On 2/22/03 I met with Neysla from Ultimate Singles. At that time, Neysla showered me with pictures of good looking men and how she could set me up with them. She also went on to tell a sappy story about how she met her fiance at ultimate singles. Toward the end of the interview, she revealed the membership price by taking out a piece of cardboard with a bunch of numbers on it and told me to deduct $1500 off that price (price she pointed to) because of a special promotion.
Immediately I told her that I would have to think about it. However, after fraudulently coercing me into becoming a member by promising me that I could join and pay on a month to month basis and cancel anytime, I reluctantly agreed. She stated that I needed to sign some informal documents so that I could become official.
She never stated or implied that I was signing a contract of any kind. At the time, I didn't think much about signing these informal papers because I trusted this so-called Christian organization. Neysla never disclosed the finance charge consisting of $392 based on 18% APR.
Had I known that I would be assessed a finance charge of $392.44 based on 18% APR, I never would have agreed to become a member. After I arrived home and examined what I signed, I was shocked to discover that I had been defrauded and deceived.
According to what I had signed, neither could I participate as a member on a month to month basis nor cancel my membership as I pleased. Moreover, the monthly payment plan that Neysla so graciously offered me, entailed a $392 finance charge. That evening 2/22 I immediately phoned Neysla at Ultimate Singles and left message. I left another message on 2/24.
I never heard back from her until I called her for the third time on 2/24. When I finally got a hold of her, I informed her that I was unhappy with how she lied to me. She admitted that she forgot to disclose the finance charge so she agreed to allow me to charge the entire amount on my personal credit card to avoid their 18% APR.
However, that offer is not acceptable since I never would have joined had I known about the finance charge. I drafted a letter to Ultimate Singles informing them that I have cancelled my membership and requested a refund. However, Ultimate Singles refuses to give me refund. Neysla also informed me that in order to become a member of Ultimate Singles, one must have a checking account, thus I had to give Neysla a copy of a voided check.
However, I soon learned from the Attorney General's office that this was just another way for Ultimate Singles to secure payment from me. Moreover, after receiving some documents from the Texas Attorney General's office, I found out that Ultimate Singles forged my signature on a document that I never signed.
The document that I am speaking of is one that gives Ultimate Singles the right to withdraw money from my checking account. So buyer beware! Ultimate Singles also informed me that they do background checks on all participants. However, Neysla never did a background check on me, stating that I seemed like a trustworthy person. She probably tells this to everyone so the organization can avoid the expense of doing a background check.
In closing, never give a voided check to an organization that says they just need it as proof that you have a checking account. Lastly, after speaking with an attorney, I have learned that Ultimate Singles has been sued before.
I guess it is now my turn to sue them. Moreover, according to the attorney, with whom I had a consultation, there are various Christian dating services/introduction services that are fraudulent in nature. Consumers need to be aware of this. There are too many consumers out there who are not aware of their rights under the various state consumer protection statutes.
Since I was deceived and fraudulently induced into signing some papers that turned out to be a contract, I have a cause of action based on the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act - the consumer protection statute for Texas. Please visit www.consumeraffairs.com and conduct a search on ultimate singles.com to see additional complaints on the fraudulent and deceptive activity that ultimatesingles.com is engaging in.
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