Great Expectations Dating Service ripoff

I was introduced to this company by a cold call, which I wished I'd never answered the phone. Having just been dumped by my fiance' of two years and seven months, I in my grief sought anything that would make me feel better. Of course the salesman capitalized on my story and skillfully convinced me into completing the application. I later thought this was pathetic and called within two days to cancel my membership. I was told that all was clear, and and that I was released.

Here, I am responding to a letter received from a Great Expectations Collection Agency in regards to a proclaimed balanced due to Greater Expectations (A Dating/Match Making Service Company). (Which has been on my credit since 2003) I strongly dispute these charges completely and do not intend to pay the requested debt. I will not pay this debt because; I visited this company on a Saturday and filled out some application information using my driver's license bank debit card as verification of identification. I was misled and informed that my visit was to gather data only. I was scheduled to make an appointment for a photo sitting whereby placing my photo into their data systems. I called this same company on Monday informing them that I did not want their services due to having experienced emotional grief from a recent loss of a two and half year relationship which had ended a week earlier, and that I had acted irresponsibly and irrationally, and did request to be removed from their data base. I was told by the secretary which whom, I spoke with that they understood my decision and that the matter would be resolved, and that my name would be removed from their service. I was also told that I would be further notified later that week if need be. I was never notified thereafter and thought no more of the matter, until seven months later I noticed unusual transactions in my bank account.

After speaking with a bank representative we were able to verify and identify the source of the problem. Which was Greater Expectations. I contacted the company and informed them of my displeasure with their actions, and informed them that I would be seeking legal representation concerning the matter. As I stated earlier, I will not and do not intend to pay for services of which I've never use. I notified this company within 72 hours of unknowingly signing this assumed information application.

This company has damaged my credit, lied to me as a consumer promising to release me from their services after having spoken with a company representative, and has falsely taken money from me and is seeking to take more for services which they did not render nor did I ever use. I am willing to sign an affidavit stating that the words I have given in this response letter is true. I am also willing to take this to the media or to file counter suet if necessary.
To anyone reading this, I welcome any additional information concerning a class action law suet as well...for anyone else...stay away from these thieves.

Johnnie
Atlanta, GA
January 17, 2006

I thought enough light had been shed on this company to give people an adequate perspective, but apparently not. Gail, that's great that it worked for you. But you're missing the point entirely. The issue here is the ODDS of it working for you - which, based on countless feedback from all over the country, it apparently doesn't work for MOST people. There will always be success stories. Just like in those infomercials for selling real estate - sure - a few people got rich - good for them.

The problem is, it's largely a scheister of a company with conveniently hidden 'inventory', exhorbitant prices, and unethical sales practices - hence its most appropriate presence on this website.

Again - great that it worked for you - and I don't say that to be sarcastic. BUT - the issue is, it doesn't work for most people, and is not an organization anyone should become affiliated with when there are many other means that are more flexible AND more affordable. I would say the one exception would be if you are incredibly busy (and I mean INCREDIBLY - because really, how hard is it to go out once in a while or log into a dating site occasionally). Even then, be prepared for exhorbitant prices and mediocre selection.

In closing, I'd like to say this to anyone reviewing this site who hasn't had this thought cross their mind before - companies DO review this site for adverse publicity about them, and WILL post false testimonials under the guise of 'former employees' and 'satisfied customers' to try and present a favorable slant where none is merited. It doesn't mean positive feedback is false, but everyone should take it with a grain of skepticism and compare it to the overall feedback on a particular topic.

Okay, I too went and became a member at Great Expectations. I too was overcome by the prices. I too was pushed and prodded in order to make a decision at that moment but the gentlemen that I spoke with assured me that he would help me out with what I was looking for.

At first I thought what have I done!!! I could have easily used that money towards something to enhance my home my wardrobe or even a nice trip. Yet the decision was made and I was determined to make it work.

At first it was a slow go, I am 30, single never married and told attractive with a good career and education.

I spoke with the gentleman who signed me up and explained the difficulties I was running into. Again he assured me that this was not an overnight thing but would go through the membership base and see what he could come up with that would suit the criteria of who it was that I was looking for.

A few weeks later I went on a date with several men and no clicks until the 7 month of my membership was when I met Mark.

We dated for 9 months then moved in together and are on our way to marriage very soon. This would never have happened without Great Expectations for what they did was bring me and Mark together and with the help of some staff and a positive attitude I was able to realize my dream.

