Pay up in the ambulances, say Austrian emergency services

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
01/02/2010 09:43

A German tourist on a skiing holiday who met with an accident was asked on the way to hospital for his credit / debit card and told he must pay up before getting to hospital. He was charged 230 Euro. Most ambulances are now kitted out with the technology to take card payments. The Austrian authorities defended themselves by saying that most tourists would leave without paying otherwise and very difficult to collect once they have left the country.



I think it will be a wee while before this one comes to North Cyprus but then again this country has a way of sniffing out money making schemes.



Chris

Navek



Joined: 01/06/2008
Posts: 2656

Message Posted:
01/02/2010 09:48

No doubt the ambulances will be running you over for business )))

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
01/02/2010 09:58

Its the same in any SKI resort, carry your insurance, or buy it with your ski pass like in France, or have your EC medical card with you.

Its only the Uk that are soft.

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
01/02/2010 10:05

The biggest ambulance scam I ever saw was in 2001 when Law Hospital in Carluke closed down and the new hospital opened in Wishaw. People parting at nearby Motherwell and Hamilton were phoning for ambulances and saying they had chest pain, the ambulance duly went and got them but on arrival to the ER they jumped out and ran!!!! Sick or what.



Chris

Mr Vince


Joined: 24/07/2008
Posts: 696

Message Posted:
01/02/2010 11:20

I once went to a Chineese carry out restuarant and asked if they did deliveries. They told me that deliveries within a 5 mile radius was £1.50; similar taxi fare was £5.00. Bought a curry and asked for it to be delivered along with me. Result.

Mr Vince


Joined: 24/07/2008
Posts: 696

Message Posted:
01/02/2010 11:22

Stay out of Austria. They hoovered 120 Euro from me because I did not have a sticker to alow me to drive on their roads. Was only in their country 20 minutes when I was fined on the spot and given 2 days to leave their country. Be warned

decanddyl


Joined: 17/01/2009
Posts: 792

Message Posted:
01/02/2010 18:20

They were luckier than us we had to pay before we were allowed in it. This happened in Andorra and to add insult to injury it was a fire engine/ambulance.