It’s Just Lunch

I signed up for this about 3 years ago (would not recommend it). They STILL call me to this day with «something they want to talk to me about» — Just got another call. I’ve been in a relationship for 2 years and am now married. I’ve told them (multiple times over the past year). They still call. I seriously can’t. What’s the equivalent for the disbarment of a dating service because they need it.

I’m going to join those with IJL issues. They sold me a bag of rocks for $ 2800 — telling me that they had great dates for me and even going so far as to provide me with descriptions of someone that was a terrific match for me. The description sounded amazing. I went on two dates. First, IJL could barely tell me about the men before our meetings. Then, the men they set me up with were completely incompatible. One had spent the week going through his house with his ex-​wife. They had divorced the week before!!! He was also planning to move to FL after retiring in a few years??? The other was my dad’s age, or so he looked and acted. Again, we had nothing in common, we could barely hold a conversation, and he confirmed my suspicions that while he’d had about 30 dates over the past few months, most women he met through IJL had very few and were quite frustrated with the program. I’ve asked for my money back and was told it’s not an option — I even offered to be reimbursed 2/​3, since they offer a 6 date minimum, and I had two. I’m a professional female, who is successful, and well traveled. I joined IJL because I thought they’d help me meet men of similar caliber. I was WRONG. I’ll be fighting the financial battle for a while, and am warning other successful women to stay away from this.
, bumble, okcupid, or e-​harmony would be better, and MUCH cheaper. NOTE: The comments below are a result of a conversation in which I was told that there’s no way I would receive a refund and I should take some time and think about trying again. In my opinion, it’s a terrible waste of time AND MONEY.

They just quoted me $ 3800 for 6 months!!! I didn’t sign up and they won’t stop calling. Very unprofessional and don’t listen.

Just in case you doubt all the previous reviews, I got this email today (Yes, Chicago is included in this settlement):
«United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Rodriguez et al. v. It’s Just Lunch et al., Southern District of New York, No. 07‑CV‑9227 (SHS)(SN)
NOTICE OF PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
If you signed a membership contract and joined It’s Just Lunch on or after October 15, 2001 and if you did not obtain a complete refund of any membership fees paid or sign any releases of any claims in favor of IJL and/​or a franchisee, please read this notice carefully. A proposed class action settlement may affect your rights.
A judge of the Southern District of New York authorized this Notice.
This is not a solicitation from a lawyer.
Under the proposed settlement, It’s Just Lunch has agreed to provide certain benefits to Class Members, including but not limited to vouchers with a value of approximately $ 450, subject to the limitations described more fully in the detailed notice of the proposed settlement, accessible online at
, or available by calling the Claims Administrator toll free at 844‑245‑3771…»
If you insist on giving them your money, can’t say that you weren’t warned.
Good luck in your search.

After receiving an email about the class action lawsuit that just hit for IJL, I felt I needed to put a review of the services I received from IJL. My experience was not horrible for the most part. I signed up a for a 12-​month package. (12 months/​12 dates) deal. I was pretty open with my criteria to give me the best options for meeting women and not filter out someone who might work due to a little pickiness. I had only 1 item I was very particular about. I am a slender person and I was not interested in meeting anyone overweight as it would not be fair to either person involved. I actually got to meet 31 different women during my time there. And for the most part the women were smart, professional and easy to talk to. Unfortunately I was not able to connect with any of the women more than the initial meeting, with a couple meeting up a second time. So the service itself had plenty of available women whom I would consider my taste. The biggest negative of the service was of course the cost. I just do not see the justification for such a high cost when all they really did was set me up with the next person on their list. They didn’t really do what the paid contract called for. The other huge negative was they wanted me to call them after each date and give feedback. They say this to «weed out» the characteristics I didn’t like in that date to fine tune the next time and to set me up with a more suitable match. I was very thorough with all my feed back. Unfortunately there were several times where they flat out didn’t follow any of the feedback and near the end they just stopped caring at all who they set me up with, just out to get their other members their date quotas. And the people that worked there were not very gracious or apologetic when I was livid after the third extremely overweight person they set me up. So when my time was up and they asked me if I wanted to sign up again (for an even higher cost than what I just paid) I said absolutely not. Their so called «match-​makers» are not their to help you. They are just there to fill quotas. The goals of this company should not be to set you up on first dates, but to help you make second dates.
Every now and then I will get another call from them «begging» me to come back. they have lots of great new women. It is not worth the costs. The concept is great. The follow through is not even close. If it cost $ 500 for a 12 month plan maybe, $ 2000+ heck no.