If I had taken the negative side to this I never would have realized my dream. Please take the positive side and realize there was a reason why we all joined and nothing happens overnight as certainly was the case with me.
Happy Holidays
Gail

I used to work at Great Expectations, A.K.A. DLL Inc., and I can certainly say that this company is founded on lies and deception. I worked in appointment setting, one of the hardest jobs in my branch. We'd cold call random people from a mailing list, and we were instructed to do whatever it took (including being very flirtatious with male clients) to get people to come into the center.

All of our appointments were set with a lie, we'd tell people that they'd be meeting with us -someone that they'd established a rapport with - when in fact, they would actually be meeting with a sales rep. I didn't know much about the sales process until I had been with the company for a while (they claimed that they didn't want us to know much about the company because they didn't want us to risk telling people too much about it before they came in). There were never enough women, and they generally gave women discounted memberships more often than the men.

The service is quite racially biased, which made me uncomfortable, one of the main reasons why I quit. My call center manager used to tell us not to set appointments with people who sounded black or spoke with a foreign accent, because they were nothing but a waste of time, and if a black person signed up, nobody would want to date them anyway. I tried to speak with the GM of the company about the CCM's behavior, but he always acted as if he was too busy to be bothered with us lowly employees.

All in all, this place is a huge load of s**t, and certainly not worth the money that they'll try to rip you off for. And don't be fooled, they claim' to screen for married people, but I've heard of a few slipping through the cracks more than once.

Thank you Mark for putting Alexis in her place. 5th Grade

Thank you Alexis for representing Great Expectations Dating Service for who they really are. GOLD DIGGING SCUM.

First, if your husband became wealthy after you became engaged, that's a simple luck of the draw for you, and no doubt the resulting culmination of HIS efforts. It's fascinating how you position yourself as being such a benefit to him on a business level. The absolute irony of it all is where you imply your 'EDUCATION' as you put it, 'compliments' (as you wrote) him. First of all, it's complEments - not complIments - someone who is truly educated would know that. Secondly, 'gauranteed' as you wrote, is spelled 'guaranteed'. Third, 'culd' is spelled 'could'. And finally, 'before hand' is one word - 'beforehand'. 'WE became wealthy' because YOU married into it - but like I said - more power to you - if you want to go on trying to convince yourself and others that somehow you finally made things work for your husband on a business level, that's certainly your delusional prerogative.

That aside, your math on bar expenditures is roughly correct, however the figure of $2000 you mention is less than half of what some people have been charged. Also, you grouped internet dating with your weekly expenditure example - no normal internet dating site charges $20 a WEEK - they are generally around $20 a MONTH. And, for the selection you receive, geographic diversity, and unimpeded communication, it's well worth it relative to using GE. You can also see what kind of selection there is BEFORE joining. By the way - bars with cover charges will almost always allow you to walk in and take a look around before you pay - as any LEGITIMATE business would.

As for your rationale on GE not displaying members to non-members, it's completeley off-base. First, to answer your question, ABSOLUTELY - I would have no problem letting someone who walked in see at least my photo - the risk you mentioned is no different than the miniscule risk you assume by placing your profile online. A fellow employee could just as easily encounter your profile online. But look at the leaps you're making - first, a co-worker uses the same site as you, then they come across your profile, and then they're malicious enough to make some joke of it. And, the odds of two co-workers joining the same internet dating site are much higher than the odds of two co-workers joining GE. I'll still take my chances, as will most rational people.

Also, mentioning how members are added every day as being a reason not to show profiles is asinine - new members join every day on dating sites too - does that mean you shouldn't browse before you join because someone new will sign up? I suppose you should never shop for a car until after you buy one because new cars arrive every day and you won't get an accurate view of the dealership? The funny thing is, I bet you and many GE employees actually tell people that line of b.s. as a reason they don't want you to view the profiles before they join. Ok - so now they join, WHAT HAS CHANGED? New members are still joining every day. The fact is, there will never be enough members joining in a day to affect the overall quality and selection of members. Someone COULD get an accurate idea of whether the GE office they're working with is worth their time if they were allowed to view members beforehand - but like I said in a previous post - they deliberately don't for one reason - they don't want you to see what a crappy selection they really have until after you've been duped.

