I joined a dating service, PMM Inc T/A Together on 4/8/08 at 11PM, and tried to cancel within 10 hours of signing their contract (9AM 4/9), because I wasn't comfortable with their business policies practices and marketing methods. I was somewhat pressured during a 6 hour interview when I joined and paid $3995 for FIVE referrals. (I lost my mind. There is definitely some mind techniques they use.) I made them aware in writing (certified mail) and verbally, but everyone I spoke with refused to give me a refund even though I made it clear I will never use their service. I have spoken to the supervisor (who was my interviewer) and have written 2 certified letters documenting a lot of what has transpired.
Their prices are insanely high. You can pay as much as $12,500 with a $1,500 first visit discount for 25 referrals in their lifetime plan. If you sign up for the Intro plan like I did, the day you come in for the interview (you dont know any prices until you get there), it will cost you at $3995. But if you want a day to think about it, they charge you an additional $500. Thats what they call their first visit discount. If you sign up for this plan, you get 5 referrals of which you have up to 6 weeks after the first referral to decide if you want to date the person. If you dont, you get the second referral, but if you want more time to think and date that person, they charge you 6-8 hundred dollars for them to NOT cancel your contract. It is called purchasing Hold time. What an atrocity! They dont do anything for you except NOT cancel your contract and charge you an exorbitant fee to boot.
Although I do believe they can provide a decent service to some people and find great matches, (that was what really attracted me, their methods of matching people to date), I would venture to guess many people have NOT been satisfied with their referrals and have basically blown the $3995 or more.
They have other plans too, where you get 10 referrals for about $6500, with a $1000 first visit discount, and a specialized selection feature where you can see more information about the person they set you up with before you meet the person. They do give a brief profile of the person in every plan, but NONE of the plans allows you to see even a picture of the person before you meet them, and once you meet them, you have now technically used up your referral. (Please do not hold me to the exact dollar cost on the plans above the Intro plan. They may be slightly off. I am just going by what I pretty much remember, but I know I am close)
This company should be exposed publicly for their atrocious business policies practices and marketing methods. I have a lot more to say that is documented in my 2 certified letters I have sent them, and is also still in my head. I would be more than glad to talk and/or meet with you, and do anything I can to expose this company and maybe help people get some money back if possible. I have filed a dispute with MasterCard to hopefully get my $3995 back, but I am not sure how that will pan out. I am not sure what my legal rights are either in NJ. I know there is some 72 hour rule, but it may not apply here.
It does say in the contract that there are no refunds or cancellations, but when they had me sign my name on top next to that, the interviewer never said it. She always said something before I initialed or had to sign, and when I did read something first, there was more to what she said. If I had known that under NO circumstances I could cancel, I believe that would have opened my eyes to the way this company truly is at that point and would never have signed the contract. I actually missed seeing it when I read the contract at home the next day.
It seems EVERYTHING is set up to basically benefit the company. They offer minimal guarantees, and just the fact that they wont let me void this contract after notifying them first thing in the morning the following day, shows the way this company really thinks about their customers. I believe it is ALL about the money and what is good for THEIR business, and I would love to explain more in detail with you how they operate to sell you on their service, since I initially fell for it.
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