Complaint Review: The Right One - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

I am very angry and very sorry that I signed up with this company. I thought there was something fishy about it from the beginning, and I should have listened to my inner conscience. I am now out $1,900.00 for services I know I will never receive.

Last week, I responded to an ad I received in the mail for what I thought was a local dating service. I signed on to the website they had listed, glenshawdating.com, and filled out there form online. What I did notice first was there was no company name listed on the ad, nor on the website. I thought it was a little strange, but I wanted to inquire about it. I receive a call in my voice mail the next day, Sunday, August 10, 2008 from Kristin.

She does not say what company she is from, nor does she say what the call is in reference to. She simply left a message asking me to call her back. I thought this call must be in reference to the dating service, so I call the number. I get her voice mail, and again no company name is mentioned in outgoing voice mail message. I did not leave a message.

On Monday, August 11, 2008, Kristin calls me again, and this time I answer the phone. She tells me that she is calling from The Right One in response to the form I filled out online. I said to her, "I received a message from you in my voice mail, and I figured it was the dating service, but you did not leave a company name. Why is that?" She responded by saying, "We don't like to leave messages about our dating service because there could be children around to listen." Actually, the real reason they don't say anything is because they don't want you to be able to research them before signing up, and find out about their fraudulent business practices.

Kristin goes on to tell me that they are a company that is nationwide, they match you up based on compatibility profiles, they do background checks, and conduct personal one-on-one interviews. Sounded really good (before I found out about their fraudulent ways), so I set up an appointment for that same evening. Kristin tells me I need to bring my driver's license, my checkbook, and a major credit card.

I drive to their Pittsburgh location, and enter what is basically an empty lobby. There are no people in the lobby, no receptionist to greet anyone, no office furniture other than a little table in front of me, and a big round table to the right of me. A little spooky, unsafe and not very welcoming for the company that claims to be "The Relationship Experts". Seems a little strange that the company hides its own self from the public view. On the little table in front of me is a bell with a sign above it that says "Ring Bell for Service". Next to the bell are clipboards with forms to fill out.

I ring the bell, and pick up the forms. A young woman comes out to greet me. She says she is from the "The Right One", and asks me to have a seat at the round table. She tells me to fill out the forms, and after filling out the forms I will have a one-on-one interview with a counselor. Boy, they want me to give them all my information before I even had a chance to speak with them, but yet everything seems so hush-hush about them. On this form, they asked for my full name, address, date of birth, place of birth, place of employment, my income, my Social Security number, my race, etc. There were at least a couple of pages of information I had to fill out, and plus a compatibility report.

I finish filling out the reports, and the girl comes back out to tell me my counselor will be out shortly. She tells me in the meantime to check out the book on the table showing referrals from people who went on dates, and wrote back to report. I notice a photo of a couple that live right across the street from me, and some nice letter from them thanking them for matching them up. I thought, Ok, maybe this is a legitimate company. They matched up someone I recognize. So I put all my second thoughts aside and decided to inquire further. But I am sorry I did, even though my neighbors found each other thru them.

A little bit later, the girl comes back out and tells me that my counselor is ready to interview me. I am then greeted by Robert Vargus, who says he is the office manager there. He takes me back to his office, which is right of the lobby. I never get to meet any other employees other than the girl and my counselor.

First, he starts off by telling me that this company is one of the fastest growing companies in America according to the Inc5000. He says they are successful, resulting in 1 marriage everyday. He says they personally hand-pick matches based on compatibiity reports. He tells me they are safer than online dating, because they do background checks and personal interviews. I bought in to his every line.

He asked me questions like, where do you work? How long have you been there? How much do you make? Do you have a checking account? He then asked to see my checkbook. He also asked to see my driver's license. He commented on my birthdate, saying his was a few days before mine, which is probably not true.

We then discuss my dating situation. Are you still single? What have you done to meet people? When was your last serious relationship? How long did it last? Why didn't it last? What are you looking for in a potential mate?

What do you have to offer a potential mate? A lot of psychological questioning about my dating situation - made me feel uncomfortable at times. Kind of felt like a loser at dating.

He told me that he would have no trouble finding me a match. He said there were dozens of men looking for a sweet, attractive girl like me. He said I would have a match by the end of the weekend. He said there were some very smart men, lawyers, doctors, business owners and engineers all looking for a girl like me. He said my decision to become a member would "Change my life". I bought all his lies.

A few hours later, he finally decides I am ready to become a member, and shows me a list of prices. My jaw dropped, literally! I really wanted to become a member, but there was no way in hell I could afford what he wanted me to pay. It was close to $5,000.00 for 12 referrals plus 12 more if the first 12 were not compatible, with an option to put the membership on hold. The second package was close to $3,000.00 for 12 referrals plus 12 more if the first 12 were not compatible, with no hold option.

Plus there was also a $24 per month membership fee, which is probably all it should have cost. But I would not even pay that much for a company that does basically nothing. I complained and haggled with him to get him to lower the price saying there was no way I could afford thousands of dollars. I was not expecting it to be anywhere near that for such a service. It was ludicrous! He lowered the prices, but everytime he did, I told him I cannot afford it, and even said more than a few times, I am sorry I must decline all your offers.

He was still expecting me to pay thousands of dollars. All the while, telling me how I would never find anyone if I did it on my own, that ten years from now I would probably still be single, that I could end up with a bad guy, that their company would change my life. The famous now or never persuasion that is one of their tricks to get you to sign on the dotted line, which you will end up being sorry you did sign. His trick worked. He knew what my vulnerabilities and insecurities were, and got me to sign on the dotted line.

I left the parking lot, wondering if I had made a mistake, paying so much money for something that may not even work out. The next day, I googled "The Right One" just to see if there were any complaints from people who used the service. I found this site and a few others. I also discovered my local TV station conducted an investigation last month on the exact office I visited. Members who signed up there complained that they paid thousands of dollars, were promised compatible matches, only to find out they were ripped off. They hardly got any referrals, and referrrals they did get were anything but compatible. When these members tried to get refunds, they were all told no.

Now, I wonder about all the information they have on me, whether they actually do background checks. If they are not using it for what they say they use it for, then what are they exactly doing with it. I fear my privacy was violated, and I fear that someday could become a victim of identity theft. Who knows with these shady company what they would do.

Anyone who is looking to join a dating service, please stay away from this company. DO NOT give in to any high-pressure sales tactics like the ones I presented above. This company is a fraud.

For all of us who have been scammed, I have read that there are defenses to contracts including fraud and misrepresentation. Here is a link everyone should read: (((link redacted)))

I believe that although we signed contracts stating that there are no refunds allowed, that because of fraud and misrepresentation, that contract itself is illegal and voidable.

Class-action suit, anyone??? This company needs to be shut down for good.

Maybe we could at least push through some type of legislation to protect consumers from fraudulent dating services companies like this one.

Michelle

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

U.S.A.

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