It’s Just Lunch: a dating service scam?
The It’s Just Lunch franchise dating service website calls itself the “the first date specialists,” and claims to “arrange quality lunch dates and drinks after work for busy professionals in a discreet, no-pressure setting.”
Its claim to fame is the exclusive nature of its high-calibre clients and its extensive, personal matching process. And it charges big bucks for its dating services.
Is It’s Just Lunch dating service a scam? If you’ve had experiences with IJL, good or bad, please share them below.
Tami, who claims to be a bikini model, definitely thinks It’s Just Lunch is a scam, and she’s trying to get her $1800 fee refunded.
.
Tami states:
I am demanding a full refund from “It’s Just Lunch”. They have completely failed to provide even 10% of what was described to me by their then number one “Matchmaker” through numerous phone calls and meetings. They have completely misrepresented their services and available clientele. After signing onto their service I went on a total of “SEVEN” Matched Meetings.
I allowed them the opportunity to ‘Work their Magic’ but was completely disappointed on every occasion. I called after every meeting and explained why the person chosen was nothing like what they said they had available to me and what my specific needs were and promised by them to deliver, were not even close. I was incredibly unhappy and gave detailed information as to what was wrong and missing only to be told each time they understood and would guarantee I would be very happy with the next person they had for me. I ended up going through three separate “Matchmakers” who were all highly trained and skilled in their profession, to finally tell them they do not and have not even come close to the contract we agreed on as to what they had to offer and provide.
I refuse to continue with a service that has completely misrepresented what they are and what they promise to deliver. I gave them many opportunities and all of their chosen “Matches” were nothing like the description of available men described. They did not and do not have the people promised and they did not provide this extensive “Matchmaking” Service that only professionally trained Matchmakers can provide.
Their described service is a scam, I don’t believe they went any further than taking files from a file cabinet not even looking at the names and put them together. Maybe they used a dart board where the same two colored darts hit and were then said to be a match. I am well beyond disappointed with their promises and performance, as you can see and demand a full refund based on their complete misrepresentation. I feel I do not have a binding contract with their company because of the lies and deceit presented by their representatives.
I have tried on numerous attempts personally with “It’s Just Lunch” to get a full refund of $1,800.00 but have been unsuccessful. I hope this letter better describes the reasons for my insisting a full refund and that by now putting it out there in the public, and now also taking them to small claims court, I hope to receive the refund due myself and help others against this fraudulent corporation.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE IT’S JUST LUNCH FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY OR THE IT’S JUST LUNCH DATING SERVICE? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
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MIdwest (Michigan) CAN YOU SAY RIP OFF. DON'T DO IT AND RUN THE OTHER WAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9/17/09 10:48 AM Initial call from Shan 954 990 1016. I was at work. Went to my voice mail.
4:31PM Incoming call again from Shan. I was still at work. Went to my voice mail.
Approx 7 PM. I returned the call. We talked at great length about the program and how it works. I asked if there was somewhere where I could get references or approvals. She said no. I told her I would think about it and get back with her. She said it doesn’t work that way. They don’t keep any of the information. The wipe it clean and we would have to start all over again. I asked if there was a satisfaction guarantee. She stated “no”. I asked if there was a cancellation policy. She stated “Yes, you have 3 days”. I said so if I want to cancel, I can call on Sunday”(being that we spoke on Thursday). She stated “no that I could call on Monday, since it was the weekend.”
9/18/09 (next morning) Approx 11AM I called Shan to cancel. I changed my mind and decided I couldn’t afford the $500 she came down to (from $700-after talking to her manager). Shan informed me how disappointed and that it would take 3-5 weeks. I said that sounds crazy. I asked her to send me an email to confirm the cancellation. She said she would and would call me later in the afternoon with confirmation.
2:02 PM I called her again to see if it was completed yet because I seen my bank statement and they took up $700 instead of the $500 agreed upon. I got her voice mail. And there was no follow up call in the afternoon to confirm cancellation, nor any email.
5:05PM Called Shan, I got her voice mail.
5:10 PM Called Shan, I got her voice mail.
5:16 PM Called Shan, I got her voice mail.
5:27 PM Called Shan, I got her voice mail.
5:29 PM I called 800-335-8624 explained my situation to the operator and she transferred me to Shan’s voice mail.
5:31 PM I called back and explained that Shan didn’t pick up and that I wanted to talk to a live person or a Manager. She stated there wasn’t one available and put me thru to Shan’s voice mail again.
5:33 PM I called the same 800 # again. I was hung up on.
5:34 PM I called the same 800# again. I was hung up on.
5:35 PM I called with a block on my number and she said she would have a supervisor call me.
5:36 PM I called with a block on my number and was hung up on.
5:36 PM I called with a block on my number and was hung up on again.
That was Friday.
