It's Just Lunch - Angry Women

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Marye of Baltimore MD (04/17/09)
I signed up after being told that I would be matched with men in Baltimore city and have lunch dates arranged or occasionally drinks after work. The first two dates they tried to send me on were many miles away and dinner time (7pm or later). When I complained, they argued and tried to talk me out of my objections. Nobody listened to me - I could even tell from the descriptions of my matches that they had not listened to what I said I wanted.

After calling SIX TIMES and leaving messages, or telling the person who answered that I absolutely did NOT want to speak to Erika, they would either hang up or transfer me right to Erika. Finally I spoke to Charisse at the corporate office, who constantly talked over me, interrupted, and also did not listen to what I was saying at all. I had to repeat the same story for her several times and argued in circles with her. She was completely unwilling to listen to me and when I insisted on speaking to her supervisor or manager, she refused and kept saying she was the only one in charge of making this decision (about whether or not to let me end my membership and receive a refund).

I lost 500 on a membership to this lousy company that did nothing for me except refuse to listen and make me feel angry, frustrated, and ignored. I believe they are scamming people on the matches as well, but I never even got that far because of their horrendous customer service.

Dianne of Lewis Center, OH April 9, 2009

Dianne of Lewis Center OH (04/09/09)
I joined in November 2008.  I too was scammed by Pamela of It's Just Lunch. She sold me with her promise to find these wonderful professional men looking for the same things I wanted in life. She said the money I paid would return to me with glorious dates beyond the first meeting. She had men just waiting to spend money and time with the right women. blah blah blah.

After a few dates, I found that she must not have heard what I was saying during our interview - must have had me totally confused.  I only met with a few professional men who never made the second date. I went to the restaraunt a few times, only to have no one show up. A busy mother of three daughters under 15, I could not afford to go to a no show date three times.

In February 2009, I was diagnosed with Brain Cancer. My statistics are not good. I contacted Pamela to discontinue my service because according to the signed contract, I have a pretty solid medical reason not to think about dating anymore. I am fighting for my life from this point forward. I am bald and undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Wouldn't that stop you from dating? Apparently Pamela thinks she has a few good men for me because she refuses to return my phone calls and to consider refunding part of my money, even though the contract states my reason is fair and just.

Her office staff has returned a few calls only to state that it is up to the corporate office to return my money.   Hmmm I wonder if THEY will return my phone calls. Not yet!

I paid 1,195.00 teacher discount for three months of service. I am asking for the nine month percentage back.

Charrese Edwards of Portland, OR April 7, 2009

Charrese of Portland OR (04/07/09)
I signed up with It's Just Lunch in March 2008 for 1400.00. During the interview I was told that I would be matched according to my preferences and that I would be receiving individualized service from her (Windy) who would get to know me very well in order to match me perfectly with my dates. She talked about how she knows all of her clients and grows really close to them and so does a very good job matching us.

I have since spoken with Windy about 3 times and once was only after I left a message complaining about the service. I asked to meet professional men, between 5'9 and 6'2, dark or gray haired, no shaved heads, no beards, slim built but not puny, no children living with them (later changed to no children under age 15 or 16), well traveled and not just business related, live in Portland (not the suburbs or surroundng small towns), liberal, young at heart, active, and well maintained. Out of the 8 painful dates I have had so far, none of them have met my physical requirements (2 looked about 6'5, one very overweight, 2 not much bigger than I am (and I am very slim), blondes, 2 with shaved heads, and one bearded. Two had young children. Only two had travelled outside of the US and one of those had only traveled for business. Five lived in the suburbs or even further out of the city. Two were virtual stalkers. One I got the impression was married or in a committed relationship. The whole experience has been very unpleasant.

The dates were always set up by someone I'd never met or spoken with before who would never really have much information to impart other than he's attractive which is subjective and, for the record, I haven't found one of my dates physically attractive. When I called to speak with Windy, the representative who sold the service to me, and complained that I had not heard from her since that first day and she said she'd been busy and that she would do better about following up with me.