It's not me who has misinterpretations - if you read what I wrote previously, it's based on facts. Your statements on the other hand ARE misinterpretations - beginning with your use of the word 'hateful' I addressed previously, continuing with saying I'm the one with misinterpretations, and then posting a theory on why people are having problems, when all you have to do is read this board to see why people are having problems. They ARE patient - Gina mentioned 1 1/2 years - that's pretty d**n patient - regardless of GE's propaganda about taking longer. Gina didn't expect a marriage in 1 1/2 years, she just expected some viable candidates - none of which materialized. And people dont' need to get over 'they're' (it's 'their' by the way) egos - obviously if they've joined a dating site or GE, that's already occured.

I have no hangovers because I don't drink to excess, and I enjoy the social interaction - so going out suits me just fine. It's funny how you belittle it though - I suspect you are actually presently affiliated with GE, not just a 'former' employee - hence your feeble defense of the organization, and public disclosure of how you allegedly met a rich man on the site - a not-so-well guised effot to paint a positive picture about a not-so-good company.

So, in conclusion Alexis, it is you who have the misinterpreted points (and the horrible spelling and grammar)- as anyone reading this series of posts will see, and probably confirm.

You can date members if you are an employee. In fact, the guy who owns the Houston center, owns the Dallas one too.
There is no rule against it unless it is a new member who has not had photos taken. Once your photos are taken and oyu are in the system, it's harder for you to get out of your membership if you happen to date an employee.

You can date members if you are an employee. In fact, the guy who owns the Houston center, owns the Dallas one too.
There is no rule against it unless it is a new member who has not had photos taken. Once your photos are taken and oyu are in the system, it's harder for you to get out of your membership if you happen to date an employee.

You can date members if you are an employee. In fact, the guy who owns the Houston center, owns the Dallas one too.
There is no rule against it unless it is a new member who has not had photos taken. Once your photos are taken and oyu are in the system, it's harder for you to get out of your membership if you happen to date an employee.

You can date members if you are an employee. In fact, the guy who owns the Houston center, owns the Dallas one too.
There is no rule against it unless it is a new member who has not had photos taken. Once your photos are taken and oyu are in the system, it's harder for you to get out of your membership if you happen to date an employee.

Ok Mark to start off with thank you for giving me props on landing a wealthy man. He is my elder by 3 years. I didn't marry him for his money. the fact of the matter is he didn't become wealthy until we were engaged. One of the reasons WE became wealthy is because we were wise enough to make smart investments. With my husbands business background and my education we are able to compliment each other. "Hence one of the reasons GE works so well is because we knew all of this about eachother before hand" This is just an avenue to meet people if you don't have the time nor want to meet people in the bars. Nothing is gauranteed in life. People spend more money than what the service charges just in bars trying to meet quality people. If you spend 20 dollars a week in a bar or an internet site that is 2000 every couple of years and you haven't met quality all that you have gotten is a real expensive hang over...(who sounds desperate now??) If your not spending any money your not meeting anybody, you and I both know she is not going to come knock on your door. You made a statement about not being able to see the members before hand. Even if GE allowed you to view the members before hand it wouldn't be accurate as they enroll new people everyday. Mark let me ask you , would you feel comfortable if we let everyone that came in here (member or not) view our members. WHat if it was a fellow employee of yours that saw you were a member, didn't enroll and went back and told everyone that you know that you are a member of a dating service? THat is why they are confidential. People pay a cover charge to a bar, they don;t know who is in there, but they still pay to get in there. For all they know there culd be 3 women and 50 men or vice versa. This is not a quick fix and it is not meant to be.

I think that the problems people have with dating services, not just GE but in general is 1) they're not getting married tomorrow, it takes time to meet your ideal. 2) they need to get over they're egos a little bit. You joined a dating service not because your desperate you just want to date. You join a gym because you want to lose weight.

In conclusion Mark you have some misinterpreted points, and I can understand the frustration however you have to be patient and use the membership offered with any dating service the best you can to receive the most value and no one can make you do that, you have to do it your self. Good luck to you and your expensive hangovers!!!!

It is my turn, to rebut a couple of things.

1. I do have to question if you really are "an ex-employee of GE." If you were an employee of GE and happen to be dating a client, you were in violation of the GE's policy. I should know, their sales rep. told me. It was not like flirting her, it happened to be the other way around. She point blank told me she would like to have dated me, but she couldn't because it was against company's policy. So explain to me how you can be the only one of the GE chains to violate GE policy and not be punished. Or maybe you did get fired because you screw your women clients because you took away a potential date from them. Another reason for people to dislike GE. How are people to find their soul mates when employees are taking them away from their clients.

