Couple ‘tricked’ into paying 44 euros for two ice creams in Rome | World | News
An American couple has spoken out after they were “tricked” into paying €44 for two ice creams while on holiday in Rome.
Nicole Ann and her partner were hit with an eye-watering bill while visiting the famous Piazza Navona. The couple stopped at Don Nino gelateria and ordered two ice creams, each containing two scoops, priced at 12 euros.
Instead we were billed 12 euros for two ice creams with three scoops each, or 4 euros per scoop.
The couple were also charged for whipped cream (€2 extra), a small pasta (€3) and a small cannolo (€5); This came to a total of 22 euros per ice cream.
Despite their reservations, the couple felt compelled to pay the 44-euro bill.
The Florida native, who joined a Facebook group dedicated to vacationers in Italy, expressed disappointment about the “tourist trap” and described the dessert as “the worst ice cream I’ve ever had.”
He added that he only realized the overcharging after receiving the receipt, and that the ice cream shop claimed the additional extras were free.
Numerous other tourists reported strikingly similar experiences and expressed their collective outrage in the comments section.
“This is a scam but it seems to be very common in tourist areas,” one user said. “Yes, I was there too and it was awful,” another wrote. “You should always go a few blocks away from very touristy areas,” another woman advised.
Two visitors from Lower Austria were taking a break near Vienna and decided to stop by an ice cream shop.
There appeared to be busy business at the venue and one of the tourists, identified as Wolfgang, told the Heute newspaper: “There was a huge queue.” The two walked in and sat at a table, each ordering iced coffee and a bowl of ice cream.
After paying the bill, Wolfgang examined the receipt more closely and noticed that an unexpected third payment had been added.
The bill showed $6 for the drink, $7.30 for dessert and a $1.20 glass charge.
“I immediately stood up and asked at the cash register if we had paid a deposit,” Wolfgang told the newspaper.
The answer stunned him. “The same is true for us when it comes to washing dishes,” replied a salon employee.
Wolfgang disputed the charge, stating that such costs are normally included in the price.
The staff explained that the charge was applied because the ice cream was served in a container that needed to be washed. If it was served in a paper cup, there would be no additional charge.
The owner of the venue told the newspaper: “We don’t have separate table prices, we just charge this additional fee; this is displayed on a sign at the front of the shop.”
Wolfgang claimed that he did not see such a notification at the workplace and that he was not informed about the fee when placing his order. “It’s not about the 70 cents, it’s just that you don’t treat customers that way!” he said. “We will not visit this ice cream parlor again!”
