Restaurant discount cards

One of our numerous pending cases is about the sale of discount cards applicable to meals and drinks at pubs and restaurants. These are excerpts from a letter sent to the manager, Rhino Power Ltd.:

In December 2000, one of your representatives called at my home soliciting the sale of a discount card on restaurant meals at O'Connor's Irish pub and restaurant in St Julian's. The card, which cost Lm5, offered various benefits and was valid till November 30, 2001. The promised benefits included:

50% discount on all food for one visit up to four persons;
30% discount on all food for two visits up to four persons;
Discounts on local beer;
Eligibility for immediate entrance;
Several other discounts.

My card number is 1350. In early February, I called the restaurant for a reservation and was informed that the restaurant was temporarily closed. I assumed that they were refurbishing the place and tried to fix a reservation again a couple of months later. Whenever I phoned I was informed that the restaurant was temporarily closed.

Towards the end of November I phoned again and was told that the restaurant was closed. When I queried about the card, I was told that the restaurant is not responsible and that I should contact the company promoting the card.

Now that the card has expired and I have not enjoyed a single benefit or discount due to the restaurant's closure, I am requesting a full refund or the cost of the card. Meanwhile, in Valletta, a couple of days ago, I was offered a similar card which is also being promoted by your company.

It is ironic that a company which is so pro-active in its sales and uses hard-selling techniques until it achieves its sales, does not have the decency to inform its customers that a card has become worthless and does not offer an alternative or a refund.

I believe that, if your company had been acting bona fide when the restaurant closed down, you should have contacted me and offered me a replacement or a refund.

In the circumstances I hope that at least a refund would be forthcoming. (Anthony Camilleri)

I asked both Rhino Power Ltd and O'Connor's for their comments, to no avail. However these are incidents/ experiences well worth sharing in our column.

In this spirit, apart from warning you, I ask you to let me know if you have been approached by someone selling such cards. We must work together in our interest.