RIP OFF
 

We went to a cabaret/drag show listed in Fodor's Paris guide. It was a depressing, smelly, worn out place that reeked of despairation. The place is called Madame Arthur's and I provided my credit card for the reservation before I had seen the place. The show was all in French (not international humor as I was told). The show was reserved for 47 euros each. When the bill came for 2 persons (we had mineral water and 1 glass of wine) it was for 242 euros and the show was itemized at 91 euros each. We paid 160 euros and left. Madame Arthur's has since made 2 unauthorized charges to my credit card since I have been home in the US. I have closed my credit card account. I hope this does not happen to anyone else. It is my wish that Fodor's not list Madame Arthur's in their guide.

Wow. what an expensive awful night and experience, Did not know it was in Fodors..sounds terrible IMO.

Was Fodor's the only guide to mention this show?

I've never been there but I've heard about it as it's been around a long time. I didn't think it was international but only French, but some things that language might not have mattered so much. It is listed in a lot of places and guides, so I'm surprised to hear that, but sounds pretty bad. I remember Elvira who used to post on here went there and mentioned it in a trip report--she liked it, as I recall, and had no problems. I don't understand the prices, though. They advertise in Pariscope for 47 euro some nights (although the rate is 63 euro on weekends) for the show, without drinks. My Pariscope is fairly recent, from a couple months ago. This is in public print, how did they justify 91 euro for the show?

They have a web site that clearly states the 47 or 63 euro price, also
http://www.madamearthur.com/

You should write to Fodors about that, I think. I don't understand this unless you went on a holiday or some time that had special pricing. That place has been around many years in Paris and is quite wellknown.

Fodor's was the only guide that I saw this place listed in. We went to the show on a Monday evening - 2 of 10 people in attendance. There were more people in the show than in the audience and all persons were in shock when they received their bill. When we left we paid 50 euros per person and charges for drinks - 160 euros - even though we were told that the wine and water came with the meal. They did not explain the charges - it was a very unpleasant situation and we were the last to leave, I simply refused to pay more than the price quoted for the show and for drinks. I was a good thing I had the employee of Madame Arthur's write paid in cash on my reciept before I left. My credit card was charged $107.77, which did go through. A few days later my credit card was charged $102.00 and payment was held up for this charge at which point I cancelled my credit card. This was a terrible experience!

Oh my.

Try sending Fodor's a note at
http://www.fodors.com/contact-us/

>My credit card was charged $107.77, which did go through.<

Have you contested this charge, in writing?

Cancelling the CC will not make the charges disappear. Unless you challenge the charges with the CC issuer and win, you will still be responsible for the charges and if you don't pay, it will be reported to the credit reporting agencies as a non-payment and your credit rating will be affected.

I suggest challenging the charges.

Perhaps there was a language problem, I can understand, but I would make somebody explain charges that were very different than reserved. A show fee of 91 euro when you were quoted 47 needs explaining. However, I did not think the basic price included drinks (the 47 euro), and drinks are expensive in a place like that usually. So your final bill of 80 euro per person actually doesn't sound too unusual for a cabaret, except for the misunderstanding as to whether drinks were included in it (or a drink minimum). Mineral water costs as much as wine in places like that.

It's not clear from your post, but I gather you are saying you paid in cash when you left? If so, then the other charges would be bogus, but otherwise, they sound like charges for about what you spent (around 80 per person).

Christina, I don't think you read the post right. The way I read it, the bill wasn't for 160 euro, but that is the amount zzzzzz left, presumably in cash. The bill was for 242 euro, or 121 euro each. And he says they only had one mineral water and one glass of wine. Even with the higher price for the tickets, that still means the water and the wine were 30 euro each!


But I'm really confused that they have a credit card number. They took the number when you ordered the tickets, but they didn't charge anything at that time? Did you have anything in writing with the show price? I'm not sure that I understand reserving the seats on the credit card without paying at that time. Did you do this on line, or by telephone?