Tourist charged $4215 for a single kebab platter in Jerusalem

An American tourist was stunned to discover how much she’d paid for a plate of shawarma after settling the bill and then doing the conversion.

A US tourist was charged more than $4215 for a single plate of shawarma meat at a restaurant in Jerusalem.

And while the restaurant’s owner said it was an honest mistake, a former employee claims the restaurant has used the same tactic before, The Sun reported.

The incident came to light after a plea on the Secret Jerusalem Facebook page on August 29.

Laura Ziff wrote on the page: “I need help please. Can someone provide the address for a restaurant right by the Jaffa gate called “Old City Shawrma (sic)”. That is the name on the receipt that I received. Also if the restaurant possibly has a different name in Hebrew.”

A receipt from the restaurant showed a charge of 10,100 shekels, around $4215.

She explained the restaurant’s owners had made a mistake and she was charged $US2900 for a single shawarma (similar to doner kebab) plate.

A receipt of the transaction showed she was charged 10,100 Israeli shekel, which is worth around $A4215.

Laura explained the owners had been promising a refund to her credit card since August 12, but she still hadn’t received anything.

After her post went live, several local media covered the story.

On Keshet 12’s Morning News program, someone who claimed to work for the restaurant said it wasn’t the first time it had happened to tourists, according to The Jerusalem Post.

A separate receipt appears to show the transaction was cancelled.

“It works like this: They don’t have a menu. They ask tourists for NIS 80 ($A33) for a shawarma platter and charge them in euros or dollars,” the former worker explained.

“Sometimes the person notices and catches it, but sometimes he gives you the credit card and then signs. He sees 80; sometime the word ‘dollar’ doesn’t show up. It’s crazy.”

Israel’s Channel 13 program Hatzinor contacted the owners of the Old City Shawarma Restaurant, who said the charge was a mistake.

Laura’s update on September 2 explained: “I have received phone calls and texts from the business owner Hasan and his brother Adam.

Laura Ziff took to Facebook to make sense of the situation.

“They both apologised that the refund had not been completed and had been trying to work with their bank. I contacted my credit card company and they provided some additional information that should assist Adam in making the refund happen very quickly.”

And on September 3, she added a local man had been in touch to help with the refund.

She said: “As of this morning we spoke and he provided proof that the owners of the restaurant have contacted the bank and are in the process of refunding the money.

“I absolutely believe him. I am assuming that my next post will say that the funds are in my account and the matter is closed.

Laura kept people updated.

She was hopeful the issue would be resolved.

“I expect that due to bank issues this may take a few days.”

Last month, British boxing legend Ricky Hatton joked he woke up in a “puddle of f***ing tears” after realising he spent $1506 on a piece of Kobe Ribeye steak in Greece.

Earlier this year, a tourist was charged $133 for just six pieces of calamari, also in Greece.

The restaurant was later raided by the police.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

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