I recently reached out to IJL to try an alternative approach to organically meeting people, given my busy schedule. I had read the reviews on various sites, saw a lot of bad but also saw some good so figured I would take a stab at it.
I spoke with "Robin" of the Houston office initially. I voiced my concerns about gambling with $2400 but she was a good sales rep and convinced me "she didn't need my money" because business was so good but is always happy to take new clients. She was great and had good rapport.
I did not want to divulge the full cost at that time so I asked if they did payment plans and I was specifically informed that they did not allow any sort of payment plan. I said give me a day or two to think it over and I will be in touch. She called me on a Friday and said she had 2 dates ready to go and I needed to pay and we could get the ball rolling. I simply could not give her the full amount at that moment and told her i only had $1900 and she needed to give me 2 weeks so i can get my next paycheck, which she then insisted I put it on a credit card, find alternative payment, etc. When I did not budge, she said she could take my $1900 now and remaining $500 later so she sent a courrier on a 1 hour trek to where I was to get my check. That should have been a sign, considering she just told me they don't do any sort of payment plan.
All the while, their "absolutely no refunds" policy was never mentioned. A policy like this, one would think, should be clearly reiterated to a potential customer.
I went on my first date, literally, 4 hours after I handed my check to the courrier. The following night I went on my second date with another girl and the program seemed to be legitimate and I felt much better about my decision.
That next week I was contacted by my mother and informed my father was going to need treatment and his insurance provider was not covering the costs. I, like any child, agreed to do whatever I could to help so I decided that my dating life needed to be put on hold. When I contacted Robin to tell her that I needed to drop out of the service and requested a $1,500 refund ($1,900 less the $400 portion of the service I used [12 dates guaranteed/$2400 = $200/date]), she not only told me no but requested my remaining balance of $500. I had been enrolled for 7 days, the contract is 1 year, and she absolutely wouldn't hear what I was saying. She went from awesome, cool, fun matchmaker to IRS auditor in 3 seconds.
The next day, I was contacted by "Audra" about the situation. I expected her apology and a solution to our problem, but I clearly underestimated these people. She informed me that I needed to pay the remaining balance because I was contractually obligated to do so, or she would send it to her legal department. Oh, and that she had some great girls for me to meet! Yay.
I told her to send it to legal, as I will do the same.
All in all, do not use the Houston Galleria IJL office, because they do not care about you as an individual at all. They are completely focused on your payment and that is it. They are not good to people, so how could they run a good business? Especially one that requires compassion, care, and understanding. Take your money and run because these people have bad karma heading their way.
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