Complaint Review: Leslie Wardman

I contacted Leslie Wardman about using her service "(Ambiance Matchmaking") because I thought it was a really good idea, and because I am a busy professional, it's hard for me to "get out there" to meet women. After a brief discussion and "intake form", I was told "I have just the perfect match for you!", despite that this woman lived several states away, something I said I was not willing to do. However, I was assured that I would not be disappointed. I was sent some pictures and a first name (their "policy"). Considering I was having to take a plane flight then drive several hours, get a hotel room, and meet her for dinner, that was a huge stretch for me, financially. The only reason I agreed to it was because I was told she was a pilot who owned her own jet plane and was willing to use it for "the relationship". Her pictures were quite attractive, and I was provided one with her getting out of "her" jet.  So, I was off for an adventure, taking a week off from work to get to know her, plus the travel back and forth. Of course, I have no way of contacting her prior to going there, which I understand, but considering this was a huge expense and she was several states away, I think it would have been prudent to allow us to talk in some way, prior to me making the trip. Nevertheless, I went. I was told to meet her at a certain restaurant at 6 PM on a Sunday night. I am wearing a sport coat and tie, and get to the restaurant - which wasn't a restaurant at all - it was a bar that served a little food, and it was mostly even closed that night. She comes in in jeans and a T-shirt, and I barely recognized her from her pictures. She told me her name and I was puzzled; it was not the name I was told she had! She was a very nice person, but I knew immediately something was seriously wrong. As we began talking over an order of french fries (nice dinner date food), the facts that I had been told about her were completey false. She was very apologetic, but it wasn't her fault. She had been a "client" of theirs, too, for just a bit, and was told about someone who was "perfect" for her, but there was nothing factually correct about what she was told about him, either. We visited for a bit more about the serious indiscrepancies in what each of us were told, and I think she felt very sorry about it, although it was not her fault at all. We actually stayed in touch for a bit because both of us felt ripped off and wanted our money back; there was no way we could ever trust them for future "matches". I left the next morning, changing my flight, losing my money on the condo I had rented, losing a week of work, not to mention the loss of money for the food, airline, car rental and time. I contacted another "matchmaker" who said that she knew about them, had fielded complaints before about their dealings, even sharing with me emails from Leslie about helping her out. I then contacted my credit card company for the $4000 I spent to be a "member", contesting the charge. I was refunded the money by the credit card company, but several months later she made a rebuttal, and despite my documentation from everyone involved and the paperwork I had received from them, the charges were put back on my account because it turns out there was a clause in the agreement that if the client cancels, there is no refund. What a way to do business! I then reported her to the Better Business Bureau, but she then went back and forth with them to "prove" herself. 

I think you can see what is at play here: pull in people who are looking for serious help with little time and some money to spare, smile and sell them on your game, take the money, keep them in the dark, and make sure you have a good contract to protect yourself.

There is no way I can stop her from doing business, and I actually wish that she would do well and help people. It's a great concept for this day and age.

She and her daughter Taylor will always have an angle to work, so beware. Do as much research as you can. You found this report - now go find more. Then decide if you really have the money and time to take a huge risk working with Leslie.

Personally, I lost about $7500 in direct expenses plus a week of work, which is around $5000/week. Leslie earned $4000 for a phone call and 15 minutes of her time.