(26 Jun 1997) T/I: 11:11:16
For some tourists, eating out in Budapest is an experience they won't forget. They've had to pay a small fortune for their meal - sometimes a dinner out has cost more than their entire holiday. They've become the victims of rip-off restaurants. Some have had to fork out outrageous sums of money for a meal.
The American embassy in Budapest has received so many complaints, it's produced a list of restaurants to avoid. The list, which is available to tourists, has also been published in several local newspapers.
But for some it's too late. A Danish couple was charged 6,000 US dollars for a meal in the Halaszcsarda restaurant, which has since been closed by the authorities.
Some restaurants are ripping-off tourists by either producing English menus without price lists or menus which have been changed during eating. Cheap menus are often shown at the start of the meal, but when customers pay, they discover the menu prices are different. Some restaurants are even double charging credit cards.
The Hungarian government has been forced to take serious measures to stop the problem. It is now temporarily closing down problem restaurants for three months. After that time, they can reopen on probation, but if they are involved in any more cases of wrongdoing, the owner will lose his/her licence to run the restaurant.
SHOWS:
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 26/6
00.00 WS Budapest;
00.04 MS Budapest;
00.09 WS busy central street;
00.13 MS busy pavement cafe;
00.17 People eating in open air restaurant;
00.22 CU menu with pages being turned;
00.31 Susan Elbow US press attache with blacklist;
00.33 CU list;
00.38 SOT: "We had more and more American citizens coming into us and filling out very detailed sworn statements saying they had had terrible experiences at these restaurants, primarily overcharging but in some
cases the overcharging was so excessive and when they disputed the bill they were threatened, either verbally and in some cases physically."
01.00 WS boarded up restaurant, Eva Cafe;
01.03 MS same;
01.06 WS Halaszcsarda restaurant;
01.09 Tilt-down padlocked door;
01.14 People reading menu outside another restaurant;
01.18 Zoom into couple sitting at yet another restaurant;
01.23 VISION ENDS;
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