Complaint Review: Match.com

In reviewing my VISA statement online I saw a charge on 9/14 for about $77 from Match.com in TX. Over a year ago, a friend had 'dared' me to make a listing with their service. Nothing came of it but the usual scams and creeps and I forgot all about it and have not visited the site for months. Nor had I received any email from Match.com; particularly I received no email warning me of subscription expiry or renewal.

It appears that they had auto-renewed the subscription on an idle account without notifying the customer. I immediately sent email stating that I did not wish to renew, I wished to cancel, and I requested a reversal of the charge.

I received an arrogant form letter which began:

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Thank you for contacting Match.com.

We received your request to resign your subscription.

Regarding a refund. Match.com maintains a no refund policy, therefore we are unable to process a refund on your account.

As requested, your subscription has been resigned. This ceases the auto renew feature which bills your account at the end of a subscription.

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They have billed me for a year of "service" that I did not want, without any reminder or notification (which they have the gall call a a"feature"!) and are refusing to refund. Any reputable vendor would have apologised and refunded immediately, or at the very least offered a pro-rated refund based on a 12 month sub.

It seems pretty clear to me that Match.com is making money on auto-re-upping idle accounts and then when challenged, refusing to reverse the charge. I consider this shady business practise -- they have been accused of various other shady practises lately, so it would be in keeping with their generally tarnished rep -- and wish to file a formal complaint.

Deborah
Santa Cruz, California
U.S.A.