Wedding invite QR code asking for bank details - is this a thing?

[Newbie2023]

AIBU to find this really odd - are we just totally out of touch with current wedding invitation protocols, or is this a thing now?

We’ve received a wedding invitation card for a friend’s son’s wedding, with a QR code to scan to say whether we will be attending, to access menu choices, etc.
No problem at all, happy to do these - but…

The QR code takes us straight to online forms that ask for our names, addresses, email addresses - ok.
However, the second page of the site asks us to enter our bank card details, and can’t move on without doing this, so can’t say if we’re attending, see a wedding list, give menu choices, etc.
It says the 7-day trial to use this site is free, then we will be charged monthly….
This feels a really odd thing to ask of your wedding guests, but happy to be told we’re just really out of touch!

Is this really actually a thing now?

Advice very welcome! TIA

I think is fairly common to use QR codes for wedding invitations, these are the steps to follow. It's not complicated, it's cool and convenient and in most cases, the static codes will do, so it is even possible to do it for free. Several of my friends/colleagues used dynamic QR codes for which you do pay a subscription but they had a specific scenario in mind that required the option to edit the code's destination. I've never heard about bank account details being a requirement. Two things come to mind: 1) They made a mistake in the process of creating/setting the QR code and 2)They used an unreliable/scammy QR code generator. Generally, I always recommend checking the reviews in advance and definitely testing the code. This is a must. Once you create a QR code for any purpose, scan it before downloading or printing it. Back to the topic, I think we can all agree that no wedding invitation should require bank card details and that letting the sender know about this is the best way to go.

OK, fair enough; I suppose if you're a bespoke business - say a professional wedding planner - you might want to subscribe to this to offer it as part of your package for B&Gs.

But surely most big businesses would just use MS Forms, wouldn't they?

Even so, if I were a wedding planner offering this to my clients, I would want a much better one that didn't ask all of their guests to pay a rolling subscription to be able to reply to it!

But even so, it's such a crazy overbearing way of trying to get new customers. Surely, if you were hoping to attract guests who might be planning their own wedding to use you, you would have a prominent message saying "This bespoke RSVP form is proudly brought to you by XYZ Wedding Co - contact us on -- to set up your own!"

True, nobody is forced to sign up... unless they want to RSVP to the invitation in the only way that they may have of contacting the hosts.

Can you imagine an old-fashioned bricks and mortar shop - not even one that people would be familiar with; maybe a small boutique - that asked to swipe your debit card before they even let you in to look if there was anything you might want to buy?

That would be the one with the owner standing in the doorway all day, constantly looking up and down the street and wondering why nobody ever wanted to come in.

Which is why I asked what the service was as I’m intrigued what kind of site asks for credit card details from non-customers.

Could this be a scam

Not a chance would I be entering bank details to access a website.

Seems very dodgy.

WTAF?! No,this definitely is not a 'thing' now.

Big red flag for me. No way would I be disclosing bank details. Never heard of that for an invitation to a wedding. Sounds like a scam.

Do not give them your card details. Just rsvp by post.

Why on earth do they need your bank details? Big fat no from me.

Not the point of the thread but why on earth would you go to a wedding of someone you barely know just because you know one of the couple's mums?

I'm guessing the bride and groom didn't know it would do that. Any word back?

I wouldn't be happy with this. I wouldn't want to be pushed into giving bank details in this way.
People shouldn't have to be wondering whether it's a scam - it's inconsiderate to put them in this position. Unless there is an explanation pretty quickly I'd say one could safely give it a miss.
The whole reason companies offer "free trials" is they expect some people will forget to cancel!

Because businesses survive through customers paying for things.

It’s not a scam. It’s a website with a subscription service.

For what?

Are you expected to pay for your own food?

I doubt that will fly if the website has been set up to collate the numbers of rsvp respondents, together with their meal choices. I think l’d probably just put in my card details, rsvp and then cancel the trial immediately after - assuming there isn’t some convoluted process for cancelling. I think the bride and groom need to sort this or it’ll be the smallest wedding reception in history !!

Contact the friend and let them know about this complete sham.
Leave it with her.
I would not be subscribing to any of this bullshit.
If I’m paying for any sort of event it would be one of my choosing, not someone’s wedding.
Very crass way of doing things.

This thread has been picked up by the media I guess because this is unusual although there seem to be a lot of companies offering digital RSVP. I think if this is just a friends son and you don't really know them I would not allow this headspace and wouldn't bother with the digital RSVP but just tell your friend.

On most of these services if the B and G set them up with an initial fee they custom set the questions. So either this is a free service and the company are counting on people not cancelling (really how many times would you use it? ) or the B and G have asked for bank details for some reason. I would be worried about GDPR. Is this the future? My niece gets married in less than two years. Save the date was sent by what's app/email.

Is the app called Joy?

What exactly is being subscribed to? This is is pretty much a survey. How insane would it be for the recipients of a survey to have to “subscribe” before they can fill it out. You’d get zero responses.

As previously and extensively explained. The bride and groom have used either an app or website platform where people can pay/subscribe to manage RSVPs. This kind of thing would be useful in a number of industries. The bride and groom (presumably) haven't realised that guests need to sign up to use the service, albeit with a seven day free trial(!). (This likely indicates that they themselves haven't paid the subscription, but that's another story.)

No, guests are not expected to pay for their own food.