Onyx Priority Travel – scam?

[nike85]

As with all things that look too good to be true, I assume this is a scam – https://www.explore-onyx.com/

They claim to have been around since 2009, if that was the case surely they’re know the HFPers…

Any other views on this ?

[strickers]

Interesting address, the cheese grater I believe. Floor 30 is rented by a company that is described as ‘multinational organisation that sells serviced office space, virtual office products’.

[davefl]

Interesting that the support/complaints and careers links at the bottom are non-functional and lots of bits of text that have ” physical ONXY members card” where they typoed their own name would make me run a mile

[Skywalker]

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/explore-onyx.com

2 reviews: one from an extremely satisfied customer who has never reviewed anything before, and the other from someone who thinks they’ve been scammed.

[Steve]

It looks like the domain was only first registered in September this year. The two reviews on Trustpilot are both since then.

[Skywalker]

It looks like there is only now one review?!

The negative one has been removed.

[Optimus Prime]

Smells like Upgrade Pack…

[yonasl]

Couldn’t love the review more:

“Couldn’t be more happier with the perks to be honest

Just landed back in the UK from Dubai so I used my Onyx card to access the airport lounges with my wife and there was no issues at all

The one thing I would mention is that the Onyx card should be advertised at airports as their sales would go through the roof so not sure why

I flew with Qatar Airways and claimed my cabin upgrade to Premium which was insane, I’ll upgrade to Elite soon though

Would I recommend? Without a doubt!”

So …

Flew from Dubai but used Qatar … in “Premium”?

If you are going to lie at least make it credible for those of us here.

If they sold the card at £3000 instead of £300 we would all be considering it hehe.

[memesweeper]

yonasl wrote:

If you are going to lie at least make it credible for those of us here.

the use of all three major alliance logos side-by-side on the website cannot possibly be legit. Then again, there’s a free trial… anyone want to take one for the team, and try with a disposal card number?

[Skywalker]

memesweeper wrote:

yonasl wrote:

If you are going to lie at least make it credible for those of us here.

the use of all three major alliance logos side-by-side on the website cannot possibly be legit. Then again, there’s a free trial… anyone want to take one for the team, and try with a disposal card number?

Off you go then, @memesweeper 😉

I wonder what @Rob & co make of this?

This would make a great exposé article if it turns out to be scam (or indeed, a future partnership in the making if not)!

[Dann]

I got an ad for this, I signed up and I have used a disposable card.

There’s a few spelling mistakes on the website, and there’s no confirmation upon sign up other than a stripe subscription page.

[Dann]

still no confirmation email… or any contact from them

[SBIre]

Dann wrote:

I got an ad for this, I signed up and I have used a disposable card.

There’s a few spelling mistakes on the website, and there’s no confirmation upon sign up other than a stripe subscription page.

Thanks for signing up and keeping us posted! I’m definitely looking forward to your updates!

[Dann]

So we have updates;

I posted a trustpilot review calling it a scam, since I’ve had no replies or responses… and I get an email telling the following;

Thanks for your ONYX Membership application.

We have everything we need from you and will be in touch within 7 working days confirming your new membership and welcome email.
Once your membership has been approved, we will pop your ONYX membership card in the post along with our welcome pack enclosed.

Your application reference is: *********
Ensure to include this with any email correspondence with us so that we can assist you quicker.

We look forward to welcoming you on board as an ONYX Elite Tier Member.

Coincidence….?

[SBIre]

Dann wrote:

Coincidence….?

Ha! perhaps! I spent some time trawling sites like Linkedin for an official page, or indications of people who work / worked there. There is very little – I wonder if it is a side hustle for some people, repackaging things like priority pass? Is it a low rent FoundersCard?

[Dann]

SBIre wrote:

Dann wrote:

Coincidence….?

Ha! perhaps! I spent some time trawling sites like Linkedin for an official page, or indications of people who work / worked there. There is very little – I wonder if it is a side hustle for some people, repackaging things like priority pass? Is it a low rent FoundersCard?

Me too, the only name I have, is Claire Lennet, which draws a blank

[Lula]

@dann looks like they’ve removed your review now.

[nike85]

Dann wrote:

So we have updates;

I posted a trustpilot review calling it a scam, since I’ve had no replies or responses… and I get an email telling the following;

Two days for an acknowledgement followed by 7 days for a membership is amateurish at best.

Thanks for the investigative reporting Dann, keep us updated.

[Dann]

Lula wrote:

@dann looks like they’ve removed your review now.

They’ve tried..”ONYX flagged this review for containing harmful or illegal content.”

[connor.muir@mail.com]

Signed up last week as I saw it on Facebook. Was charged £295 straight away and again a couple days later.

Then received this:
Your payment method was charged at our yearly rate of £295.00 on two occasions.

These payments were taken in error and have now been refunded in full.
——————————————————————————————————————-
Payments taken:
£295.00
£295.00

Refunded amount to card ending **: £590.00GBP
——————————————————————————————————————–

This payment was taken in error and has now been refunded in full.
Your refunded amount will show back onto your payment method within 5-7 business days.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused and are available to respond to any questions or concerns regarding this matter, thank you.

Not had it back yet but very odd. No card in the post received yet.

[Dann]

connor.muir@mail.com wrote:

Signed up last week as I saw it on Facebook. Was charged £295 straight away and again a couple days later.

Then received this:
Your payment method was charged at our yearly rate of £295.00 on two occasions.

These payments were taken in error and have now been refunded in full.
——————————————————————————————————————-
Payments taken:
£295.00
£295.00

Refunded amount to card ending **: £590.00GBP
——————————————————————————————————————–

This payment was taken in error and has now been refunded in full.
Your refunded amount will show back onto your payment method within 5-7 business days.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused and are available to respond to any questions or concerns regarding this matter, thank you.

Not had it back yet but very odd. No card in the post received yet.

I’ve still had no response back since 7 days now

[SkyMonkey92]

You’re lucky! I had the same email except the first charge was not £295. It was £3,245! Copy and paste of the email below with all card digits removed. Checked statement and both payments have indeed been taken… they’d better ensure it is properly and fully refunded!

I’ve sent them emails and filled their contact form and no reply. Signed up the same time as yourself from what I can tell.

Email:
Your payment method was charged at our yearly rate of £3,540.00GBP.

These payments were taken in error and have now been refunded in full.
——————————————————————————————————————-
Payments taken:
£295.00
£3,245.00

Refunded amount to card ending ******: £3,540.00GBP
——————————————————————————————————————–

[WaynedP]

I would immediately challenge it with my card provider and get it reversed @SkyMonkey92. I can’t resist watching this thread with growing fascination, and I think it’s already shone a pretty clear light onto what has all the hallmarks of a bad scam.

[yonasl]

Is the scam then (in addition to the Onyx card being totally fake) that they take the money and then send an email with a “fake” refund invoice expecting you never challenge them and just forget?

A massive thumb up to those of you with b*lls of steel taking one for the team and trying to sign up for this obvious scam just to keep us entertained on this thread.

Please keep bringing us updates!

[Steve]

yonasl wrote:

Is the scam then (in addition to the Onyx card being totally fake) that they take the money and then send an email with a “fake” refund invoice expecting you never challenge them and just forget?

but @Dann didn’t get charged?

However, I think they’ve updated the website – the membership rates now state per month rather than per year (except the signup page, which still says, for example, Elite is “£295 / 1 year membership”, but does correctly state Elite £3,540 per year further down the page).

However, most of the pages can’t be accessed directly from the homepage at the moment, presumably whilst they update the website with the correct rates?

Summary: the tiers are now listed at £125 / £185 / £295 per month, not per year