A guy who is well connected at the pro level of the sport (whose name I won't divulge here) got to town, his travelling mates were tired and went to bed so he went out to have dinner on his own. Found a nice little traditional Hungarian place and plopped down.
Part way into his meal, the maître-d came over and said, "I'm sorry sir, there has been a big mistake. This table belongs to our best customer and it was given to you by mistake. Would you terribly mind if we switched your table? Being a typical track person (i.e., nice guy) :-) he said sure, even though they then said, "You'll have to share the table" which isn't uncommon in Europe.
But it was a big enough table and the threesome of locals minded their own business. They finished eating and left.
When the hero of our tale finished his meal he was presented with a bill.... for (the equivalent of) $250. He said, "Excuse me, there's been a mistake here." Waiter says "No, that's for you and your friends." He says, "I've never seen them before, they're not my friends." They say, "You have to pay." He says "not a chance and stands up." Two leg-breakers appear and make it clear that he can leave the restaurant in one piece or several.
He pulls out his cell phone and calls the hotel, explains what has happened and asks them to call the police. Hotel says, "Nah, that wouldn't do any good." When he asks "WTF should I do?" they reply, "Pay them..... oh, but make sure it's cash, not your credit card; you can't imagine they damage they'd do with your credit card number." Sadder but wiser, he paid the 250. Not an uncommon scam, apparently.
He said the food was pretty good though.
Part way into his meal, the maître-d came over and said, "I'm sorry sir, there has been a big mistake. This table belongs to our best customer and it was given to you by mistake. Would you terribly mind if we switched your table? Being a typical track person (i.e., nice guy) :-) he said sure, even though they then said, "You'll have to share the table" which isn't uncommon in Europe.
But it was a big enough table and the threesome of locals minded their own business. They finished eating and left.
When the hero of our tale finished his meal he was presented with a bill.... for (the equivalent of) $250. He said, "Excuse me, there's been a mistake here." Waiter says "No, that's for you and your friends." He says, "I've never seen them before, they're not my friends." They say, "You have to pay." He says "not a chance and stands up." Two leg-breakers appear and make it clear that he can leave the restaurant in one piece or several.
He pulls out his cell phone and calls the hotel, explains what has happened and asks them to call the police. Hotel says, "Nah, that wouldn't do any good." When he asks "WTF should I do?" they reply, "Pay them..... oh, but make sure it's cash, not your credit card; you can't imagine they damage they'd do with your credit card number." Sadder but wiser, he paid the 250. Not an uncommon scam, apparently.
He said the food was pretty good though.
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