Let me begin by saying that I am doing this mostly to help others. I know my situation probably cannot be resolved according to my own wishes, so consider this my opportunity to finally vent the serious frustration I feel at least twice a week because of irresponsible self centered people who cannot get ahead in life except by being completely underhanded and crooked.
I am a veteran and college student who had a terrible experience late in my teen years that has made me very leary of dating, period. Going to bars to try and meet women certainly hasn't had a positive effect on my perogative as well, so I finally folded after three months of almost daily phone harrassment by the infamous Great Expectations Dating Service.
DO NOT LISTEN TO A WORD THESE A*HOLES HAVE TO SAY. If you're lonely and want to take a risk, remember that you'll most likely be 2-3 thousand $dollars$ poorer and still lonely if you get involved with this outfit. Anyway let me share my experience with you.
After giving in and scheduling a initial meeting with one of their so-called counselors, I met with a twentysomething hispanic gal, who went on to show a video explaining how their fine company was commended on the Oprah Winfrey show, yadda-yadda-yadda, and then went to let some "real members" share their positive experiences with the service. Afterwards the Lady came back in and spent nearly two hours drilling me until I finally folded.
I'm guessing most people considering this scam feel the same way I felt when I went in, that is to say I hadn't had a date in a very long time, was pretty lonely and wanted to convinced that there was some quick fix solution to my ordeal.in other words, I went in with every intention of signing a contract with them, and my conscience was the only part of me putting up a fight.
Again, those considering pay heed-the contract I signed had 15 additional terms which I had to initial, in effect covering all the their necessary bases to completely screw me out of money I am now really missing every month. A few days after the initial signing (I guess I had three days to void the contract, but they aren't about to tell you that, was probably something I initialed for.) I met with their photographer, who by the way was some rich brat who was trying to pay his way through school.
Again make a note here, if they are concerned with you looking your best, and getting the best pictures they can, why in the hell don't they have a professtional helping you at this point in the process? All he could do was ask me to buy some bs letters and pictures for a bloated price (part of which I'm sure would have been paid to him as a commission) to which I absolutely refused and finally almost made a scene when he wouldn't accept no for an answer.
I finally won out by reminding him that I was also a poor college student, and after spending almost 3 grand just to get started I really couldn't stomach an additional 3 hundred for the stupid goddam things.
Once more, I was too caught up in helping myself to realize what had happened. So I went home, and being fairly anxious to start putting the large sum I'd just spent to work for me, began requesting dates from the few females (two, roughly) I saw that interested me. It took around two weeks for either of them to send what turned out to be negative responses to me.
I called the dump and eventually spoke to the head con artist in charge, who could only get loud and smarmy and remind me that it had only been a month and that I had initialed 15 times on what he assured me was a perfectly legal contract, then tried to motivate me to keep going. He then had my personal "counselor" send me a list of females my age who I could request a meeting.
Turns out their idea of females my age, which I was 24 at the time, was anywhere between 19 and 33. Showing a further lack of concern, she also sent me the profiles of the two who I'd already been turned down by. I later recieved one meeting request from a woman who was almost 2 years older than my older sister, after the office had told I wouldn't be bothered by those who were outside the age range I had specified, which was 21-25, another lie.
I finally cancelled the membership, which cost about 30 bucks a month just to keep your online profile, but they told me I was still obligated to pay for the initial cost of around 2500.00. Most of which is probably sitting in the "Counselor"'s bank account, which she did next to nothing to earn, except badger me into signing by telling I could only continue to be lonely, and that I wouldn't have any trouble getting dates as I was very good looking.
I have called since called the number of their billing service to try and get an itemized reciept to see exactly how they justify what they charge people, a request which was answered, "Sir, you'll need to call their office and request a copy of your contract."
The sad thing is, they could even cut off the payments now and take the nearly thousand dollars they're into me for and call it good, but I'm guessing they won't.
So however big an a* I look like for having been suckered and swindled by a shady outfit who makes money by trying to convince people that they're helping them, so be it. I can now only help others avoid the same mistake. JUST TELL THEM OFF AND FORGET ABOUT THEM you'll regret it if you don't. My new girlfriend is the only reason I have starting fighting them again, but it is probably too late for me to save even a part of the money I've lost to them. So now all I can do restrain myself from the urge to drive my car through the front of their office every time I think of the ride they've taken me for.
Matt
Lawrence, Kansas
U.S.A.
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