Complaint Review: Lifemates Canada - Mississauga Ontario

Lifemates Canada uses emotional exploitation and shaming tactics to strong arm a signature on the contract which is a one sided document slanted totally in favor of the company with no benefit to the client. They will promise " Unlimited Referrals " with a disclaimer " On an availability basis " which allows them to mismatch you or provide no service at all. It's fees are obscenely high and biased against women as they pay almost double what the men pay for the same service/non-service. They range from $1000 - $5000.

As for tactics, it's high pressure designed to exploit the vulnerability of the clients' emotions at a time when they are at a low point in their lives. Law professor Iain Ramsay of York University in Toronto regarded this as " Unconscionable Representation " upon viewing an undercover sting conducted by the CBC in 2002. Now, ten years later, their tactics have not changed. They know that when sued in court, they can deny everything coupled with the fact that most clients are ashamed at the prospect of paying for dates that they're therefore able to get away with their unethical behavior.

Briefly, their contract disallows clients to see photos of each other. Each match is done via a vague description of the person over the phone and if you reject the match, it may be weeks or months before another referral comes through. If you accept the first date, and chances are that it'll be a total mismatch, you can kiss all your money goodbye according to their contract. Even if you never use their services at all and cancel, you're liable for half of the fees. There are umpteen "packages" to choose from, each tied to the amount of balance you have on your credit card(s) or bank account. You are pressured into signing after a grueling 3 hour interview. You're required to fill out a questionnaire which outlines intimate information about your personal and love life. This is then used to exploit your weaknesses and shame you into signing. From personal experience, I offer some advice to anyone who's remotely thinking of joining this outfit.

1. Leave your wallet in the car.
2. As soon as you sit down, ask " Would I be able to see photos of prospective matches? "
    Their answer will be " But first you have to qualify ". You WILL qualify if you have sufficient
    balance on your credit card or bank account.
3. You will never get a straight answer to #2 as it would be a resounding NO. No one should be
    enticed into paying thousands of dollars to buy something sight unseen.
4. Start walking and never look back.

Their tactic is very simple. They want your signature right on the spot because if you leave to think about it, you'll never return. If you get suckered into signing their bogus contract, you'll have an extremely difficult time to retrieve your money if ever.

For those people in Ontario who feel that they've been scammed by Lifemates, you can file an official complaint with the Ontario Consumer Protection Bureau ( Google info ). They will investigate this outfit and put a stop to their high pressure sales tactics. These people carry on with impunity because we let them get away with it. They need to be shut down. Do your part in helping others to avoid being hurt.