Arlington Heights-Based Restaurant.com Receives Better Business Bureau Warning

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — The Better Business Bureau issued a warning to consumers Wednesday about doing business with village-based Restaurant.com because of the pattern of complaints against company over the past three years, according to an alert from the bureau.

During that time, the bureau received 253 complaints from customers and businesses against Restaurant.com, which sells restaurant gift certificates in cities across the country and claims to represent 20,000 different eateries nationwide. Of those complaints, 57 were filed in the past 12 months.

When the BBB evaluated the complaints, it found customers were unable to redeem their gift certificates, and in many cases, consumers were sold certificates for restaurants that were out of business. It also discovered that some restaurant owners learned of unauthorized Restaurant.com listings after diners tried to redeem gift certificates that hadn't been approved, forcing the owners to either accept the certificates or work out alternate agreements with customers.

“In our internal investigation of 20 restaurants in the Chicagoland area we found 13 who are participating with Restaurant.com; and six that claim they were not aware they were listed and do not accept coupons from the business," BBB CEO and President Steve J. Bernas said in a statement. "The remaining restaurant is no longer in business but is still on the company’s website.”

The website for Restaurant.com contains similar complaints, going as far back as May of 2015. Here's what a customer wrote in November of 2015:

"I tried to use my gift card tonight. Thr restaurent [sic] said that they were cancelled 3 years ago. He said that never get paid. I called the number and the recording said it was valid. Restaurant owner refused to take the card. Now it is not valid. This is a big rip off. Please help fix this."

Although Restaurant.com has addressed the complaints filed in the past 12 months, six of those still remain unresolved, the bureau says. That's led to the BBB giving the company a "No Rating" designation because of the bureau's continuing review.

Before buying gift certificates on Restaurant.com, the BBB recommends customers contact the specific location or chain to verify that it will accept the Restaurant.com coupons or certificates.

Go to the Better Business Bureau website to read some of the specific complaints against Restaurant.com.

image via Better Business Bureau

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