EHarmony.com Deceptive business practice: Their "free trial" isn't free. Even if you cancel in the free trial period, they try to charge you! Pasadena California
About three months ago, I signed up for a free one-week trial with eHarmony.com. I found that I didn't like the quality of matches I was receiving so I canceled the subscription within the one week time frame.
When I signed up, I used the Bill Me Later option. Lo and behold, one month after signing up, I received a bill for the services. I called up Bill Me Later and they strongly recommend I pay the bill while I dispute it with eHarmony. No way!
After quite a search I finally found the eHarmony.com phone number. I explained that I signed up for a free trial and then canceled. The representative said "we show that you signed up for a free trial AND purchased a subscription at the same time". What!? How is that possible? I signed up for a free trial and was required to either give my credit card information or the Bill Me Later sign up. I had no other choice and she's making it out to be my fault. I was on the phone for 20 minutes with them before they finally agreed to refund the money. They had no choice, as I told them that I absolutely refuse to pay Bill Me Later.
So let's review: I signed up for a free week trial for which they require credit card number or sign up with Bill Me Later. I cancel within the time period. They then claim that I signed up for a subscription at the same time I signed up for the free trial. They initially tried to refuse to refund the unauthorized charge for their service. Although (after much aggravation) I finally got the charge reversed, I think that they are very deceptive in their business practices and I certainly won't be using them ever again. I urge others to think twice before signing up with eHarmony.com!
The eHarmony.com toll-free customer service number is 800-263-6133. It is impossible to find on their website and difficult to find on the web.
Steven
Coral Springs, Florida
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Linny
Nanuet,New York,
U.S.A.
my experience w/ eHarmony.com
#8Consumer Comment
Tue, April 01, 2008
I am surprised at the bad experiences b/c mine was great!
I joined twice actually-once for one month and was told at first that there was no available matches for me which I found to be aggravating, but when I thought about it, it made sense. I would rather not be matched w/ someone who is not right for me-I can find those guys on my own!
I was not in the best frame of mind for dating being I had just ended a relationship so I didn't re-up and had no problem canceling so was not charged again.
I tried a couple other sites where you do your own searching and pretty much got guys, some of whom didn't even try to hide the fact that they were married, who contacted me b/c they thought I was hot. Not people looking to find a real relationship.
A couple years later(July 2006) I joined eHarmony again for a whole year being statistically it takes about that long to find a match. Two months into it I met a great guy and we are still together and will probably marry.
When my year was up, I forgot(being I was in a good relationship and wasn't thinking about it) to cancel and was charged for the next month. I emailed them and let them know I was in a relationship and no longer needed their services and wanted a refund. They asked a couple questions about if I found him through them or on my own and three days later my $ was back in my account. They also asked me to write them a little story about meeting him and developing the relationship and send them a picture of the two of us. Then they asked if we would like to be on their Success Story page, which we did and are.
B/c of my experience, my cousin joined and she has now been in a relationship w/ a guy for about 8 months and is deliriously happy.
Prissy
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
eHarmony
#8Consumer Comment
Wed, May 16, 2007
Hey, AOL is a LOT cheaper, and apparently, a LOT better. Just sign on, go into your favorite Romance chat room, and get hooked up. Better than letting some high priced worthless company make your mistakes for you! We all know that it's a LOT more fun making our own mistakes!
Paul
Maple Grove,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
Its a shame
#8Consumer Comment
Mon, May 14, 2007
that anyone can come on here, and say whatever they want, with no basis in fact. "Date bait"? That may well apply to GE and Together, however what basis do you have to apply that toward eharmony?
I have been a member of eHarmony for 6 months, with several decent matches, and some very nice dates.
It is irresponsible to trash as a "rip off", simply because one hasn't met the match of their life.
Paul
Maple Grove,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
Its a shame
#8Consumer Comment
Mon, May 14, 2007
that anyone can come on here, and say whatever they want, with no basis in fact. "Date bait"? That may well apply to GE and Together, however what basis do you have to apply that toward eharmony?
I have been a member of eHarmony for 6 months, with several decent matches, and some very nice dates.
It is irresponsible to trash as a "rip off", simply because one hasn't met the match of their life.
Paul
Maple Grove,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
Its a shame
#8Consumer Comment
Mon, May 14, 2007
that anyone can come on here, and say whatever they want, with no basis in fact. "Date bait"? That may well apply to GE and Together, however what basis do you have to apply that toward eharmony?
I have been a member of eHarmony for 6 months, with several decent matches, and some very nice dates.
It is irresponsible to trash as a "rip off", simply because one hasn't met the match of their life.
Alan
Minneapolis,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
Date Bait
#8Consumer Comment
Sun, May 13, 2007
The matches that do not respond likely fall into one of 2 catagories. One is that they are not current members, or two that they are fake matches. Yes fake matches like the ones that Great Expectations show you to get you hooked. Matches of say really hot women, or some perfect match. These people do not exist in their system, and never did they are just there to get you salivating and join up. A real scam tactic be careful.
James
Lindenhurst,New York,
U.S.A.
I also has a bad experience with e-Harmony!
#8Author of original report
Sun, May 13, 2007
I signed up for a three month membership through e-Harmony. I was sent initially several matches. Surprisingly of the ones I was slightly interested in none responded to requests for communication. Of the few that i did make initial contact with it was terribly obvious during our first date that we had no chemistry and our personalities were oil and water!
Here comes the good part. I let my subscription expire... I didn't cancel it. I still get matches in my email even though my account is not active! Which of course makes me think... hmmm... of all the supposed matches they sent me I wonder just how many did not have an active account????
I made a very nasty phone call to e-Harmony who coughed up a free three month extension. I have gotten total squat for matches. Again the same scenario... no communication, matches that are totally out of line. I am sure that when these three months expire then I will suddenly get a few matches worth looking at in the hopes that I will renew my membership.
I plan to call and ask "What percentage of your members report a successful long term relationship after being matched by your system?" and "What percentage of us report that your service is garbage and a waste of our money"??? I would also like to know if the commercial engagements and marriages are actors or actual matches through e-Harmony?
Regardless... it is sad and unfortunate that e-Harmony is commercializing on the fact of life that we all need and want someone special to love and cherish. Not all of them are bad... I've had good results with (((competitor's names redacted))). Save your time and money, avoid e-Harmony!
sorry, allowing you to give a competitors name would instigate others to just file against their competition, to only come back later to suggest their company your comments on this policy are welcome! CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.