Online services dedicated to booking restaurants, hotels, taxis or VTCs are flourishing on the web. While these platforms seem practical, they sometimes hide a less attractive aspect: more or less hidden subscriptions that can cost users dearly. Among these sites, Resto-Reza.com was recently singled out by the UMIH (Union of Hotel Trades and Industries), a warning signal to be taken very seriously.
In this article, we decipher the pitfalls of these platforms and highlight solutions to avoid unpleasant surprises. 💡 + we explain how to cancel your subscription (and request a refund when possible) if you are subscribed to one of these services.
The resto-reza.com case: reported by official institutions
UMIH recently reported resto-reza.com, a restaurant reservation platform that misleads both consumers and industry professionals. According to the organization, the many restaurants listed on this site have never signed a partnership with the platform. In addition to this lack of transparency, resto-reza.com does not highlight their method of remuneration, a subscription of 50 € per month, automatically activated after a trial period. This deceptive practice is unfortunately far from isolated.
You can find this alert in a broadcast of France Bleu, which warns against this site and other similar practices.
A list of sites to watch closely
Here is a list of 29 booking sites who operate in the field of concierge services, restaurants, hotels, taxis, and VTCs. Although they present themselves as reliable solutions, some of them could use dubious techniques to incur costs:
- call-xpr.com
- assist-smart.com
- book-ici.com
- calling-tech-ltd.com
- easy-rsv.com
- go-resa.com
- helpprio.com
- just-resa.com
- leaf-light-ltd.com
- logalio.com
- lolaresa.com
- orga-call.com
- orgaquick.com
- readyresa.com
- resa-call.com
- resacast.com
- resadexa.com
- resadino.com
- resapix.com
- reserv-go.com
- reserve-ici.com
- reso-pro.com
- resto-reza.com (pinned by UMIH)
- rixilo.com
- rixolo.com
- servalio.com
- servi-life.com
- taxi-reza.com
- top-resrv.com
What these sites have in common is often unclear terms and conditions, hidden or automatically activated subscriptions after a trial period, and limited communication with users.
What are they accused of? These sites trap consumers
The techniques used by these platforms are well-established and aim to take advantage of users' lack of vigilance. Here are the most common practices:
1. Misleading trial periods
Some sites offer free access to their services for a short period of time, but automatically activate a paid subscription if the user does not unsubscribe before the end of that period.
2. Hidden subscriptions in the terms and conditions
Monthly or annual subscription fees are often mentioned in small print when you first order or even in the general terms and conditions of sale, which few users read carefully.
3. Fictitious partnerships
As in the case of resto-reza.com, some sites display establishments or services without any official partnership existing, giving a false impression of legitimacy.
4. Direct debits difficult to cancel
Once the subscription is activated, canceling can become a real obstacle course, with complex procedures and little customer support. (We'll talk about this a little later in this article, but our effective solution for stop the withdrawals, it's jarretelesfrais.com.
How to react to a hidden subscription?
If you find that a site has tricked you into a subscription, here are the steps to follow:
- Cancel the subscription immediately by following the instructions on the site. If these are not clear, look for solutions on forums or on sites like jarretelesfrais.com (it's an online service that offers assistance in canceling subscriptions and even obtaining refunds when possible 👍🏼).
- Contact your bank to see with them if it is possible to stop the debits, for example by requesting a renewal of the bank card linked to these problematic debits.
- Report the site to the competent authorities, such as the DGCCRF (General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control) or Signal Conso.
- Informez votre entourage to prevent others from falling into the same trap.
Please feel free to share this article and raise awareness among your loved ones: by being better informed, we will be able to limit the impact of these abusive practices!
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