Tom Kearney

Yet another London failure. I am a member of a group who advises people about what to do and where to go in London. A young American woman in the group had an appalling experience at the weekend. She went to the theatre to see a musical. Her friends wanted to go out afterwards but she preferred to go back to the hotel. She could not get a black cab and did not want to risk a minicab. So she took a rickshaw. You know the type: lit up like Blackpool illuminations and blaring out music. She thought they were licensed. They are not: the mayor has been talking about that for years but it won’t be in place until 2027. Anyway, just her and one “not English” guy cycling. As they came closer to the hotel she said they ended up in a really quiet alley. He stopped and suggested taking her photo using her phone. She refused. She did not want to hand over her phone and did not feel safe. They had quite an argument about it. She said she would just pay and walk the rest of the way. Then two other men appeared. Now she really was scared and offered the £30 agreed fare cash. The driver (and the two men) insisted that she pay by credit card. They started to say that she had to pay double if she paid in cash. At that point, a couple turned the corner and instantly the two men vanished, the driver took the £30 and she was left alone. If that couple had not turned up I don’t know what would have happened. She had a photo from inside the rickshaw and is submitting it to the police today but it is not easy to identify the driver. This is not the first time I have heard of such a scam. One tourist was told the fare came to £200 because it was “a tour” and not a ride to the restaurant. Despite it being no such thing. London scammers in plain sight.