Consumer watchdog lists complaints against discount restaurant scheme
The consumer watchdog yesterday named a company it said used misleading practices to attract members to a discount dining scheme.
People signing up for monthly payments were charged for two or three-year memberships, and discounts on restaurant bills were often just 10 per cent rather than the 50 per cent promised.
The Consumer Council said it had received 24 complaints in June and July against the Gourmet Club and a further 13 between September and November after giving the firm written and verbal warnings.
The company, operated by On Sky Holdings at Cheung Sha Wan Plaza in Lai Chi Kok, offers discounts at designated restaurants in return for a membership fee.
The chairman of the council's trade practices committee, Lo Chi-keung, said people complained they were not notified when the company charged the membership fee to credit card accounts.
'The victims were at first told the membership fee would be as little as $17 to $20, to be paid monthly. But they were quickly charged a lump sum of $600 for one person and $700 for two for a three-year membership, without their consent, through their credits card accounts,' he said.
