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Tastecard Price Increase on Fixed for Life Fee

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My tastecard was purchased when they had a £29.95 for life deal and I have had it for 2 years now. It's up for renewal at the end of the month and you can imagine my surprise when I got an email saying that I would be charged £34.95. I wrote to them to query it and I have copied in their reply below.
I do use my tastecard and was planning on renewing but find it really unfair that they can do this. Has anyone else experienced this and shall I threaten cancelling it?

Many thanks for your email,

I would like to take a moment to explain the reasons that there has been a small increase in the price of your annual membership.

We have been working hard to further develop tastecard for our members and have introduced additional benefits such as tastecard+.

Tastecard+ is exclusive to members-only and gives access to discount offers, competitions and giveaways! Offers include discounts at top hotels worldwide, theatre and film exclusives plus many more. Alongside this we have also launched our digital app which includes a digital card that allows you to use your smartphone as your tastecard.

An increase to 7,000 restaurants and the re-introduction of Strada, we really feel that we have brought more to our tastecard members and that at £34.95 for 12 months represents great value for money.

If you would like any more information regarding tastecard + please Visit https://www.tastecard.co.uk/+ to start claiming these amazing lifestyle, culture, food and drink deals.

As a valued tastecard member we’d be happy to offer you your next 15 months dining for the low price of £34.95. That’s equivalent to 3 months free and less than £3.00 per month. With an average saving of £20.00 per visit, you could be sampling culinary delights without breaking the bank.

If I can be of any further assistance please feel free to contact me.
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Comments

  • fozmcfc
    fozmcfc Posts: 3,098 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker PPI Party Pooper Debt-free and Proud!
    I'd look in their T&C of the original offer, as it seems unfair, as it's still Tastecard, they have chosen just to offer enhancements.

    It might say, that should they provide additional benefits, then they are within their rights to change the price, but seems a bit cheeky to me.

    If you will use the other benefits, then I'd go for their offer, but if not, then I'd look at challenging it.
  • Have they automatically upgraded you to the +? I presume, if so, that you could still go back to standard. Lloyds bank did this to me years ago when they just upgraded my current account without a say so from me, easily put back.
    I'd rather be an Optimist and be proved wrong than a Pessimist and be proved right.
  • GrahamW
    GrahamW Posts: 30 Forumite
    I also told them no to renewing as they kept sending me offers for £29.95, £5 cheaper. They came back with 3 months free, so have renewed. Cheeky !!!!!!s.
    Be ALERT - The world needs more LERTS
  • Tastecard also tried to increase my annual payment to £34.95 after only one year as a member.

    When I joined it was '£29.95 for life'

    I telephoned renewals and questioned the increase and they gave me the story of members only tastecard+. I looked at it and all it is is other third party offers, which were all useless to me!

    I politely said I wish to remain with the terms and conditions of our contract when I joined and do not want to be a member of tastecard+.

    Renewed at £29.95! Happy now, but do not appreciate Tastecard trying to breach the contract. And their reply above is disingenuous by not saying customers can stay at £29.95 for life and choose not to join tastecard+ !
  • jj2579
    jj2579 Posts: 53 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    I wrote back and argued the price increase and stated that the + was not a feature I would use and am happy to do without it. I also asked that if I accepted this price increase on my "fixed for life" price then where is the proof that this price won't increase further down the line.


    The reply I received was sorry they made a mistake and I am renewing at £29.95 as this is the deal I signed up for so all was fine in the end.
  • arjar
    arjar Posts: 86 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Same experience - they tried to raise the price despite original 'fixed for life' promise. When I called, they tried to tell me it was a special offer for tastecard plus. I declined this, so they said OK, we'll reduce the price.

    I asked for a confirmatory EMail. When this arrived, it said that they would reduce the price to £29.99 (not the original price of £29.95). So I called again and said I wanted them to please stick to their promise. After some debate, they said OK. I asked for another confirmatory Email. They said OK - but 2 hours later nothing has arrrived.

