Three tourists from Michigan tracked down a pedicab driver in New York City who charged them over $500 for a short 2.9-mile ride to Coyote Ugly bar from Hotel Mela in Times Square. The driver, Ibraiym Denizov, demanded $163.60 from each passenger after a perilous ride, much to their shock since they expected the total cost to be around $30 to $40 based on prior experiences with other pedicabs. The women, unfamiliar with the option to contact police, ended up paying through a mobile payment service. Later, Jennifer Halladay and her friends contested the charges with Visa and PNC Bank, aided by information from pedicab organizations about common frauds. They managed to secure partial refunds and filed a complaint with the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs. Denizov remains a licensed pedicab driver, but the incident has sparked calls for his removal from the streets and for him to face consequences for his actions.
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