eLove

I am a successful, smart, attractive, fit, 40-year old woman with no baggage. I accidentally clicked on the eLove site and it sounded like a useful tool for dating. I filled out the info, was then called by two very polite, upbeat women who booked an appointment, that would only take 1.5 hours, in my town at my convenience. Sound familiar? After my nice peaceful yoga class, I met their representative. My first two-second intuition told me she was shady and rude, but then she quickly became polite and professional. I wrote a test that asked great questions for the dating world. Then the lady rambled on for 4.5 hours of sales and asking very personal questions, mostly involving my finances, savings, credit card balances, income, spending money, etc. She also touched on emotional questions regarding my desire to have a family, past unsuccessful relationships, what I'm doing wrong and constantly reminded me of my biological clock.

Luckily, I was at peace that day and did not let someone else's opinion bias my judgement. I am proud of myself in that as much as I wanted what she wanted to sell me, I did not let my emotions get the better of me. After 4.5 hours and my questions on the cost of the program, finally I got the answer: $5,000 for 8 dates. After I politely told the lady I don't purchase anything over $100 without thinking about it for at least 24 hours, and would not like a mate who did so either, she insulted me and told me I didn't really want a mate; this is not my dream and I would not get what I want. She was sweating during the interview, but then in a passive aggressive manner she said, "See you next year, sweetie" as I politely thanked her and was walking out the door.

I received a call about this service and since they refused to quote prices over the phone, I agreed to go in. Oh yes, the girls on the phone are sweet, understanding and very sympathetic about "bad dating experiences" with online dating sites. They told me repeatedly that they were different. They are handling everything personally, meeting everyone personally and hand-selecting potential matches.

So, on a Wednesday, I went to the office for my appointment. I met with a sales person, of course, not knowing that she was a sales person. She told me how great the company is. They had a fabulous success rate, etc. She mentioned the Better Business Bureau, being in business for 35 years, and handed me a binder full of "thank you" letters from happy clients.

Well, I'm not naive. I know that a BBB listing doesn't mean they are reputable. I also know it isn't difficult to create phony letters and put them in a binder. Honestly, how many men do you know who would write about meeting the woman of their dreams? Most of the letters in that binder were from men.

She also told me that they had an overabundance of men in my age group and too few women, they needed me! Well, even though I knew there was some baloney in there, I thought it couldn't hurt to try. Then she introduced me to my personal "matchmaker", Josie. The sales person had piqued my interest with references to two men in particular that sounded great. Of course, they disappeared as soon as I gave them a deposit. I didn't even let them know that it doesn't cost the hundred dollars they charged me for my background check to do one. Funny thing is Josie told me it would take at least 3 days. She would possibly get the results on Monday. This was on a Thursday. So, what a surprise that on Friday, she called and told me my background check was complete. Interesting, huh?

Well, on Monday she called to tell me about my first match. She said sounded like the person I described on my "wish list". She was very forceful when she reminded me to be open-minded and keep the first conversation to no more than 5 minutes and make a date.

So the "match" called. He didn't fit my criteria at all. I tried to be open-minded and even agreed to talk to him again. But the next morning, I woke up having an anxiety attack because I just knew it was wrong. So, I called her to review my criteria and ask her to back up and start over with someone else. I told her why he wasn't a match and she got hostile. The next day, she called me again. This time, she was insulting and rude. She viciously attacked me, insulted me, berated me and talked over me. Well, I wasn't going to allow that but she hung up on me.

I called an office in another city to solicit some help and they transferred me back to her and she answered the phone using an assumed name! I started going over my potential date criteria and she said, "Just a minute". After about 5 seconds, she came back and said that "Josie" told her that because I refused to follow the program and had caused so much trouble, that they deemed me unfit for their program and were cancelling me. I said, "Good, I know who you are." She said, "You do not!" I hung up.

As soon as I have confirmed that they did cancel my agreement, I will be filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and I intend to also contact their corporate headquarters. What terrible people! I know how to run a background check. It doesn't cost $100 and nobody is going to insult me when I do it! I would rather take my chances on my own. If I am meant to meet someone special, I will. If not, I will sleep well at night, knowing that I never ripped anyone off!

The following was sent to Elove's billing accounting firm, Universal Account Servicing, LLC. In reference to account ** in retrospect to the federal law regarding the 72 hour right of rescission, I phoned the local office and left several messages cancelling the contract and demanding the $100 be returned to me for a background check which I never received a copy of. In regards to charging interest with California, the contract must state the amount of interest that will be charged on the contract which it does not. California State law reads as follows: "The terms and rates depend on the circumstances of your particular account. The collection of any amount, including any interest, fee, charge, or expense incidental to the principal obligation, must be expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or as permitted by law. An attorney should be able to tell you how much the agency can legally charge you. You are also entitled to an explanation from the collection agency as to how much they are charging you and why. You should ask them by letter to explain to you in writing."