9/22/09 (Tuesday) Shan called and left me a voice mail. She processed the $200 refund
9/23/09 8:26 AM Incoming call 248-421-6662 A woman to tell me she had a match for me. I explained that I cancelled. “Oh let me check into that”. I never heard back.
9/25/09 9:05 AM Incoming call. Same scenario. “I have a match”. I said I just talked with you a couple days ago and told you I cancelled. Don’t you have notes in your computer.” Let me check”.
9/29/09 11:58 AM I called Shan again 954-990-1016 No Answer. Left voice mail.
12:26 PM I called Shan again. No answer. Left voice mail.
10/06/09 Shan called to tell me that she was mistaken and there is no cancellation policy for Detroit area and that the $500 was a discount”. I said have your supervisor call me because you lied to me and told me there was a 3 day cancellation policy and you didn’t call me back and there was no email to confirm my cancellation”. She stated that she sent it. I said “well, forward it to me, send me proof that you sent it”. If I would have known that I would have never given you any money.” I’m not that spontaneous of a person. She said she would have her supervisor call me. No one called this day.
10/08/09 Lynn called (704-332-6081). She asked me if I had spoke with Shan recently. I told her “yes and that she told me there was no cancellation policy for Detroit”. She stated that is correct”. I said “what is the cancellation policy for New York, Chicago?”. She stated she didn’t know, that is not her area”. I told her I wanted a refund. She stated “that there isn’t one”. I told her that “Shan shouldn’t have told me there was a 3 day cancellation policy if there wasn’t one”. I told her I want my money back. She said that doesn’t happen. I told her I wanted to talk with her Regional Manager. She said to send her an email (lynn.staples@ijlcorp.com) and she would escalate it, but that nothing will probably happen.
I am tired of dealing with this fraudulent business. They are a scam and I am not happy they have my $700, which they told me was $500 and a 3 day cancellation policy, which I cancelled within 18 hours. I don’t have time to deal with this. I was working with my bank where the money was pulled out of my checking account, but they are still investigating. Please help me get my money back off of my debit card. This place is a scam that deceives people.
It's Just Lunch Atlanta introduced me to a guy they said was divorced. The guy said he was divorced. In reality, he had not even FILED for divorce. Details at http://thomasjohnbaudhuinacworthgeorgialied.blogspot.com/2009/11/thomas-john-baudhuin-of-acworth-georgia.html .
It is a SCAM for sure but they don't care. They just keep advertising and scamming people. I reported them to the BBB and tried to sue them for my money back. They have the SCAM down. Isn't there anything we can do, collectively, do have our money returned from this unethical organization?
I had a similar experience with IJL. However, I did get some assurances from the director at the time in writing of the types of guys I would be set up with. For those of you that have filed in small claims, what name did you use for the defendant? Since these are franchised, I don't know if I should use the coporate name or the local. Any advise would be appriciated.
So many complaints about It's Just Lunch dating service. Has anyone had good luck with any of the professionals dating services or online dating services, singles services, or places like Match.com, LavaLife, eHarmony, PlentyofFish.com or other dating and singles sites?
Are there good dating alternatives out there?
I have sued the local company here in Seattle. I sued the LLC organization, and the Registered agent, Betty Sinclair. Betty signed a court mediated agreement to return my money by 9/20/09. To this day, I have not received any money. I now have a judgement and a civil case against it's just lunch and Betty Sinclair.
I had like most a very disappointing and horrible experience with It's Just Lunch. I think they must pay people in government off. How else are they still in business. I don't understand how a company with this many legitimate complaints is still in business. If anyone knows how to get a company shut down please let me know. This company is a fraud and takes advantage of people. The whole reason I signed up with this company is because I would spend hours searching threw online profiles to not find even one person I was interested in. It was time consuming and disappointing. This company claimed they had tons of men that fit what I was looking for. Sadly I found out that was not true. I thought I was paying this company to do the hours of research I got tired of doing myself. I was willing like most of you to pay big dollars to have someone else find me someone that I would actually like. The kind of service they provide you are better off just picking some random person off the street and asking them if they are single. And that is FREE!
It's Just Lunch is a complete rip-off. I was beyond disappointed after only 3 dates in 6 months and no contacts from my so-called matchmaker, Prina Chokron. I have no hope of ever recovering my $1000 and just wish to spread the word that of all the match-making agencies around, I made a huge and costly mistake selecting this one. Does anyone have any idea about how to even begin to try to get a refund from the IJL crooks in NYC?
Christine:
Your best bet in seeking a refund is probably the New York Attorney General's office.
Don't worry... They are familiar with It's Just Lunch, who they fined in 2007. See:
http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/dating-franchise-its-just-lunch-fined-by-ny-attorney-general/
I just had my first date/experience with It's Just Lunch this past Monday. I'd cancel if I could... My first date was ridiculous and they paired me (I live in SC) with a man in Alabama.
check out my blog post...
http://nextonemancloser.wordpress.com/