Thomas Cook (money changer) at Delhi Airport India
Cheating the incoming travelers by deceptively low rate of US$ to INR exchange not shown in rate board

This is how their scam works at Delhi Airport counter: You need dollars to Indian rupee exchanged when you come in at International terminal - specially if you need to pay customs duty, need money for food inside the airport or (usually) to pay for the taxi cab to home or hotel.

This company is reputed (and generally thought) of running a honest business like other banks and money exchange companies you see in International airports, but here they added a twist.

Nowadays they show only secondary currencies on their display board and that forces you to ask them verbally for US$ or Euro exchange rate, and they will assure you (evasively) they will pay the right rate on the computer - and show a friendly gesture "you start signing your travellers cheques - I am staring the computer work - will save time".

Sometimes they will quote the (higher) "selling" rate to confuse you as they you are getting that rate for your US$.

Now comes the catch, only when you SIGNED the checks (too late to back out), they will tell you they are paying such as such (much lower) exchange rate. Suppose the rate that day is INR 51.00 per US dollar for buying and INR 53 for selling, they will pay only around INR 47 (8 to 10% less).

You have no recourse to accept that - and what they did is perfectly legal. You cannot go back to Amex, your bank or to police - they will say you "accepted that rate" by signing - else you should gave "backed off".

Well - you cannot back off - your checks are already SIGNED (as you believed them paying a reasonable rate) and other companies will not accept such ones because of the 2nd signature already there - so you are (like me) forced to accept their rate - and at most "curse" them verbally (their clerks apparently got used to that verbal beatings - had no effect!)

Usually this happens at dead of night when the other Government run bank (State Bank of India) counter is closed - or there is a long queue there forcing you to try Thomas Cook.

Since you already signed the travellers check, you are doomed - as no one will touch it - and your only recourse is to bring it back to home - or go through the lengthy process of locating a partner bank (easier done if you have real Amex travellers checks - they have branches in all major cities) who will encash the "already signed check").

So next time you go to their counter - check their rates first, do a quick cross check (call the hotel or any friend - or compare if it is within or - 5% of the rate you expected) - ONLY THEN sign the travellers cheques.

Happened to me in Dec.

P.S. You are lucky if you were planning to sell only CASH US$ - even if they are the only OPEN counter (no alternative but to use them), try this: buy the min amt of Indian Rupee you need for taxi (say $20 or $30) and use a proper money exchange dealer later outside the airport - even most upscale hotels will help you encash right at their guest services counter, or tell you where to find State Bank or Amex.

Good that I did not sign all the $100 cheques - I got the right rate for the rest of the set from other money exchange dealers located in downtown later in the trip. This note to warn other travellers.

Company: Thomas Cook (money changer) at Delhi Airport India
Country: USA
Address: Indira Gandhi Airport terminal 3 Delhi India
Site: thomascook.in

  <     >