Media contact: Janet C. Hart, APR, CFEE (704) 927-8617
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
– Valentine’s Day is a special time for people in love. However, if you are still looking for love, the
BBB has advice to keep you from getting your heart broken. Complaints against
matchmaking and online dating services are on the rise as consumers spend
hundreds of millions of dollars on dating services every year. The dating
services industry includes personalized matchmaking services and online dating
websites.
Matchmaking Services
Matchmaking and local dating services can cost thousands of dollars and promise
to introduce you to other area singles that meet your specified criteria. Complaints
include:
- Disputes over the caliber and demographics of singles promised
(35 percent)
- Poor or rude customer service (17.0 percent)
- High pressure sales tactics (13.7 percent)
- Dissatisfaction with the number of arranged dates (15.1
percent).
Locally, Great Expectations is a matchmaking service based in Fort Mill,
S.C. (BBB grade F). Great Expectations has had 29 complaints in the last 36
months and is not accredited by the BBB.
Online Dating Services
Most online
dating websites provide a forum for users to post a profile and view profiles
from other singles. The services normally require a specific length of
membership and charge a monthly fee. The contract is typically renewed
automatically when it expires. Consequently, two-thirds (63.7 percent) of the
complaints cite contract and billing issues. Other common complaints include
the inability to cancel after signing up (6.8 percent) and general
dissatisfaction with the company (6.8 percent).
Some of the most popular online dating
sites and their BBB ratings include:
- match.com
(BBB grade A+) is accredited by the BBB
- eHarmony.com
(BBB grade A) is accredited by the BBB
- millionairematch.com
AKA successfulmatch.com (BBB grade B) is not accredited by the BBB
- cupid.com
(BBB grade C-) is not accredited by the BBB.
The BBB offers the following advice on matchmaking and online dating services:
- Don’t
fall in love too quickly.
Beware of exaggerated advertising claims that promise more than they deliver.
- Do a background check. Check with the BBB (www.bbb.org) to make sure it has a history
of satisfying customers and resolving complaints.
- Don’t
be pressured into commitment. Before you sign a contract, read it carefully and make sure
you understand what the terms and conditions are.
- Know
how to break up. Do not assume that the billing will stop when the contract ends.
Many online dating sites automatically renew memberships unless the consumer specifically
cancels the service.
For more information, please visit www.bbb.org
or call the BBB (toll-free
in N.C. and S.C.) at 1-877-317-7236.
# # #