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The Right One, Match Plus, Doug & Karian Alston ripoff Dating Service, Pressure and Lie to get you to sign, Refuse to refund money! mistreated and ripped off Honolulu Hawaii
I foolishly filled out a questionnaire sent to me from a dating service in Hawaii called Match Plus (now called The Right One). I sent it in and soon received a call from a representative who set up an appointment for me with a sales rep. I came in and got the sales pitch and filled out some more forms. They wanted lots of financial information to "verify that I was stable for the future ladies I might be matched with." I was quite skeptical and would not give them my credit card numbers. (Tip: Conmen will always ask you to go to an office because that denies you the three-day "right to cancel" clause that most states require in contracts signed in your home or your personal office).
After a two hour ordeal of high pressure sales pitches I said I would like to leave and think about their offer. The sales rep. left the room to get the owner to thank be for coming by. Instead he returns with a new offer of only $1143.22 for three matches (Down from a hing of $5,000). Still hesitant, I ask about their track record. I am assured that have many happy customers and after years of doing business I am told they have "no complaints." "No complaints!" I repeat in astonishment. "That's right" the salesman replies, "none."
Sadly, I cave in and sign and hand over my credit card.
Still troubled the next morning, I called the State Consumer protection office. There I learn that currently there are not one, but ten complaints against the company in the past year! I immediatly call and ask to get out of the contract because I was lied to about the very thing I questioned, their reputation.
Well, it took many months and several apperances in small claims court but I got my money back. In the process I was even interviewed on the Action Line Television program because they had several complaints about the firm. I was the only one who would go on camera to report these scumbags.
This firm is a real ripoff. I thought I would get to look at pictures or at least descirptions of possible dates. No, they do all the matchmaking because they are the professionals. These people are professional con artists taking advantage of the growing population of professionals who work so much they have little or no time to socialize.
Run from these people. Sign nothing no matter how hard they push. Only use a dating service that is personally recommended to you by someone you know and trust. Better yet, let your friends find you a date. If you do get scammed, read lots of legal references and document everything. I did and won. It is not easy but there was some satifaction in beating these creeps at their own game!
Oh, by the way, there was a lady pressing a case against The Right One on the same day I appeared in court. "No complaints" indeed!
Gregg
Honolulu, Hawaii
U.S.A.