2. I always love the "how can they force you, they didn't have a gun" excuss to validate their strong tactics. When you keep a person at your sales office without accepting the customers answer as NO that is force. Not honoring the three day buyers remorse law that is force. If you like to think your former employeer is so clean, go check out the Better Business Buerau. But then again, why would care you met your rich husband.

It is my turn, to rebut a couple of things.

1. I do have to question if you really are "an ex-employee of GE." If you were an employee of GE and happen to be dating a client, you were in violation of the GE's policy. I should know, their sales rep. told me. It was not like flirting her, it happened to be the other way around. She point blank told me she would like to have dated me, but she couldn't because it was against company's policy. So explain to me how you can be the only one of the GE chains to violate GE policy and not be punished. Or maybe you did get fired because you screw your women clients because you took away a potential date from them. Another reason for people to dislike GE. How are people to find their soul mates when employees are taking them away from their clients.

2. I always love the "how can they force you, they didn't have a gun" excuss to validate their strong tactics. When you keep a person at your sales office without accepting the customers answer as NO that is force. Not honoring the three day buyers remorse law that is force. If you like to think your former employeer is so clean, go check out the Better Business Buerau. But then again, why would care you met your rich husband.

It is my turn, to rebut a couple of things.

1. I do have to question if you really are "an ex-employee of GE." If you were an employee of GE and happen to be dating a client, you were in violation of the GE's policy. I should know, their sales rep. told me. It was not like flirting her, it happened to be the other way around. She point blank told me she would like to have dated me, but she couldn't because it was against company's policy. So explain to me how you can be the only one of the GE chains to violate GE policy and not be punished. Or maybe you did get fired because you screw your women clients because you took away a potential date from them. Another reason for people to dislike GE. How are people to find their soul mates when employees are taking them away from their clients.

2. I always love the "how can they force you, they didn't have a gun" excuss to validate their strong tactics. When you keep a person at your sales office without accepting the customers answer as NO that is force. Not honoring the three day buyers remorse law that is force. If you like to think your former employeer is so clean, go check out the Better Business Buerau. But then again, why would care you met your rich husband.

I don't know that I'd describe the people on here as hateful - frustrated maybe, but not necesarily hateful. No one disputed the fact you MAY meet your match through this site, what is at issue are their sales tactics and the availability of quality matches. I would be willing to bet a couple of things: One, your husband is older than you, and two, you married him for money, no matter how much you'll deny it. What mature adult, with class and a values system would publicly admit in their opening sentence 'hey, I married rich and don't have to work anymore' - basically a high-schoolesque brag. But, more power to you.

At any rate, from what I've read, people don't deny the possibility of meeting your soul mate, just the PROBABILITY of meeting them. The complaints were largely about deceptive and misleading sales tactics, coupled with menial selections. As for your former company's time frame, I love how they state that's the average time it takes to find a match - BS! The reason they stretch it out to two years is because that's how they make MONEY. They aren't interested in letting people find a match early - they want to drag it out to ensure a revenue stream.

Bottom line, my impression is that this service is for the most desperate people (and that's not meant as an insult). They would be exponentially better off simply using a dating site (or multiple dating sites) and taking a little initiative. Their odds would be better, their selection better, and their pocketbooks that much fuller.

Ok to start of with I am going to rebuttal to a couple of things that I have read on this site. First off I am an ex-employee because I met a man through GE and he is a successfull business owner and his company has just expanded and I relocated and no longer have to work.

I read an article from an ex-employee stating that the success and the happiness of the members depends on the director and the owner. I definately agree with that. I don't know what happens in other GE centers all I can speak for is the owner that I worked under. The man that I worked for owns over half of the GE nationwide centers. We have tons of events plus membership services staff who dealt with all of our members needs. These employees are here to help with every aspect of the membership. It is not gauranteed that you will meet your soul mate because if it was we would be 100,000 dollars. The only thing we can gaurantee you is an easier method of ,eeting singles who are sincere, relationship minded and commitment minded.

Now in regards to the word "FORCE" that i keep reading. You are all adults. We did not tie you to the chair, lock the door, nor hold a gun to your head. You saw the value in the program and were excited about changing your life and THAT is why you signed up. Because it wasn't a quick fix you were looking for, you want to give up and scream refund. Let me ask you this, how much time and money have you invested in other avenues to meet people. And I don't think your going to call your local pub asking for a refund because you haven't met your soul mate there. If your not patient you will stay single.

