KTRV Fox 12 BBB Warns of On-line Dating Pitfalls
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Boise, Idaho -- With Valentine's Day coming up, more people than ever are looking for love.
But the Better Business Bureau has a warning for romance seeking consumers. They're getting more complaints than ever about on-line dating.
Consumers are reporting that some of the large Internet dating and a few matchmaking businesses aren't honoring their marketing promises. Some aren't using clear billing processes and just aren't delivering.
Many customers say they're fed up.
Bill is a local horse enthusiast who didn't want us to use his last name. He's one of the many disappointed in his quest to find love.
"It was an awful lot of money spent for what amounted to several dates discovering the person didn't check the box for long term commitment and just wanted to enjoy times," said Bill.
He's tried several large on-line dating services and a matchmaking service or two.
At one he was told the high price to get dates came from the company's high advertising budget.
"I found they're heavily commercial. They advertise heavily. They charge for the advertising and all you're really doing is checking boxes," said Bill.
And Bill isn't the only one who's dissatisfied about the way he was matched, the sales tactics used to attract him and, ultimately, who he was set up with.
"We have seen a severe rise in complaints from consumers on on-line dating services to the tune of 77 percent over the previous year of 2005," said Beve Bryant, a BBB spokesperson.
And the complaints aren't just coming in on the national level, in the past six month the Idaho BBB has received calls of its own.
"The complaints were concerning refunds and understanding the services," said Bryant.
Now they're warning customers not just about the challenges of paid dating services. But what shoppers can do to hopefully find the best ones to do business with.
"Don't fall for emotional advertising. Check out the facts. Know exactly what your getting and if you don't get it let them know," said Bill.
They warn people to watch out for contracts that automatically renew themselves and to make sure they know exactly how to cancel.
As for Bill, he says he's done with paid matchmaking and is now trying to find love the old fashioned way through his daily activities.
The amount of complaints logged against dating services in 2007 are still being compiled, but early analysis by the BBB has them expecting to reach record-breaking levels.
