Patrick Cooke, David Schembri and Claudia Calleja
One price for Maltese, another for tourists
Anecdotes of overcharging
Foreigners are charged more than locals when buying identical products from the same establishments, an exercise conducted by The Sunday Times has shown.
One quarter of stores, kiosks and bars visited by this newspaper charged more to a foreigner speaking English than to a Maltese person speaking the national language for the same product.
Sixteen stores, kiosks and bars were visited in popular tourist areas in Valletta, St Julian’s, Paceville, Tarxien and Rabat.
At each location, a Maltese journalist ordered a selected item in Maltese, while a British journalist posing as a tourist ordered the same item in English.
The journalists ordered the same product directly after one another and obtained receipts in all cases when the foreigner was charged more.
The Sunday Times only visited retailers where prices of items were not clearly displayed, which is illegal under the Price Indication Regulations of the Consumer Affairs Act.
At a confectionary in Merchants Street, Valletta, on August 26, the Maltese journalist paid €1.20 for a small bottle of cola, while the British journalist was charged €1.50 for the same item immediately afterwards.
On the same day, a political party club in Republic Street, Valletta, perhaps demonstrated why it displays a sign saying ‘tourists welcome’ outside – the barman there charged the Maltese journalist €1.30 for a bottle of lager, but moments later he charged the British ‘tourist’ €1.40 for the same item.
Yesterday at a store in St George’s Road, St Julian’s, the attendant charged the British journalist €1.25 for a two-litre bottle of mineral water. A few minutes later, the same woman charged the Maltese journalist €1 for the product.
And Anglo-Maltese solidarity was somewhat lacking at a certain establishment in Merchants Street, Valletta, yesterday; the British journalist was charged the Anglo price of €2, while the local journalist was charged the Maltese price of €1.75 for an equivalent large can of lager.
Although the other places visited did not display the prices of all their products as required by law, they did not attempt to charge different prices for the same product to the journalists.
Foreigners who spoke The Sunday Times came up with numerous anecdotes about instances when they believe they were ripped off.
One Briton recalled a time he was eating in Mdina with his Maltese girlfriend, whom the waitresses presumed was also foreign, and right in front of them one waitress told another in Maltese to charge them for two scoops of ice cream instead of the one they had ordered.
Another foreigner working in Valletta recalled that for weeks he was charged 90 cents for his daily cup of coffee at a cafe close to his place of work. When the staff at the cafe started to recognise him they began charging him 70 cents instead, but lost a formerly loyal customer.
“Despite the drop in price, I would rather buy my coffee elsewhere than pay people I know were cheating me,” he said.
Odette Vella of the Consumer and Competition Department, who writes a weekly consumer column in The Sunday Times, emphasised it is illegal for any retailer to purposely charge different prices for the same product.
Ms Vella said every product for sale should have a price which is displayed in a manner that is unambiguous, easily identifiable and clearly legible.
If consumers believe they have been overcharged, or if they know of a trader that does not display its prices, they can report these traders to the Enforcement Directorate within the Consumer and Competition Department on Freephone 8007 4400.
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l borg
Sep 6th 2010, 09:16
I BEEN OVER 30 COUNTRIES AND IT HAPPENEDTO ME THAT I AM CHARGED MORE THAN LOCALS BUT MAINLY FROM KIOSKS AND BARS AND TAXIS SO THIS HAPPENS ALL OVER THE WORLD ALSO 25C EXTRA CHARGE IS NOT A BIG DEAL HOWEVER PRICES SHOULD BE ON DISPLAY AND THE TOURIST SHOULD ALWAYS ASK HOW MUCH PLEASE? SOMETHING I DO IN TOURIST PLACES IN MALTA BECAUSE BEING MALTESE LIVING IN MALTA DOES NOT MEAN I CANNOT BE OVERCHARGED
P. Borg
Sep 6th 2010, 09:16
The same thing happened to me in Italy and I was charged much more than this. About 5 euros in Firenze and about 3 euros in Verona. And by the way, what about the table and chair fees paid extra in Italy? For a coke and a dry flat as much as possible baguette I paid 20 euros in Firenze with the waiter near us to make us leave as soon as we finish. I think it's a mediterranean tradition to kill tourists pockets. So funny we are supposed to be one whole country being in the EU but this is just in my dreams. At least these has some 10 to 20 cents more, what should I say?