In research regarding ELove's clients, there are several complaints with the Department of Consumer Affairs. Phoning the local office several times, I would eventually get a call back from the ELove's local office stating that they are putting my account on hold including all services. I explained that I did not want the account and cancelled well within the 72 hour time period. If services are put on hold and cancelled, ELove failed to report this to the billing office. A portion of the contract was not presented to me and not signed by me regarding interest.

It appears that the Elove branch in Palo Alto is either misleading or creating criminal acts. The person in reference does by the name Kat and has not disclosed any other name. Kat is only in the office when I have made an appoint to sign up. After this, even I have phoned several times and no answer. After leaving several messages there are times I receive a return phone call but from other personal that is not versed on the issues I have described and will always say they will get back to me but never do. Also I was told on several occasions that my account is on hold in frozen status and will not charged, but yet billing appears to continue. As I said previously charging for background checks but sending me one date with a woman twice my age, its obvious no background checks are generated as the first thing on the list would be your age.

I am demanding my $100.00 for background check to be returned to me and I will not accept anything less. Because of this fraud, my bank agreed to issue me new credit cards. After one week of contract, Elove froze my account and went on billing including interest, plus added my signature to an interest contract.

I, too, fell prey to eLove's hard sales tactics. I didn't have time to finish the compatibility questionnaire in the the office and was going to call in the rest of it the next day. I had my first referral less than 23 hours after stepping into their office--before I called in with the results of the compatibility questionnaire (which they claim is how they provide such great referrals or matches!).

My referral didn't meet my criteria. I am an extremely active outdoor person and requested the same. I had recently quit smoking and requested non-smokers only. My referral (match) was a smoker who spends his free time watching movies or playing pool.

Your response is for me to try more referrals. When a mechanic messes up repairs on your car, do you go back there to have it messed up more? When a hairdresser gives you a bad haircut, do you go back for more? When you get a bad bikini wax, do you go back to see if they can do it right the next time? The answer is a resounding "No". Once you deal with a service and they prove themselves incompetent, you stay away from them and then warn others about them.

I requested a refund and (after they called me a liar twice) they told me I couldn't have a refund because I received my first referral. Then the manager told me to try more referrals because I'm "such a great person that it will be easy to find someone special out there". Really?! After you just told me I was lying twice?!

I filed a complaint with the BBB. They operate their business here in Las Vegas under the name "eLove" but are listed with the BBB under their parent company name of "The Right One". In their response they told me to let them try more referrals...and they spelled my name wrong throughout their response.

Some personal service! They don't wait for all of my information, give me a referral who doesn't meet my criteria, and then spell my name wrong on BBB correspondence.

This has been an extremely disappointing experience all around as I have spent a large amount of money for a service that is incompetent, ineffective, and unable to even spell my name right.

I filed a complaint last month about their numerous phone calls despite me requesting them to stop calling me. I ended up blocking the number, but now they have a new number and are at it again.

I have received over ten calls from them over the past three days and today, I answered and told them again to quit calling me. The person I talked with was extremely rude and told me that they wouldn't be calling me if I hadn't filled out a form requesting them to. I know that I never filled out such a form, but told them that even if I had, I am now requesting that they stop calling me and remove me from their list. She would not listen to me and kept trying to sell me some matchmaking service. I told her that this was harassment and that I have rights and that she is in violation of those rights but still she continued to yell. I told her that I was going to report her and hung up the phone.

There was no physical damage resulted, but I should not have to continue to go through the aggravation of these people calling me every hour when I have clearly asked them to stop on more than one occasion. My phone number is also listed on the do not call registry.

Had an interview with a dating service. Signed contract after lengthy 2 hour interview with what I found out after leaving to be deceiving information- company name, where matches come from and tons of complaints on internet. called to cancel and was "too late" "no refunds". It has been 10 days now and the people I speak with are rude and nasty and threaten to hang up on me- saying, " I am having a bad day".I realize now how I was taken for $4895.00 and this is all a big scam.

I cannot afford to lose this money and these people are awful to deal with and will not do anything! I lost everything I own in the Nashville flood of May 2, 2010. I just moved to TN and went on interview to see if I could possibly meet someone to help get me through a very difficult tragic situation. Then, the next day realized what a huge mistake I made. I cannot afford to lose this money right now as I have already lost everything, my home, furniture and belongings and will take thousands of dollars to recover.