IJL, I spoke to you about your service in 2007, nearly 10 years ago, and I decided I wasn’t interested at that point. The calls continued. I told a caller a few years ago that I wasn’t interested in any more calls about IJL. Did the calls stop? NO! Recently I’ve been getting calls from Erika and Nora, not identifying themselves as IJL, and saying that «my name came up in a meeting» and they had something important to discuss with me. I don’t respond to your calls, and in fact told you specifically not to call me, and you continue to call. My next step is contacting the BBB or a lawyer to see if there are any current class action lawsuits over your business practices. Go away and do not contact me again!!! Julie Lawrenz

I signed up for more info months ago. Still get several calls a week. I never answer because I read the reviews. Also, it’s expensive. So today they call and leave a voicemail. I get all excited because they say «Hi Jenny, this is Nora, and your name came up in a meeting today and we want to talk about it.» I thought it was a reply back from this job I wanted but no, plug the number in and up comes It’s Just Lunch. Why did my «name come up?» I never signed up and haven’t replied to any calls in the months of calling. Just stop calling. Seriously.

ZERO STARS. This «review» should really be a scam alert. The WORST service organization for my money EVER for ANY business, not just dating services.
They put so little attention to the interview and then proceeded to set me up immediately with the exact opposite of what I described. The matchmakers were clueless and incompetent. I did way better on my own on Match for WAY less money.
They also said, just go on the date, don’t worry about the six dates, we really set you up with more. Balony. I pushed back on several dates as I knew they weren’t right, but then finally went on some questionable ones to just see. Sure enough, after six (but was actually five, but i am not going to pursue it.), they said well that was your sixth date, good luck.
The biggest waste of money I have ever spent. I hope people will read this BEFORE they sign up. DON’T DO IT!
They are horrible!

Thank you so much for the honest reviews. I just did a phone interview with «Julie.» She made the program sound so wonderful. I was quoted $ 2,400 for a 6 month membership. So glad I didn’t give her my credit card number. The high pressure sales tactics made me very uncomfortable. I told her I had to sleep on it. $ 2,400 is steep, even for true love and I’m not exactly a trust fund baby. So good to know its not worth it. Thank you, thank you!

Let’s start from the VERY begining…
I signed up for It’s Just Lunch (IJL as they like to call it) in 2002 or so…
A little bit about me
at the time (i may have grown a little since)
25 years old
white
6 ft tall
190lbs
good shape
big ten education
good job well into 6 figures
i would say a good ⁸⁄₁₀ in the looks dept.
So the program they promised sounded great. Much like autotrader today… you tell them you specifics, what you like, what you don’t, and they set you up on lunch or happy hour type dates.
I paid the program fee, did the interview, and started the process…
Date after date was with girls who could only be described as not only a physical mismatch (ie — overweight, not attractive, plump), but also had the personality of a seashell.
I continued to provide feedback so they could narrow the search down to more and more specifics… after maybe 5 or 6 of their dates, I just gave up.
So let’s fast forward a little bit… every single month and sometimes multiple times a month I still get calls from them… they try to HIDE who they are when they call and say they are trying to get in touch because they have something to share, etc. Never identifying themselves as IJL.
Let’s fast foward a few years… still never having returned their calls, I still get phone spammed on a consistent basis.
Let’s get to 2012… I am engaged. I finally answer the call and indicate — I AM ENGAGED, PLEASE STOP CALLING ME.
Fast forward to 2013… I am married — I answer again… I AM MARRIED PLEASE STOP CALLING ME.
2014…I MOVED TO TEXAS — LEAVE ME ALONE!!!
2015 — I am guessing by now you can imagine what is going on. I literally think these people live in the phillipines and arent real.
A better use of that $ 1200 or whatever it was would have been to invest 500 glitter bombs and mail to them each time they call me.
So, if you like constant spam phone calls, fugly chicks, ignored feedback, paying $$$ to meet people you have nothing in common with, then go for it!
Update: 1÷28÷2015 IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM DID IJL DO AN INTRODUCTION TO OR FOR ME IN ANY SUCCESSFUL MANNER THAT LED TO EITHER A 2ND DATE OR ANYTHING ELSE.
I met my now wife the old fashioned way — approached her in a bar and said hi.