D REILING
Sep 6th 2010, 07:56
I concur with this as it has happened to us-we chose to live here, a shop in mellieha charged €1.50 for 2 peppers, when we questioned this saying we are not tourists we live here the price dropped to 75c, another well known shop in mellieha charged €1.40 for 1.5L of lemonade when we know the price is no more than 75c, we didnt notice until we got home and checked the receipt-now i never use those two shops and never will. Its ironic that these are the same people that complain that tourists arent spending their money and their sales are down-well shame on you all who rip the tourist off so blatantly. you should be ashamed, as I am, that i try my best to promote the island only to have my efforts disgraced by you. You need to get your head out of the sand and work in treat people fairly they will come back in their droves, I always go back to places where I am treated with respect and treated fairly. By the way just because other EU countries do this does not make it right or acceptable for you to do it too.
j grech
Sep 6th 2010, 00:41
welcome to malta the freindly island, a well practised service with a smile while ripping you off, the holier than thou christian island ( i think not ) i save every xenaphobic comment that appears against foreigners i love malta as most visitors do, and i will not be detered by these money grabbing traders, apart from food i buy all clothing, household items and other essentials while im on holiday and if i am not going on holiday i buy over the internet as most maltese have even found it cheaper , i aim not to spend a penny more of my foreign pension in malta than i have to, i wont eat out,i wont travel on public transport, i wont buy maltese products from the supermarket they are more expensive, maltese traders have ripped me off too many times and this is the way i get round it so all you foreigners who`s visitors have been ripped off do the same beleive me when i say how much you save, to all rogue traders your time will soon be up as word spreadsbecause us foreigners do name you to our visitors top of list white taxi.
A. Pace
Sep 5th 2010, 21:02
This has been going on for so long, I remember coming to Malta on vacation and my dad (who is Maltese) used to tell us not to talk in English in shops because they'll charge us more. This was over twenty years ago...I guess not much has changed in Malta!!
reno calleja
Sep 5th 2010, 19:07
There is a law which obliges shops, kisoks, hotels, fruit sellers etc to display the price of every object visibly and clearly. This law is not being adhered to. The Price enforcement section seems to be hibernating like a hedgehog in witner. . These shop owners are damaging the tourist industry by giving a bad image. They should loose immediately if they do not display the price list. In this way every tourist would know what he or she is paying for. I am sure the GRTU will note the Times report and take action with shop owners, supermarets etc. As Chairman of the Malta Transport Authoirty I had to fight tooth and nail ( and I lost votes in the process, to introduce a system at the Port and Aiport whereby every tourist would know exactly what it is going to cost him when he takes a taxi. If I was able to do this, (I was even threatened by some taxi drivers) why is that the price enforcement section has no spine to ensure that the law is followed absolutely.
R.Borg
Sep 5th 2010, 17:53
Dishonesty is their profession.
Where are you GRTU?
Charles Micallef
Sep 5th 2010, 17:33
Ms Vella said every product for sale should have a price which is displayed in a manner that is unambiguous, easily identifiable and clearly legible.
Does this apply to the vegetable hawkers in and around Qawra, as if it does, they are displaying invisible price tags!
john gittos
Sep 5th 2010, 17:59
I holiday frequently in Malta , I love the island , my mother is Maltese and I understand every word of the maltese language but find it hard to speak it ,and I know when shopping in Malta with my wife and children the British are being ripped off .I love to see the faces of retailers in Malta when they realise that I can understand every word they are saying , and I always make it known to them that I know what they are doing , and how foolish they are as their actions will turn tourists away .
G.Portelli
Sep 5th 2010, 17:32
No one should shout scandal here as abroad I was ripped off in all EU countries I visited. This is normal practice when they notice you're a tourist. It should not happen but it happens.
John Micallef
Sep 5th 2010, 17:49
I fully agree with G Portelli -- I've experienced this in Europe, including in Switzerland, and I'm usually travelling on business, not that I have 'I'm a tourist' written on my forehead!!
A Williams
Sep 5th 2010, 17:19
Vinny Boyde
Sep 5th 2010, 16:39
When I lived in Malta I noticed that most grocers were charging for a quarter of ham say and only weighing 200grams. How can that be. I used to make an argument and reported it many times. But this went on with the Maltese customers as well. It is still going on today and No ONe from the office of FAIR TRADING has ever done anything about it, WHY???
David Farrugia
Sep 5th 2010, 23:39
Actually you are not being ripped off.....when in Malta you ask for a quarter, you are given a quarter of a 'ratal' (don't know the English word for it). This 'ratal' is just about 800g. So you are not given a quarter of a kilo, but a quarter of a 'ratal'. Actually you are paying for 200 grams, so if you need 250g..it's simple, just ask for 250g.
Tony Gatt
Sep 6th 2010, 09:25
I thought that the Metric system is now in force in Malta. If the ratal is still in use, why not pay in Pounds shillings and pence?
