Is IT’S JUST LUNCH Dating Service a Scam?

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• I too have been scammed by IJL. After being referred by someone I knew, I called to get more info. When they gave me the price, I told them I didn't want to pay that much. The sales person was very good at convincing me that it would be well worth it and asked me to send her my picture while we were on the phone.

  After seeing my picture and asking me what type of man I was hoping for, she said she had the perfect guy for me. She made him out to be like George Clooney, so I took the bait. When I went on my date, I was shocked to see that not only was he much shorter, heavier and way less attractive than she lead me to believe, but he was DEAF AND LEGALLY BLIND!!

  We also had absolutely nothing in common. After my date, I immediately requested a full refund, and was told that since I didn't send my notice of cancellation to them within the 3 day period, there was nothing they could do, except try harder next time. I told them that there was no way I would agree to put myself through another date without at least seeing a picture first, but they told me all their dates are blind dates (no pun intended), but if I wanted to upgrade for an additional fee, they could do that.

  I am now in the process of filing a claim with the Attorney General's office in hopes of putting this company out of business so other people don't get scammed by them.

• I also wanted to let other victims know that there is a class action suit being handled by an attorney named John Balestriere, who I just contacted to get more info from.

• Total scam! If anyone can provide more info about the class action please do.

• Sarah, I just went to the website. Here's what I learned.

  http://www.balestrierefariello.com/john-balestriere-featured-in-fox-5-piece-on-its-just-lunch/

  There is a link at the bottom to write to John Balestriere for more information.

  I am hoping to also be included in the Class Action against It's Just Lunch.

• Thank you. I was in the process of joining IJL in Michigan but decided against after reading all these reviews. As complex as dating can be for the amount of money they are asking I would expect a higher level of success/service.

• It seems impossible how to describe this "service." Let me try by adding JUST the latest email to IJL who not only has delivered NOTHING, they are holding my money ransom because I have not yet sued them and are counting on it. Here is the latest of *many* emails:

  "I have been home for 6+ weeks and didn't hear a peep from IJL about a single date, my schedule or what you're doing to rectify this miserable situation.
  I am sure you and the IJL employees are nice, funny, smart people, and if I knew you on a personal level, I'm sure I'd dig your large personalities and kinship (seriously). I have no doubt you're all doing the best you can going to work everyday, and I genuinely appreciate this.
  On a professional level, I am going to keep giving the same honest feedback that I have until I get the legal, ethical and financial recourse rightfully due to me:

  1) ____, we are not well suited to work together professionally, for you as my dating coordinator. I've expressed this to IJL and I'm sure it's something you already know as well. (Not all personalities click, and at this point, what could you honestly say to my dates about me if you were being honest? It would be difficult to find something nice.) ***For $2,500 I expect this request to be honored.***

  2) This is a fiduciary relationship. If IJL was my business, I'd long be reported to the BBB for lack of service deliverables, and I'd be preparing for a serious lawsuit. If you were any other industry, you'd be investigated, cited and shut down/fined. IJL seems to think they have its clients/me by the cajones in keeping our money hijacked. ***For $2,500 I expect IJL to be delivering. They are not.***

  3) However, I intend to make sure that this does not continue to happen to me. I've respectfully asked AT LEAST 4 times for a *warranted* refund, and met with--literal--silence on my clear justification (circumvented, canned, non response-responses do not and will not deter me). Not only do I despise this business tactic, it would not work in any other industry and it won't work here. I will not only be reporting IJL to the BBB, I will continue to post absolutely 100% truthful online reviews that exposes IJL for what it is. I will surely save many people from throwing $2,500 out the window. ***For $2,500 I expect respect for my money as well as myself, and integrity. It has not happened.***

  Coincidentally, I will be in Florida fairly soon. If I do not receive a full client refund, I will be contacting IJL's local news agencies, the BBB, and posting more truth-exposing reviews as a current IJL client. I am literally telling you what I'm going to do.