If you look up Evan Marc Katz, he will guide you how to date online, how to do a profile, get pictures and even how to date.
It’s Just Lunch is not a matchmaking service, it is a scam! They finally told me that they don’t meet anybody and there are no background checks. Meaning — they set me up on multiple dates with men who were bald, mean who were out of shape (not athletic), one man who I’m convinced is a pedophile (not trying to be funny, I called the service and told them), and another man who likes to camp and fish on $ 6 budget (not knocking being thrifty, but I’m not into camping and we never should have been paired together).

IJL is the WORST! I was an idiot and signed up a second time thinking I would give them a second chance. This was about 3 years ago and could not wait for the membership to end. The last date they set up for me was horrific and went home and cried. They do not listen to you and only want to make a sale. Over the past 3 years they continue to call and harass me. They call my work, my cell and my home leaving messages. I have told them on several occasions I would never use their service again. Additionally some of the messages they leave, they don’t even say where they are from but I know the numbers by now and know it is them. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! They prey on women that just want to meet the man of their dreams only to make you even more down and out.

TOTAL SCAM INDEED. The worst service ever!!! DO NOT USE THEM! I am actually blown away by all of these reviews and I’m extremely pissed at myself that I never read them prior to agreeing to sign the most ridiculous contract I’ve ever seen in my life. (3 days to cancel after signing?! WTF?! I hadn’t even had my «in-​person» interview by that time). I am also having the EXACT SAME experience as these other women. If we are all having the same experience, it’s clearly not us. It’s them.
1) The «matchmakers» — I agree that they all sound exactly the same. You are never talking to the same person which is beyond annoying. How exactly do they hire these matchmakers? What is the criteria? To be a cute young girl between the ages of 21 and 30?
2) They don’t listen to ANYTHING you tell them. At my first date I was beyond unnerved when I saw the guy. 100% NOT what I was looking for. They did not listen to a word I had said. Again, same thing as everyone else. Just today I had a «matchmaker», if you can even call them that, say that she had a great guy for me blah blah blah. Then I ask his age and I am told he’s 45. I specifically gave my age requirements and 45 is way too old for me. Then it seemed like she got mad when I told her that and asked what I wanted. I TOLD YOU MORONS WHAT I WANTED. 3 SEPARATE TIMES. They make you do all these stupid interviews and you repeat yourself 100 times and yet, they still cannot get it right.
3) They call you during the day. Yeah, I work. I am a professional. I don’t want to have long conversations while I’m sitting at my desk.
4) DID I MENTION HOW TERRIBLE MY FIRST DATE WAS? Let me reiterate, it was a total nightmare. The guy and I had nothing in common. Literally, nothing. I didn’t even want to stay when I saw him but I did and it was terribly painful. I have never been so uncomfortable in my life.
I hope that this deters people because this service is RIDICULOUSLY expensive and the worst money I have ever spent.

Completely agree with all the other reviews and only wanted to add mine to hopefully deter people from wasting their money. Horrible fix ups, painful dates, and we couldn’t get to the number of dates in my package because they couldn’t find anyone suitable. Please don’t waste your money and time!!!

Biggest waste of $!!! Matchmakers have no idea what they’re doing. Matches me up with men that lived over 60 miles away and told me «for love you should be willing to travel». Really? On weekdays after work, traveling for over an hour in traffic to meet someone? Unrealistic! First guy they matched me with lives that far– was a gynecologist and all he could talk about was his work and politics. Second guy brought his laptop to the date and kept his phone on the table and kept checking it every time it «blew up». He also took a call during our date AND revealed that his attorney was also Drew Peterson’s lawyer. Nice. Last date was an old Italian grandpa who made wine in his basement and played bocce ball. I’m DONE!!! Nothing in common with ANY of the guys they matched me with. The «matchmakers» are barely out of college and CLEARLY CLUELESS about what makes a good match. Not recommending this service to ANYONE. Wish I had read the Unilocal reviews before signing on. I signed up, and paid for, six months but opted out after four. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY!

