Gatwick Concierge scam
 

Hi everyone,

I rarely post something, though I though it might be useful to share this information.
Very little information is available about the Gatwick Airport and that's a problem.

Basically both terminals have an Airport Concierge which sells SIM-cards, Oyster cards, does hotel bookings and so on.

Just be careful with this concierge... It's a pure scam and don't believe a word he says! I was partially scammed:
1) I've bought a Three SIM card for 10GBP. I was pretty sure what I wanted and didn't let him sell me the 15GBP pack. But still have payed 20GBP for SIM-card an 10GBP top-up.
What's the scam? Normally the Three sim cards are free at all major mobile retailers. When I asked why one should pay for the card, he said that this information I have is outdated and they only give out free sim cards if you order online. Stupidly I believed him. Though when I arrived in center London I saw that almost every shop actually gives away the Three Sim cards for free if you buy a top-up.

Pro-tip: after the top-up, you get 100MB of free data. So don't be stupid and don't put the data add-on directly, like I was.

2) This guy also sells Oyster cards. They are Visitor Oyster cards (so not refundable) and he asks 10GBP for the Oyster card.
When I mentioned him that it's a bit strange that it's so expensive, he said that it's the regular price as if you'd buy it at the train station.
If you arrive at Victoria, you can go to the Oyster office and get a refundable 5GBP Oyster card.

Pro-tip: buy a regular Soutern train ticket (not Gatwick Express) at the National Rail counter in the Southern Arrivals hall. It's cheaper, more comfortable, takes only 2 minutes longer AND you get a whole day for free to ride anywhere in London (zones 1-6).

It's not that big of a deal, but still why pay more for nothing. Just because you're misinformed.

The lady before me almost got scammed. She needed a hotel for the night and that guy was basically offering her to book the Holiday Inn Express nearby for 150GBP. While the best available rate is in fact 74.99GBP as I found out when I got into the hotel. The lady luckily didn't book it as she thought the price was to steep and she'd rather call a friend to stay the night in London on the couch.

So guys: be warned. This guy is overcharging people just brutally. And backing the overcharging with quite believable lies. The only thing I'd say it ok to buy there is the SIM card. Ok, you pay extra, but if you need a SIM card urgently, it might be a better option than to pay for super-expensive roaming.

I don't know why anyone would expect to get good deals out of such a service in the first place, I'd expect using a 3rd party to do things would only add to the costs and reduce avenues to the best deals.

Were those prices quoted in addition to any charge for use of the service?

The only issue I would take is giving out duff info to justify the sale.

Airports are always expensive options for anything and, as the OP says, only buy something there if you need it.

It's a bit like the HEX sales force at LHR. claiming it's the fastest way into central London which is only really true if you count Paddington as central.

I suggest you contact TFL re the oyster cards. I think they will be very interested in someone selling them over the normal price.

Equally West Sussex Council Councils Trading Standards Department might also take an interest in some of the other aspects you raised.

My issue is indeed not overcharging, but rather lying about it. If they tell me that the price is the same in the city and make up some stories that there is a long waiting line and stuff, then I believe them.
I don't mind paying an airport premium, but then just tell me "here's your free SIM card and please pay a 10GBP service fee" or "the Oyster card is 3GBP but please pay us 7GBP service fee".
But they don't even mention that. On the receipt it's also printed "Three prepaid Simcard...10£".

Luckily I didn't buy the Oyster card because I was 100% sure that the oyster card wasn't 10GBP.

Contacting TFL or Trading councels is something I'm not really interested in as a tourist. I much more prefer to warn people over the internet rather than trying to solve the issue. Sorry about my selfishness.

By contacting the proper authorities and alerting them you will help far more people from being overcharged than by posting on here.

I took the trouble of contacting the Cambridge tourist office to complain that the B&B I booked there was filled with cigarette smoke. Possibly because of my complaint, the establishment appears to be defunct.

Ok, will do then. Just a quick email with basically the same idea as here. Wouldn't heart too much I guess. Just not planning on any legal action or something. If they'd like my signed statement, I'd be happy to give it to them. Though not ready for any court testimonials...

You're right... If they would be honest and state that they have a service surcharge, then it wouldn't be of any problem. Though lying to tourists isn't the way to welcome guests into your country/airport.

On the other hand, they might just stop selling sim cards and oyster cards, which will result in a worse situation for tourists. Although I hope that it will not go THAT far.

I agree it's not a scam.

It's obvious one is going to be paying a surcharge for being able to purchase these items in the one place especially when it's at an airport. As to the accusation of the person lying....most sales people lie, that's how they earn a living.

You must have awesome powers, being able to destroy an entire business with one phone call.

There is a big difference between a bad deal and a scam. Airport markups are generally bad deals but most know airports are noplace for bargain-hunting. Gatwick caters to tourist traffic, however, which may not know the going rates or the pitfalls of airport shopping. You wouldn't buy your West End theater tickets from a tout in the LGW arrivals hall, either...

It was an email. The tourist office replied "it is illegal to expose the public to cigarette smoke" and promised to take appropriate action. The B&B disappeared from the Web soon after. I figured that anyone who could produce the volume of smoke in that establishment would sooner give up letting out a few rooms than break the addiction.

Luckily for me, the night I spent there was unusually warm for October. I was able to keep the large window behind the prominent "no smoking" sign open and, with judicious use of inhalers, I did not suffer a serious asthma attack. And, having no desire to spend a moment longer than necessary in that toxic atmosphere, I declined breakfast and caught the early morning bus, thereby making my connection to the Oxford bus I'd given up hope of catching.

If my email drove that scofflaw business under, I'll gladly take the credit.

Possibly a small mistake staying in such an establishment, B&Bs do have a certain reputation over here!

As Malcolm Tucker famously said, "I do all my shagging in five-star hotels.."

Indeed. I started an argument with one of them once about it, especially as I can get into central London for £1 after 9am as opposed to £13.85 to Paddington with them.
I don't see why. It's a free market and people are welcome to sell goods and services for whatever price they think people will buy them for. As mentioned elsewhere, there is always a premium connected to doing business in an airport location and most of this is due to rent-seeking by the airport operator rather than sharp practice by the concessionaires.

Except I understand that it is TFL T&Cs that oyster card retailers can only sell them for the face value price of the card. And a visitor card is £3 (plus the paygo element).

And as for the 'airport premium' other shops don't charge over and above non airport prices for day to day products yet are still profitable.

Yes, but you're known for your lack of sympathy towards just about anyone.

Of course this is a scam: this man is taking advantage of gullible and confused tourists who don't know any better by lying to them about the prices of services.

He offers Oyster cards at £10 and lies that they can't be bought cheaper elsewhere.

He offers SIM cards at £10 and lies that they also can't be bought cheaper elsewhere.

Don't waste your time trying to defend him and trying to blame the victim; this is a textbook definition of a scam.