In response to the hateful allegations of our unethical tactics. This is a business! all of you have invested before. Most of those were tangible products however this is an intangible product which will prove itself over time. Out "tactics" are only to ensure you came to GE for the right reasons.

Those of you who get on these anti sites and make fun of other people who see the value and had success through GE need to get a life. It is an unethical tactic to shoot down others' happiness or give a negative vibe to potential success stories. If we were a fraud we wouldn't be in business over 27 years. So why don't you give it a chance or don't complain about you being single because obviously you don't want to make a change and live in a fantasy that Chance is going to drop that special someone off on your doorstep. LETS GET REAL....

I joined GE in August of '02. I too was excited and eager to start my program. I guess I had invisioned being married quickly. I went on twelve dates before I met my fiance'. A few were ok, but no fireworks were involved. I am still friends with 2 of the twelve bc we did have a lot in common just no romantic chemistry. This all took place over the course of a year and a half. I was starting to wonder if this was ever going to work. I called my membership representative and she told me to give it time. I said I gave it 1 1/2 years. she told me the average time it takes to meet someone is 18 to 24 months and that is why we sell longer memberships. I said ok and went about using my membership. I selected john during the first week of his membership. He responded yes and we have been together ever since. We are getting married in may of this year. I can appreciate that anxious feeling that many of you have but you must be patient. I had the same feeling. I figured since I had been single for 4 years what is so bad about waiting a few more to meet my soul mate. John was luckier than most members because he only had to go on 2 dates before he had success. Just remember if it meant to work in a day than they would have one day memberships not 3 years.

I'm glad someone brought up dating sites, because I have become somewhat of an expert on them and how they try to screw people. First off, relating to this site, be very leery of any site that won't let you browse their members without joining and paying - WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO HIDE? They come up with all sorts of clever excuses, but the bottom line is, they want to dupe you into joining. In reality, if you were able to browse, you would see the girls (sorry, I'm a guy, so I can't speak for what the guys are like) who are overweight, under or uneducated, divorced, with kids hoping to land a man waiting to pay for their mistakes. THAT'S WHY THEY WON'T LET YOU BROWSE BEFORE JOINING - because if you could see what you had to choose from, you would run - not walk - the other way. It could very well be the same mediocre selection of guys, but at least girls have a larger selection to choose from.

Anyway, one other big thing to watch out for at most dating sites (with the exception of match.com), is that they entice you to join because you're able to contact members, but they dont' tell you that the person you're writing to has to be a member as well OR THEY CAN'T READ WHAT YOU WROTE - and all the while, you think they didn't respond because they weren't interested. Match at least lets you read e-mails - BUT YOU CAN'T REPLY - even though the person who sent them is paying. The trick to Match is, if you join, make sure you send someone a regular e-mail address in your note to them.

The best way to do it is surreptitiously place your contact information in the body of your profile, or change your profile name to your e-mail address (just the name part - not the domain) - and in your profile say something like 'hey - get me at the hottest mayl syte with my uzername' - you also have to misspell words because they have key word searches. Or, try writing it backwards and then put the word 'backwards' in parentheses right next to it. Match really screens their profiles, so this is tough on their site, as does Yahoo - but other dating sites aren't as diligent, and you can sneak your e-mail info into your profile if you're creative. Sorry I got off on a tangent, but these sites are weasels, so anything I can do to help someon bi-pass their forced-membership strategies, I will.

I WORKED AT A GREAT EXPECTATIONS TWO TIMES. I HAD DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES EACH TIME.