I complained that so far the dates had been way off and she promised me that they would ensure a closer match. The 5 dates subsequent to that conversation were not any closer and I haven't heard from her again. I finally gave up without going on the remaining 8 dates, I just couldn't stand the thought of it. I have enjoyed some interesting conversations with 2 or 3 of these men but that was it. In fact several of the men told me that there were many more women than men signed up and that they are regularly getting calls to go on dates sometimes even after their service was expired.

Before I signed up I asked Windy about the numbers and she lied to me and told me it was almost 50/50. After hearing from some of my dates that this was not the case, I asked her again and again she insisted that there were equal numbers signed up. I am extremely disappointed and wanted to ask for a refund of 700 since I only took half my dates but I have heard from other women and from reading this site that they won't give refunds. The whole thing is basically a scam, even from a customer service aspect they delivered absolutely nothing they promised.

Beth of Chicago, IL April 3, 2009

Beth of Chicago IL (04/03/09)
I agree and empathize with all the disappointed, disgruntled postings from women who have also been duped by It's Just Lunch. I signed up appx 7 months ago and have gone on a number of dates, but find that I have to call and harass them to arrange meetings. Then, even though I don't believe I have that many dating criteria, 90% of the dates have been entirely outside my profile, either decades out of my age range, practicing religions other than the specified, or painfully shy and awkward.

As a brief aside, I am outraged that IJL would take hard-earned money from these painfully shy men who are not going to find matches through IJL. Men who are incapable of conversation or eye contact, many of whom went to school, work, and now live blocks from their parents. Men who have limited life experience and little to no self esteem. Its unforgivable to take advantage of these individuals.

Back to my story: the director who first interviewed me, Lindsay, left shortly after I joined the service not a good sign since they claim that the director who meets you will be integrally involved in matching you. After having expressed some discontent with the IJL service recently, it was arranged that I would return for another meeting with a director, Jori. I had a good phone conversation with Jori who apologized profusely about the state of my files since Lindsay left and promised to personally commit herself to my case. However, upon arriving for my re-interview and re-indoctrination, I learned that Jori had transferred to the San Diego office.

The concept is sound people who really get to know you should be able to refer you to men that you would like. But alas, it appears clear from my experience and from the conversations Ive had with the men Ive met, that the thoughtful, concerted matching system advertized by the IJL marketing team is nothing more than darts thrown at a wall of files.

Nicole of Santa Monica, CA April 3, 2009

Nicole of Santa Monica CA (04/03/09)
TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY! They interviewed me in Los Angeles and made me think the service was personal (for the money you pay) and that when they choose dates it would be based on your interview and your date's interview matched by your person who runs your account. The dates are completely random and have nothing at all to do with what you stated you wanted in the interview.

I got a couple of real weirdos, I mean complete head cases. I'm always one to enjoy a nice evening even if there isn't chemistry, so I'm not just complaining and whining because I didn't find the one, but these guys had nothing in common with me, and two of them were downright rude. I didn't even get the number of men we agreed upon for the year.

I would get a call all the way from Florida about every couple of months from someone whom I've never met who would read off a resume of some random guy (he likes sports, movies, he's 5/11, ummmmmm let's see, he cooks, too!). They tried to set us up and some of the time we lived far away, like an hour or more. Obviously, in Florida they wouldn't realize the locations in California.

When you sign up they make believe that it's personal and that they match you up according to your interview. It's not that way at all. I've had much more success online with Match. It's cheaper and you can weed out on your own. SAVE YOUR MONEY!!

It cost me 1300 for a year and they didn't give me the number of dates they promised, nor did they try to match from compatibility at all. They have refused to refund my money on my repeated requests. Again, I'm not whining or just angry, I really believe this agency is a total rip off.

Christine Nelson of Minneapolis, MN March 20, 2009

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