Restaurant discount cards

Further to the article on this subject featured on July 14, we are still waiting for an explanation from Reuben Vella of Rhino Power Ltd. This case goes back to December 2000 when a Rhino Power sales representative sold Anthony Camilleri a discount card applicable to a closed restaurant, thus being worthless.

After futile attempts to obtain a refund, Mr Camilleri wrote to Rhino Power Ltd and copied me in. On my part, after futile attempts to obtain an explanation from Rhino Power, on June 30 I featured the case in this column.

Four days later I received a strong e-mail from Mr Vella, demanding an apology and claiming that Rhino Power Ltd had refunded Mr Camilleri "over a month ago". However the following day I received a letter from Mr Camilleri informing me that he had received a refund with the following conclusion: "I have no doubt that your intervention was instrumental in changing the stand that the price of the card was not refundable. Thank you for your intervention."

The reason I am referring to this case again is because, as far as this column is concerned, it is still pending. We need an explanation as to why Mr Camilleri was sold a discount card applicable to a "closed" restaurant.

Come on, it's not right. Therefore it would be appreciated if Mr Vella could give us an assurance that he has rectified the way his company operates so that this would not happen again. We cannot have companies issuing discount cards applicable to closed outlets. In this spirit we look forward to hearing from Mr Vella so that we can close this case.