The Restaurant Choice Avis 

My review is identical to Hazel`s really. Came on Trustpilot to give the company a roasting after sending them several requests through their online contact form because my card expired 3 months ago (didn`t realise it had an expiry date - why should it? one star knocked off) but didn`t receive a response. After reading the comments here I rang them for a totally different experience - polite and helpful and replaced my card which arrived today. Thank goodness I read the reviews here. Great help.

Funds expired way before the card expiry date. Avoid them.

Had an expired card given to me as a gift Christmas 19. Read the reviews so thought I'd give them a call. Card being replaced no hassle at all very pleasant call handler. Only reason for 4 stars is I don't think these cards should have an expiry date in the First place.

Had £100 worth of cards bought for me by family prior to Christmas 2019, but couldn’t use them during the pandemic. By the time the restaurants had reopened the cards had expired. Absolute con of a company. If they had extended the expiry date like other dining out cards/cinema gift cards I would recommend. But I will be advising everyone to shop elsewhere. Do not buy these gift cards there are better dining out cards out there.

In the past I had thought these were great and bought lots of them. However I have contacted customer services a few times for a special one off request due to an expired card out of our control and now and they completely ignored my emails. Not a single response. I won’t be buying any more. The least they could do is acknowledged them and I would have continued buying.

I was gifted a Restaurant Choice card for £75 and took my family out to Yo Sushi. Because of Covid, they have a new ordering system where you select your items and pay first through their app.
The RC card was not recognised and when I asked the manager, she took one look at the card and sighed and fetched a photocopy of how to use the card because they are not compatible with the chain (despite them being listed as a provider) The instructions consisted of me having to call the helpline and asking for the number under the foil on the rear of the card to be converted to a CVS number so that the restaurant could process it. The advisor at RC told me that one of their associates would be able to sort it out in a few days. When I asked to speak to his manager, he first refused and then just left the phone off the hook for five minutes at which point I gave up and paid by my bank card.
Calling back a week later, the helpline was not being answered.
When I did call back a week later, the customer service associate took details, said that she couldnt help but would pass it on to a manager who would call me within a few days.
I called back over a month later after having had no contact and spoke to another customer advisor and was told that they had emailed me but I had not replied. When I checked the email they had sent it to, it was incorrect and during the call, I emailed this address and received an unreachable notification, as they would have had. So they emailed, got a rejection and thought that was good enough. They might have called but they also had the wrong telephone number for me. Utterly shambolic.
Apparently the CS rep cannot send emails so someone else has to do that after the case has been reopened. More delays and Im glad I didnt stay on hold in the restaurant.
I have seen other reviewers commenting that the customer service line is great, individual experiences may vary. I should point out that if you give someone this card and they have to endure this kind of difficulty, they wont thank you for it in the longrun and it will be an embarrassment to both of you.

Was given The Restaurant Choice to the value of a $100 for Christmas and looking forward to spending the gift card in my area. But, was horribly disappointed to discover only one restaurant in the Newcastle/Lake Macquarie area where the card could be used, which is contrary to the advertising on the gift card of being “accepted Australia wide” & “Australia’s most loved restaurants”. All very disappointing & deceiving & should not be sold in areas where there are none or very limited restaurants participating.

Like alot of people I ended up with an expired card from 2020.I had emailed them a few times with no reply,which could be down to staffing issues ,who knows!
Wasn't too chuffed on the thought of losing £40 so like some others I phoned them ,wasn't on hold for long at all ,probably a couple of minutes .Got through and spoke to a lovely lady called Monica who has issued me with a new card ,great stuff!....thanks again Monica 😊.
So guys give them a bell don't just leave it and stew about it.

Had a card given to me last year which expired on q9th December, having wrongly assumed it was valid for 2 years. Couldn't use for much of year due to covid so, having read all the bad reviews, tentatively called customer services and spoke to George and explained situation. No problem at all, a brand new card being sent out with the full balance. Very happy. Don't email, call them:)

wasting time and money ... i never trust these cards as i get my gift card from my work as gift card for restaurant choice and i was under impression it is like other gift cards is valid for 2 or 3 years and i have discovered is for 1 year during covid 2020-2021 i could not used it !! while still i have purchase receipt ... the other thing you have to go for a proper restaurant to be able to use it as you cannot used it in small branch or takeaway branch or from order online it is big mistake to get one for your beloved it is too much hasel ...

As a retirement gift I was given two Restaurant Choice gift cards value £25 each. A month after receiving them we went into lock-down so I couldn't use the cards as the card expiry dates passed the 12 month period.
I tried to contact the issuer of the cards - no response at all - zilch!!!
To everyone out there think very carefully before buying these cards!! A complete waste of money and a rip-off!

I had a card which expired during COVID, rang them all ready to complain (after reading these reviews), however, the lady on the phone was very friendly and helpful and they are sending out a new card with 7-10 days. The whole process lasted less than 10 minutes. Excellent customer services.

I will wait in anticipation. Reading other reviews, I am sceptical, how could I have such a great experience when others have had such terrible experiences.

Give them a call - they might be able to help.

Absolute joke of a company!!! Two cards expired because of covid. Tried to contact several times no joy. They Should have extended them for the period of lockdown time as we couldn't use them. Avoid this company like the plague !!!! Shame I can't give them no stars !!

Don't bother buying these gift cards!
Haven't been able to use because of Covid. Went to use card and its only just expired. Customer service don't want to know.
A total waste of £25, just give people cash instead for a gift, far more useful and not limited by their participating restaurants or their stupid 12 month expiry limit. They must make a fortune this way!

I really wouldnt give a one star for this card as it has run out of time and the card has not been used. Due to Covid we havent been able to use it. Taking peoples money and not giving it back if not used is robbery really !!!

After countless times emailing and filling out their contact me form with no response I took someone's advice on a review and rang them. I rang just as they opened (the lines open 8am) and got through straight away. The lady I spoke to (Carol) was lovely. Checked all my card details and expiry dates and she is sending a replacement card in the next 7-10 days.

Success. Ring them don’t email, I had no response from an email. Read reviews on here, saw comment about ring and YES immediate response. The gentleman was most helpful and I should receive a new card worth the same value and valid for another 12 months due to the lockdowns etc. Delighted

Absolutely shocking lack of customer service and communication. Had a card as a gift before covid, expired during lockdown and due to only having 12 months on in the first place?!! (also shocking) Tried dozens of times to get through on the phone and I get cut off, tried several emails and Facebook messages with no replies. Think cards which expired due to not having time to use them (covid) should be replaced or at least a good will gesture of a part replacement. At the very least companies should reply to their customers. Will never use these cards again.

Avoid as it has an expiry date. It was paid for with cash so why have an expiry date?
DO NOT BUY GIFTCARDS THEY EXPIRE
£35 down the drain