Stephen Grech
Sep 5th 2010, 15:30
This story is indeed tragic, but from a different point of view. this exercise shows foreigners being ripped off between 10 and 40 eurocent when buying a drink...from 4 outlets out of 16!! We're all tourists at least once a year and don't tell me that you were never ripped off ta. I know it's not right to treat tourists differently...but have you ever been to Venice, Florence, Paris and the lot???
The real damage comes from sensational journalists who have the guts to team up with foreign journalists with the result of the latter telling all English people not to come to holiday in Malta - This is the gravest outcome of this BRAVATA ta' Gornalist.
c. camilleri
Sep 5th 2010, 15:23
It always boils down to the same argument. ENFORCEMENET.. Most of our establiements do not display the price of items at all or in a prominent place. At least those visited gave a receipt. Many do not even give one. I cannot understand what our law enforcement agencies are there for.
Pat Staff
Sep 5th 2010, 15:21
let me assure you from personal experience that this practice is widespread throughout the western world, not just med countries and has been going on for many many years. We were told by Americans in Florida 15 yrs ago that we had been way overcharged for taxi fares, by Italians in Sorrento for jewellery, by friends in Mexico for a boat trip etc etc., we now do our homework before travelling and check out local prices very thoroughly. Of all the countries we have visited we have found Italians the most consistent for overcharging. We have lived in Malta for 7+ years and via visiting family and friends sadly have heard of many overcharging incidents but one of the worst was a large prominently placed hotel in Sliema charging visitors 100% more for a pint of beer!
John Carmel Navarro
Sep 5th 2010, 15:15
Over the past four years since I with my British wife retired to Malta, I have written numerous letters on the practice of overcharging. I know many would say it goes on all over the World but my main concern is our Little Island of Malta we depend heavily on Tourism and Foreigners electing to live here, why establishments cannot understand that it is a nail in their own coffin every time they overcharge. We have now made it a point to only purchase from retailers who clearly display prices, this at least has put us in control as to what we are paying of course if we thing the price it is still too high we just walk away. It is extremely sad that there are still business people who had the mentality that anyone foreign is fair game, I appreciate that one can report traders who fail to display prices but surely the Consumer and Competition Department need to be enforcing the law by doing regular surprise checks. There are at least 25% of shop keepers mainly green grocers who do not display prices so it cannot be that difficult to detect and prosecute the offenders
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Sep 5th 2010, 13:30
What is the government doing about it? I say (a) make it an offence to discriminate in this manner against foreigners, (b) allow no exceptions, (c) fine them to the hilt, (d) withdraw any licence they may hold, and (e) forbid them from engaging in any commercial activity that brings them into contact with foreigners. Some years ago I was on a bus and the bus driver charged a group of foreigners including their children one Maltese pound each when the cost of the ticket was eleven cents. Then he wanted to take them to Qormi instead of Sliema so that they would have to catch a taxi. It was the last bus to Sliema. Maltese governments are weak ... pathetic to put it more bluntly. They are all talk and no action especially the current bunch of clowns. Great for a self-styled Christian country!!!
Mr B J Simmons
Sep 5th 2010, 12:46
As a tourist for many years I am fully aware of the practice, having first been brought to my attention by the then 12 year old daughter of a friend who said, 'Give me the money and I'll buy the drinks, it will be cheaper than if you get them.''
From that time I have only ever bought from places where the price is clearly shown or go with a Maltese friend.
I find Mr Pasaila's comments rather sad and a case of sour grapes. We all have the choice of whether to buy or not at any outlet and I reserve the right to do that. If I even think I am being cheated, because that's what it is, I will just walk away.
Yes I am a tourist, I am not rich, as I live on a small pension and do not earn an imaginative 10 times that of Mr Pasaila, neither do most. I do expect to be welcomed and not ripped off. Remember that many tourists will not complain, but just go elsewhere next year, so such traders need to be dissuaded rather than encouraged.
Carlo Vella
Sep 5th 2010, 11:53
It seems to be like this all over europe. Funny thing is that being Mlatese and living in Spain, I visit Malta twice a year and have come across this many times in Malta. In one instance I went to buy a bottle of water and when I asked the price in english he said it was 1.50. I said it was expensive in Maltese then he said sorry it is 1.30. I tried this out with a number of shops and the same thing happened. Unfortunately tourists don't know the prices and of course they will pay but one must remember, by doing this - raising prices - the place can get a bad name. Think about it people. We all know there is a crisis but don't do it because of greed!
Anthony Briffa
Sep 5th 2010, 11:45
These journalists should hand over all the information they have to the authorities for any action they deem fit. It is no use writing in the papers because it will only harm the tourist industry further. These outlets should be delt with severely. Anything short than this is a dis-service to the industry and the honest retailers.
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Sep 5th 2010, 13:31
Yea, and what will the government do about that?
