If your search for a mate includes contacting a dating service, there are many services available. But no specific law regulates dating services, so it’s important to exercise good judgment and common sense when dealing with them. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind before taking the plunge. If payment of more than $50 is required in advance of the service being provided, the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, requires that the contract be specific and be disclosed before being signed.
Quick Tips
- Take your time.
- Get to know the company before you sign a contract.
- Gather information about the company’s history and reputation.
- Arrange to meet with a company representative to discuss the services provided.
- Ask what services you should expect in exchange for your money, including the average length of time needed to find a potential date and how close a match you should expect to your ideals (i.e. economic status, location, etc.)
- What services does the company provide for the basic fee? Learn how cost and performance are related.
- How many introductions are promised?
- Is there any guarantee of suitability? The ministry has heard from consumers who were told they’d be easy to match, later to hear that the company really didn’t have any clients with the "unreasonable" profile they had specified.
- Are there any extra charges in addition to the basic fee (i.e. membership renewal, costs associated with functions, etc.)?
- What is the company’s success rate (in percentage form)?
- How long is the contract valid?
- Will the contract be automatically renewed or will you be able to reconsider when it expires?
- What information does the company require from applicants? Take a look at the application and the personal questions posed to applicants.
- Will personal information be kept confidential? Ask how many people will be seeing your profile, photograph or video and be aware of the company’s policy on releasing personal information, such as telephone numbers and addresses, before meeting potential dates.
- Is the company bonded and insured? Ask for the name of the insurance and bonding company, and verify.
- How long have they been in business? Ask for at least three referrals and follow up on them.
Questionnaire Quick Tips
Applicants are often required to write their wishes, interests and requirements in detail on a dating services application form. Here are some tips:
- Be as clear as possible – this information will provide the criteria used to find a match. If you’re uncomfortable with certain questions, speak up.
- Know what information is required from applicants. Don’t provide your Social Insurance Number, credit card information or any other sensitive personal information.
- If a photograph or video is needed, decide how comfortable you are with supplying these and find out how many people will be seeing them.
- Ask about the company’s policy on releasing personal information (e.g. telephone numbers and addresses) before meeting potential dates.
- You’re protected against unfair practices such as misrepresentation and deception in promotions and sales pitches. If you can show you’ve been the subject of an unfair business practice, you have one year to cancel the deal and get your money back. One way to do this is by sending the seller a registered letter. If that doesn’t produce results, you can take the seller to court and/or contact our Consumer Services Bureau, where our experts in complaints resolution can help you decide on your best course of action.
Signing a Contract
- Read the contract carefully. Have a lawyer or other advisor review it before you sign. Any reputable dating service should not object to this.
- Any deposit required should be written in the contract. Don’t pay more than 10 to 15 per cent in advance.
- Look for cancellation rights printed in the contract. Check if they are time specific. Know how long the contract is valid.
- Find out if the contract will be automatically renewed and if there is a renewal fee.
- Consumer agreements must disclose certain information. If a company isn’t delivering on the contract, or if you encounter an aspect that wasn’t disclosed but required by law to be as part of the deal (e.g. an unexpected annual renewal fee), you have the right to cancel within one year. In addition, if a contract is vague, any discrepancies that arise because it’s unclear will be interpreted in the consumer’s favour.
Dealing With an Online Dating Service
- Be extremely cautious if you are dealing with a dating service online.
- When e-mailing a stranger, never give any personal contact information (i.e. address, telephone number or even your last name).
- Ask lots of questions and correspond over a long period of time.
- Before divulging personal contact information, be absolutely certain about the person’s credibility and integrity.
From our Consumer Files
The case of the quiet date
The fact that the Ottawa dating service was advertised in a Montreal newspaper was a real attraction to the consumer, a Francophone, who was seeking a life partner that spoke the same language. She not only assumed that the company would have lots of Francophone clients — this information was part of the company’s promotion.
She went to see them, a little uncomfortable at first about the many personal questions she had to answer on the application form. But then she thought the information would be necessary to find her “perfect mate.”
She was told she’d be contacted soon with arrangements to meet many potential partners. After three weeks of her 12-month contract had passed and no one had contacted her, she called the office. She felt she was being put off, but decided to give them a bit more time. After six weeks, she’d had enough and threatened to cancel the contract.
"But you can’t cancel now, you’ve signed,” she was told. When the company understood she was serious about taking them to court for failure to perform, suddenly it seemed there were possible matches for the personal profile she had given the company.
In spite of what the company had told her about its client base, it failed to find her a Francophone mate or match any of the other qualities she’d requested. The two dates she went on were very quiet because she couldn’t communicate with the individuals.
The fact that some services had been provided made it difficult for the consumer to take them to court. The Consumer Services Bureau attempted, unsuccessfully, to regain the woman’s money.
Dating Services Statistics
| Complaint Type | Number |
|---|---|
| Written | 20 |
| Phone | 43 |
| Total | 63 |
Inquiries/Complaints:
- Company fails to complete deliverables on contract;
- Misrepresentations;
- Inability to cancel contracts.
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