New management, same tactics. If it sounds too good to be true, it’s not. IJL will say whatever it takes to make you believe they are legit. They are not. They do not care about you finding someone. They want your money and will say whatever it takes.
This company should be ashamed of how they treat people

Update one year later… they are still calling me multiple times. It’s been at least 3 years since I initially went in there. This place is odd to say the least.

Total scam!!! Do not waste your time or money. It is very expensive and I only got 8 dates out of the 10 minimum they promised. Plus, none of the dates were any where close to what I had laid out as my requirements. There was no personalized matchmaking. It seemed that they set me up with whoever walked through the door.
The service is also super inconvenient. They won’t do anything over email.
This company should be called «It’s Just Awful»

Like a lot of reviews I’ve read, this is THE worst dating service in the world. I may have been slightly naïve, thinking maybe this would be like the show on Bravo «The Millionaire Matchmaker», but it is nothing like that at all.
I was excited to think someone — one person — would be so professional as to be my personal matchmaker and listen to what I want and save me the time and energy of trying to find him. Boy was I wrong.
First, unlike the show MM, you don’t get a personal matchmaker. You get a slew of 20 year old girls who are way too perky and must be trained to all sound exactly the same. None of them view your profile, nor do they discuss with each other my likes/​dislikes, wants and desires. I literally was just set up with someone who has children. It is in my profile that at this time I’m not interested in dating men w/​children. This «matchmaker» obviously didn’t read my profile UNTIL I TOLD HER! What kind of «professional» service is that?! You don’t get someone who is actually interested in taking the time to weed out the «bad ones» and actually set you up on a true, hopefully hit-​it-​off date.
I have been set up on a few dates with men where I would literally think to myself, did these girls put even AN OUNCE of thought into this set up? What girl in their right mind would think this person, who wouldn’t even get out of his chair nor look me in the eye and gave me a limp handshake would be suitable for a girl like me? And I’m not trying to be narcissistic, by any means. These girls’ thinking caps are not on, nor do they seem to truly care. It’s like they put men’s names in a hat, draw one and consider it good enough, just b/​c it’s time for another date.
I didn’t have $ 2400 to begin with but I thought I wasn’t having luck in any other capacity, why not have a service do the leg work for me. Worst decision ever. I should have saved myself the money and done the grunt-​work myself as these girls are useless. And now I’m out $ 2400…for what? I didn’t want to just go on dates, I am looking for my guy.
I am ever-​optimistic and hopeful and will ride out the rest of my membership, but I would never do it again, nor will I ever suggest it to anyone I know.
It’s pretty sad that this company is doing this to so many people. I wonder how many successes are actually out there? I know they are nationwide, so I’m curious to know if it’s just Chicago that has the worst «matchmakers» or if the whole company is this bad? And if so, how could it be around for 20+ years?

If I could give negative stars, I would!
Short: DO NOT waste your time here! Trust me, please. I’m an optimist and wanted to believe that the overwhelming number of bad review I read about this business were just the bitter and jaded venting their frustrations. Alas, 9 months later, Ms. Positivity here is reluctantly admitting I was wrong and this place really is the total scam everyone says it is!
Dates — I could never tell if my matches were computer generated or my «matchmaker» covered her eyes and pulled a random file out of the «Time for Another Date» pile. Whatever their method is, absolutely zero attention was given to what I said I was looking for in a man.
Quality of Matches — save yourself a helluva lotta money and just join
or eharmony. You can at least see what the guy looks like before you initiate contact and chat with him to decide if you even want to meet him. Most the guys I met were dorks, duds, or in one case, a guy who thinks velcro sneakers and sweat pants is acceptable to wear on a first date (or anywhere for that matter).
Feedback after dates — what’s the point? Nothing I said changed anything, and the only satisfaction I got was bitching out one of the beauty-​school drop-​outs/​secretaries for setting me up with a guy who was mentally retarded (no joke– he told me so) and 15 years older than me.
Communication — you will never speak to the director who you initially met with ever again. Ever. Not even after messages, emails, or phone calls requesting it. Your messages go unanswered by the secretaries. I put my account on hold and they still kept trying to match me.