Alexander Bonello du Puis
Sep 5th 2010, 11:44
@Emmanuel Ebejer
Are you surprised ? Gozo Channel set the example ( albeit legitimately ) a along time ago !
Charles Zammit
Sep 5th 2010, 11:33
What's all the fuss about? This is very common practice in tourist places. As recently as last week I was charged 2 Euro for a 1.5 litre mineral water bottle in Dubrovnik and 4 Euro for a capuccino in Rome. I am sure locals don't pay this kind of money for the said items.
Furthermore a 0.5litre bottle of mineral water at MIA's departure lounge costs 1 Euro 50 cents . Is this correct or admissable?
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Sep 5th 2010, 13:32
It is nice to see Maltese imitating foreigners ... when it suits them to fill their pockets with someone else's money. Is this not stealing? What happened to your Christianity?
joe scerri
Sep 5th 2010, 11:27
These same establishments will be the first to say that business is bad when they start losing customers.
Should we not have inspectors to perform the exercise carried out by these journalists and the perpetrators heavily fined?
Jeremy Psaila
Sep 5th 2010, 11:20
Well it may be illegal... but I think it is fully justified... nearly all tourists come from countries with a much a higher standard of living (and wage level) than ours.
A bottle of water should cost a British citizen the same as it would cost him in London... Likewise when I go to the UK I expect to be charged at Maltese rates. This is the only fair state of affairs that I can think of and the Law should be changed to reflect this.
Why should I be charged GBP 3.50 for a bottle of water in central London when my wage is a 1/10 of that of the typical Londoner??
B. Stott
Sep 5th 2010, 13:24
"Why should I be charged GBP 3.50 for a bottle of water in central London when my wage is a 1/10 of that of the typical Londoner??"
As you always say to us: "don't like it? leave the country." If that's the price in London that's the price everyone is charged. It's called being fair. Not to mention it's LONDON; can't afford it? Don't visit it. it's quite simple.
Chris Fenech
Sep 5th 2010, 15:33
@ Jeremy Psaila
surely you must be joking .... or at least I hope you are .... for rarely have I ever seen such an abysmal "suggestion" in the Times' comments section lol !!
mela issa go to London and buy clothes at MALTA prices and cars at MALTA prices imbaghad ara tibqax ta l-istess opinjoni ;-)
Jeremy Psaila
Sep 5th 2010, 16:12
Why are you all so surprised? Enemalta charges different people different rates depending on their income... Even Gozitans get a better deal on nearly everything, be them Ferry tickets or solar energy feed in tariffs!
So is that not discrimination?
Well by the same principle I still believe that I should be charged less than a Briton when I go to the UK and that British tourists can afford to pay a little bit extra than I can. It's called social justice.
So it's the Law that should be changed not my job, my holiday destinations or any of my purchasing preferences!
Jeremy Psaila
Sep 5th 2010, 16:25
@Chris Fenech
Just like you say... it's all Topsy Turvy!...
Why should I have to go to the UK to buy a cheap car?? Cheap cars should be sold in Malta and expensive one in the UK... Britons earn twice as much as the Maltese per capita so I really don't need any need for cheap cars in the UK. Same applies for clothes, cameras, computer parts, laptops, etc...
If the world were a fair place Malta would have the cheapest items in Europe... But I surely don't expect a Briton to come over to Malta to avail himself of the lower prices!!!! That's cheating the system!
High earners should therefore continue to be charged high prices...
smifsud
Sep 5th 2010, 17:03
@Jeremy Psiala ....ok when we will make the same wages as in Lodon England then we can charge accordingly to those wages ...here in Malta wages are low ..so tell you what get involved in a movement to raise wages to workers(here in malta) and then consumer prices will adjust accordingly ..in malta the employer is taking full advantage of workers by paying piitence wages and charging the workers or tourists as if they are all payed high standard wages abroad ..he wins from both ends of the deal ...no wonder they have villas and high end boats and nice cars clothes jewellery ...malta the land of opportunists not opportunity!!!
Romeo Busuttil
Sep 5th 2010, 10:12
" if they know of a trader that does not display its prices, they can report these traders to the Enforcement Directorate within the Consumer and Competition Department on Freephone 8007 4400. ". If all Maltese consumers had to call in to report establishments who do not display the prices the department would have to employ 10 times the present inspectors to cope with the work...LOL. Moreover, most shops (especially food shops) do display prices but when you have a closer look you realise that all prices are jumbled up and not in sequence with the products on the shelves or the prices would have been there for so long that new items would be on the shelves without any corresponding price at all.
Emmanuel Ebejer
Sep 5th 2010, 09:30
It's even worse in Gozo, where they have different prices for Gozotans, Maltese and foreigners.