This is a cautionary tale. I know it was quite some time back but my friends who went to Goa two years ago was almost caught out by them when they went to change some money, while I was unlucky - especially if your mate is in a bad mood after drinking too much and wants you to just get the money changed and go.

I don't know what he Bureau de Change in question is called but it is situated up the main road heading towards the Bank of India and the roundabout. It is immediately past the Public Bar, on the far left and is sited on the side of the football pitch, which looks more like a very large gravel patch. I think you would have to walk down half the length of the pitch down to get to the entrance of the shop, which also allows you to make telephone calls abroad. I also think it might be popular as it is one of the first if not the very first Bureau de change that you come across when you walk up that road, offering a very good exchange rate.

Anyway, we went to change quite a bit of money but before the guy proceeded with the transaction (bald headed with a moustache), he asked to see my passport (which is standard practice) but also asked what hotel we were staying, what room number, when did we arrive and when were we leaving. I told him, even though I thought this was odd. When he came to give us the rupees they were all in 50rupees notes (lots of it) as oppose to 100 rupees notes as with most places. As soon as we got back to the hotel I found out that the guy had ripped us off by £10, which may not be much over here but is alot to them. Two days later we met up with some friends who told us they too when to that Bureau de Change and had both changed their own spending money in there. Upon leaving the premises they noticed something wasn't right as they had both changed different amount of cash and both piles looked the same. When they went back to the shop the guy said "I was just about to call you back, I have made a mistake".

As I said previously, another friend went to Goa two years ago also went to this place and they spotted something wasn't right and the guy said the same thing to them also when they went back to the shop. I've told the rep about this Bureau de Change but I'll don't she'll do anything about it.

Does any one know what this shop this called or has also been had by them? The moral of the story is if the guy at any Bureau de Change ask questions as to what hotel you are staying etc, turn round and run of the shop. Always count your money afterwards especially if they give your currency in low value notes to build up the pile of money. Personally I'd stick to the Thomas Cook Bureau de change or the Bank of India, even if they don't give you the best rate although the elephant shop seems to have received alot of recommendations.