  These are the actions of recourse I will HAVE to use because IJL's utter lack of business ethic. I do not know how much more clear I can be, and I actually feel like I am being nice since I am not trying to hide or impart any empty lawsuit threats that I am not yet committed to pursuing.

  Please refund my $2,500 by Sept 30, 2014, and I will no longer be IJL's client nor act as if I was still (an unhappy, indignant) one on mission to save others from getting scammed out of their money. ***For $2,500, I expect IJL to realize they don't need my money that badly, which certainly will take more than $2,500 in "damage control" marketing funds to un-do.***

  Sincerely,
  P.S. All information about my experience as written in this email is honest, fair and accurate; so much so that I feel totally confident that I have nothing to hide when posting it verbatim on online reviews and in my investigation/inquiry letters -- so none of it should be a surprise when you see it in other sources."

• I joined IJL Washington almost 7 months ago now and I, too, wish I'd done more research. While I wouldn't go so far as to call it a scam, it was definitely a poor investment and did not come anywhere close to living up to my expectations based on the "sales pitch". They have a very unbalanced ratio of women to men, and had extreme difficulty coming up with the contracted minimum of 1 date/month. Their "matchmaking" was not as good as I'd hoped and they paired me up with a few people with whom I really had nothing in common, and based on distance between me and all of my dates, almost all would have been rather difficult to even consider getting together with a second time to see if even a friendship might develop. I also heard from several of the men that they were charged much less than the women. Oh well, water under the bridge, but I would definitely NOT recommend joining.

• I paid $3600 for matches, not one date has had what I'm looking for, this is most certainly a scam. I asked for my money back and they refused and said I signed a contract, it was not signed just my driver license number. I wish I looked into this service more carefully before I joined and paid so much money for nothing! I think there a not enough men in Victoria available for women and they are sending me on dates with anyone!

• I joined IJL in September 2014 and paid a very hefty fee for my "private search" status, which was the only option provided to me. I'm not allowed to tell you how much I paid but let's say it started with 4 and had 3 digits after it, no decimals.

  For that kind of money, I was GUARANTEED 6 dates in 6 months, whichever came longer - up to 18 potentials provided. Does not seem like a lot, I know, and I attempted to negotiate a better deal, but they operate on an all or nothing mentality, very little negotiating, at least for women - perhaps they're different with men. I assumed because of the high price that they would have professional executive men of the caliber I was seeking and I was ASSURED by the person who signed me up that they did.

  She was really good - and I don't mean that positively. She played on my vulnerabilities, knew just what to say, how to rope me in, hook line and sinker. I trusted her. It is now 4 months later, and I have only been presented 4 men, all of whom were not attractive, were not executive professionals, and who had very few, if any, of the criteria I had expressly told them I was seeking.

  IJL further makes it impossible for you to contact anyone to complain. You only have access to your personal consultant. The person who signed you up never speaks to you again after they've gotten your signature on the dotted line. I have had absolutely no ROI and they make it impossible to refund - I am still in that argument. They have written their contract to make it open ended for them if they don't find you anyone - open ended - forever.

  They give you all the assurances that they'll find you someone, but it is up to them how long. That is not right! Don't do it! Stick with online dating! At least then you know what you're in for.

• I am glad I found this site! I was scammed once before by a dating business, but IJL sounded like a good plan. I called for information. After a 30 minute hoopla about all the dates I would have, and giving them my name, address and phone numbers as well as telling them my dating preferences; she quietly mentioned that the price would be $4,800 for 9 dates. She then continued to extoll the virtues of the company. After all that, I had to ask again to verify the price. When I said I was going to think about it, she said they had a cheaper plan of 4 dates for $2000. I decided to do my due diligence and have found mostly negative comments about this company. From the comments, it sounds like it could even be the same company that scammed me before under a new name (That one cost me $5000). they are calling back tomorrow! I am going to pass! Thanks everyone. I am sorry for your losses. By the way, If this company is Elove under a new name, I will join the lawsuits!