Emily of Washington DC (2/20/04):
I used IJL to find a marriageable man. And now they are screwing me over. I've included the text of the letter I wrote them after my last encounter with them on the phone:
Jennifer Reid
Third, despite all the bad feeling your extortion and temper caused, you still expect me to either forfeit my money or go out of my way to meet more sub-standard men.
Director
Its Just Lunch
1001 Connecticut Avenue N.W.
Washington D.C.
Re: Our telephone conversation this morning
Dear Ms. Reid, After our extremely unpleasant conversation this morning, I have had no choice but to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau online. First your service found me a couple of truly repulsive dates: John with his body odour and rudeness, and then obese Shervan who had lied on his intake and did not even have a steady job.
Second, your service would not accommodate my needs, and instead you called to bully me into traveling 8 stops and a line change away, despite the record given above.
Instead, fourth, you insist that only if you feel you cannot place me, will you then give a prorated reimbursement. This is an outrageous and adhesive clause that puts far too much power in one partys hands for a court to find it equitable. If you had accommodated me, or had given my money back on the prorated basis for which I reasonably asked, I would have referred you to other single women that I know as a decent service. But you had to be rude, mean and a waste of my time and money.
Therefore, expect a complaint from the BBB. Further action, including any legal action, will be taken as necessary.
I had asked repeatedly for handsome (this is objective and there are studies to prove it) professional (as in lawyer and doctor) and successful. I also stressed good manners and courtesy. I have repeated these requirements again and again including several times before I had paid a penny. I was told, "yes, absolutely."
However: the first date not only had body odour enough to whiff across the table, but showed no concern for the facts that, 1) I had to get back to the office and 2) that I might need service from the waiters. For example he went ahead and ordered coffee after lunch without asking me, and when I needed sugar, sat preening while I called the waiter. Not the courteous man I had in mind and had described.
The second man was obese and I had asked for someone in good shape. He didn't even have a pretty face so it wasn't like he was a handsome fat man! Plus I had asked for successful and I got someone who did temp jobs with Kelly. In addition, I had been told he was up to date on current affairs, and that he traveled internationally as I do, and instead he knew nothing of what was going on in the world and only visited relatives in the U.S. He's never been out of the country.
Since I had been hassled into meeting the second guy late in a part of town I didn't know (they know I am new to town) and to which I had to fight traffic for an hour, I told IJL I would like to do lunches only and in my area. And I told them then, that I was very disappointed and would like my money back instead of meeting more of their "amazing selection!" I told them, I didn't think they had what I was looking for since this is what they came up with. But I was assured of them finding someone.
Initially, when I had interviewed with them, one director, Melanie Carter, had put on this very convincing act where she acted like she couldn't place me after I gave her my requirements. Then she started listening intently and coming up with suggestions. Essentially she was roping me in with a sales trick of, "I'm turning you away, and then I'm exciting you." I should have recognized this, but I guess I was blinded by hope of meeting the man of my dreams. And after these bad experiences, the woman I was dealing with, Christa would listen to my feedback, and instead of any sympathy or promises of doing better next time, treated me like I was the jerk! This seems to be their modus operandi to bully a clients into meeting people they don't want to meet.
Plus, when I finally spoke to someone who seemed to understand what I wanted, Armando, that same day the owner, Jennifer Reid, called up and yelled at me that I have to be flexible and travel 8 stops and line change away on the metro to meet a man who didn't meet my criteria. She said if I wasn't flexible like this, they would put me on hold. She demanded to know what the pJohnlem was and I told her, "you set me up with a guy with B.O. and a fat guy without a steady job." She kept shouting me down because I'm only a client who has paid a heck of a lot of money. I urged her to return the money since after her low-class behavior and their yucky matches I could not ever trust them, but Jennifer just hung up on me.
Why the heck would I pay them $1100 when I can meet guys like this on the Onion? The point of a matchmaker is to make appropriate matches, not just throw a person who has paid so much money like a piece of trash onto a rubbish heap.
Damage Resulting: I lost $1100 for the fees, plus I lost $20 at the restaurant where I met Smelly John. I've been extremely upset at being used like this and it's affected my sleep. I have hefty student loans to pay off and I could use that money.
