but I knew they were deliberately going to intimidate me.
I offered 100 which was given a disgusted look. When the dialogue was starting to become more heated the other man said 250 - final. I realy didn't want it to end in violence.
So 250 yuan is what I ended up paying. I felt terrible and a stupid fool. I hate paying these scum money for the pleasure of ripping me off.
A multitude of, "what ifs" went through my head althiough I know at the back of my mind that paying was the best option. I also see the experience as one that will help me avoid similar situations.