    I shall pursue this for as long as it takes. In the meantime, if anyone else contacts them on this issue and thinks they have been offered a reduction to the original price, I suggest that they check the charge that is actually made very carefully. Accepting a rise of even a few pence may weaken your case for continuation of the original fixed price offer.
  • arjar
    arjar Posts: 86 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Quick update. Have now had Email confirmation of reduction to £29.95. Took 3 phone calls and an Email to achieve that. I strongly advise others who experience this issue to make sure they get written or Email confirmation of the actual price they intend to charge, and also check what actually happens, even if you have been given reassurance by phone.
  • Ruth_honey
    Ruth_honey Posts: 2,831 Forumite
    I had the email about my Tastecard renewal and noticed the price increase. No mention in the email of WHY they had increased it. Called up and asked. The woman explained it was because of this Taste+ thing and all the benefits that provides. Said I wasn't really interested in that and wouldn't make use of it. (Use the MSE forum to track down my bargain theatre and hotel deals, thank you!) So asked that was removed and to continue with the basic Tastecard. Got confirmation by email within minutes also. I did point out that it might be nice to put in the renewal emails about the reason behind the increase and that a basic option is also available. Apparently this had been mentioned to the bosses and she thought the emails already mentioned it.
    Cross Stitch Cafe Monthly Challenge Member #27
    12/12/12 challenge-[STRIKE]Season's Greeting Newton's Law[/STRIKE] Christmas polar bear-finished on time! :)
    Thanks to all the girls in the Cross Stitch Cafe! You're all fantastic! :A
  • I replied to the email saying the price was being increased and got the same standard reply as jj2579. They replied to that stating:

    As explained in my previous correspondence, there has been a general price increase across all annual memberships.

    Therefore I would not be able to reduce the renewal price for you and I apologise I am unable to provide you with your desired solution.

    At present, your membership is set to renew on 02/07/2014 at £34.98.

    Could you please confirm if you are happy for this to go ahead or if you would like me to make the necessary amendments to ensure your membership ceases on the date printed on your current As explained in my previous correspondence, there has been a general price increase across all annual memberships.

    Therefore I would not be able to reduce the renewal price for you and I apologise I am unable to provide you with your desired solution.

    At present, your membership is set to renew on 02/07/2014 at £34.98.

    Could you please confirm if you are happy for this to go ahead or if you would like me to make the necessary amendments to ensure your membership ceases on the date printed on your current tastecard.


    When is a price for life not a price for life?! I'm not letting this go yet...
  • Ruth_honey
    Ruth_honey Posts: 2,831 Forumite
    I replied to the email saying the price was being increased and got the same standard reply as jj2579. They replied to that stating:

    As explained in my previous correspondence, there has been a general price increase across all annual memberships.

    Therefore I would not be able to reduce the renewal price for you and I apologise I am unable to provide you with your desired solution.

    At present, your membership is set to renew on 02/07/2014 at £34.98.

    Could you please confirm if you are happy for this to go ahead or if you would like me to make the necessary amendments to ensure your membership ceases on the date printed on your current As explained in my previous correspondence, there has been a general price increase across all annual memberships.

    Therefore I would not be able to reduce the renewal price for you and I apologise I am unable to provide you with your desired solution.

    At present, your membership is set to renew on 02/07/2014 at £34.98.

    Could you please confirm if you are happy for this to go ahead or if you would like me to make the necessary amendments to ensure your membership ceases on the date printed on your current tastecard.


    When is a price for life not a price for life?! I'm not letting this go yet...

    Call them up! You're more likely to get further when speaking to someone in person.
    Cross Stitch Cafe Monthly Challenge Member #27
    12/12/12 challenge-[STRIKE]Season's Greeting Newton's Law[/STRIKE] Christmas polar bear-finished on time! :)
    Thanks to all the girls in the Cross Stitch Cafe! You're all fantastic! :A
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