Gourmet Society 2 month free taste card or 4 months for £1

borris1989

I had an e-mail off 16-25 railcard as I am a holder of one with a link to the Gourmet Society webpage offering a free 2 month membership app although when I clicked through it gave you the option for 4 months for £1. There is even an option for free economy delivery for the 4 month card.

The card entitles users to 2-4-1, 50% or 25% off at participating resaurants and includes many chains too, also local restaurants taking part are listed. NOTE restrictions such as not being able to use the card on weekends and party size restrictions do apply, but can be used all over the country

The card also entitles you to 25% off at participating cinemas if you upgrade to the 4 month membership including ODEON and Cineworld, I think you just click the cinema you want then they send you two tickets to use at any showing within 9 months

NOTE it does seem that this is only for railcard holders and you should have been sent an e-mail or is accessable on their webpage although if you are not a railcard holder you can still click through the link on the 16-25railcard webpage but not sure how far you will get afterwards!

ncpscam

Just be careful with the Gourmet Society - their "membership" set up is a bit dubious. If you read their T&C's you have to formally cancel your membership with them or they keep billing you. I assumed it would lapse but allegedly I had a renewal on 31st October but didn't know anything about it. On the 1st november I start getting emails and it appears telephone calls from them chasing the money. I told them I didn't want to renew but they kept pushing and offered a reduced fee for the year. Even when I told them I was facing redundancy they keep pushing for payment. Personally I would avoid, especially as I found in the past some of the Gourmet deals were little different to those available in-restuarant or via free voucher sites.

johnfell

borris1989 wrote: »

I had an e-mail off 16-25 railcard as I am a holder of one with a link to the Gourmet Society webpage offering a free 2 month membership.

In my opinion AVOID this 'free trial'
I have had the Hilife and Tastecards without any problem I also regularly download Dealmonster offers and similar.

I was disappointed at the choice of restaurants and the ones that were available were generally cheaper via alternative offers or discounts.
I never used the card and towards the end of the trial period advised them that I would not be subscribing via their website.
I did not initially realise that the offer required you to return the card tracked through registered post so it had been thrown out.
They promptly deducted £40 from my account.

Checking on the internet hundreds, if not thousands, of others have been caught out in similar fashion.

It is probably not illegal to deliberately make the cancellation process over complicated or fail to acknowledge attempts to do so but it is certainly dodgy.
Unfortunately with national advertising and corporate partners who are not too fussy, many more will also find out too late that this is (in my opinion)little more than a scam.
My bank has cancelled any further payments as I have read on another forum that they continue to deduct money annually

Grommie

I endorse the above posts...Avoid the Gourmet Society. When I joined they took a nominal "administry" fee from my credit card (See how they get your details) with a promise there was no obligation to remain a member. Then I noticed £39.99 taken from this card. They claim they sent me a new membership package and, as I didn't inform them it had never arrived (How do you do that if you don't know it was sent???) I can't be refunded. As above they just quote their terms and conditions. I am now trying to recoup the money from my card supplier. DO NOT USE THE GOURMET SOCIETY!!

Orinoco88

johnfell wrote: »

borris1989 wrote: »

I had an e-mail off 16-25 railcard as I am a holder of one with a link to the Gourmet Society webpage offering a free 2 month membership.

In my opinion AVOID this 'free trial'
I have had the Hilife and Tastecards without any problem I also regularly download Dealmonster offers and similar.

I was disappointed at the choice of restaurants and the ones that were available were generally cheaper via alternative offers or discounts.
I never used the card and towards the end of the trial period advised them that I would not be subscribing via their website.
I did not initially realise that the offer required you to return the card tracked through registered post so it had been thrown out.
They promptly deducted £40 from my account.

Checking on the internet hundreds, if not thousands, of others have been caught out in similar fashion.

It is probably not illegal to deliberately make the cancellation process over complicated or fail to acknowledge attempts to do so but it is certainly dodgy.
Unfortunately with national advertising and corporate partners who are not too fussy, many more will also find out too late that this is (in my opinion)little more than a scam.
My bank has cancelled any further payments as I have read on another forum that they continue to deduct money annually

I am currently going through a battle with the Gourmet Society who are attempting to screw me out of £40 despite me having emailed them well before it ran out & asking them to cancel it. If anyone else wishes to contact me regarding this, I am setting up a twitter feed for it also. They need to be humiliated into sorting their act out.

pitry

I would avoid them like the plague.

I called them as I didn't want renewing and the T&Cs of the deal I received via T-Mobile did not state "automatic renewal".
I have sent the card back today after getting their cancellation code.
I will call them in a week just to make sure they received the card back, as I was given the code for free return post.
Also there is a free phone number on the SAYNOTO0870 website, so you don't need to pay 0845 charges.
More hassle than good, had the card for 5 months and never used it, deals are a bit pants in my area!
Had tastecard before, much better!

Ciao