THE FIRST TIME I ENROLLED NEW MEMBERS AND WORKED IN CUSTOMERS SERVICE. WE HAD A GREAT TIME ENROLLING NEW PEOPLE AND MAKING THE CENTER SUCESSFUL FOR MEMBERS AND STAFF. IF THE CENTER HOLDS EVENTS FOR NEW ENROLLMENTS AND SHOWS THE COMMUNITY THAT IT IS A GREAT WAY TO MEET PEOPLE-LOTS OF PEOPLE WILL WANT TO BE APART OF THE EVENTS, OUTINGS, AND PARTIES KNOWING EVERYONE IS THERE TO MEET SOMEONE. THE MEMBERS THEN KNOW THE STAFF IS ACTIVE NOT ONLY THROUGH DIRECT MAIL ENROLLING PEOPLE , BUT ALSO OUT THERE TRYING TO FIND MORE QUAILTY PEOPLE FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP. I SAW A LOT OF ATTRACTIVE, DECENT PEOPLE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO LOVE. IF I HADN'T ALREADY OF BEEN WITH THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, AND IT WASN'T PROHIBITED TO DATE THE MEMBERS- I WOULD OF DATED SOME OF THEM MYSELF! IF THE CENTER HAS A GOOD OWNER IT WILL SPEND MONEY ON EVENTS TO HELP RAISE MEMBERSHIP AND ALSO SO THAT MEMBERS CAN MEET FACE TO FACE AND NOT JUST THROUGH THE LIBRARY. MY FIRST TIME WORKING AT GE. I DID SEE SEVERAL PEOPLE MEET AND SPEND THEIR LIVES TOGETHER. I FEEL THESE MEMBERS GOT THERE MONEYS WORTH!

THE SECOND TIME I WORKED AT GE, IT WAS THE SAME CENTER BUT AFTER RELOCTING WITH MY FAMILY AND MOVING BACK TO THE AREA, THE GE CENTER WAS UNFORTUNATELY SOLD TO A NEW OWNER. THIS NEW OWNER HAD A BAD DIRECTOR AND THE TWO TOGETHER SPELLED DISASTER. THE OWNER DID NOT SPEND ANY MONEY ON EVENTS OR GETTING THE GE NAME OUT THERE. THEIR WAS NO THURSDAY NIGHT BOOKSTORE MEETINGS, OR SHAG LESSON PARTIES FOR THE REPUTABLE SINGLES OF THE COMMUNITY TO LONG TO BE APART OF, IF YOU DON'T SEE THE MEMBERS OUT HAVING A GOOD TIME HOW ELSE CAN EVERYONE TAKE YOUR WORD THAT THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. ALSO A BAD DIRECTOR ISN'T CREATIVE TO FIND CHEAP THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO DO TOGETHER. THE LIBRARY ALONE IS HARD TO MEET PEOPLE IN THERE HAS TO BE A DIFFERENT OUTLET TO MEET THE MEMBERS IN. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE OWNER AND DIRECTOR! ONCE THE LIBRARY DWINDLES IT IS HARD TO KEEP THE MEMBERS HAPPY!

MAYBE IF YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF AN UNHAPPY MEMBERSHIP/CENTER YOU CAN RECOMEND THINGS TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP JUMP START MEMBERSHIP.
GOOD LUCK!

I too have been forced. They are liers and thieves. First they forced me to sign. I just moved to Houston to get a Masters degree. When the sales rep gave me the price, I told her I could not do it, I am just a grad student and I was able to afford their outragous price. You would think, by admitting you are poor they will let you out of their money grubbing claws. But NO. So I was kept their for one extra hour until I signed a $1500 contract. So I did call that very same day and said I wanted to get out of the contract. They told me no, I told them I could not pay. They put the blame on me, saying why did I sign the contract if I knew I could not pay. But I did and I was held hostage until I signed. I think we should get together and sue. They are doing deceptive practice and now they have our money. Can somebody please help us. It was our money and they lied.

I too have been forced. They are liers and thieves. First they forced me to sign. I just moved to Houston to get a Masters degree. When the sales rep gave me the price, I told her I could not do it, I am just a grad student and I was able to afford their outragous price. You would think, by admitting you are poor they will let you out of their money grubbing claws. But NO. So I was kept their for one extra hour until I signed a $1500 contract. So I did call that very same day and said I wanted to get out of the contract. They told me no, I told them I could not pay. They put the blame on me, saying why did I sign the contract if I knew I could not pay. But I did and I was held hostage until I signed. I think we should get together and sue. They are doing deceptive practice and now they have our money. Can somebody please help us. It was our money and they lied.

Its embarrassing to admit I got fooled for by Great Expectations also. They prey on the people when they're at their lowest. Boy was I surprised to find out how many people on this site were right on the ball. Please allow my rant by point:

1) Thought I was going to have a heart attack when I first saw the prices. But then the woman cut the bottom price in half and doubled the time, I thought I had a good deal. The 1st time visit signup 'incentive' doesn't allow you the time to do any homework on the company. What a crock!

2) The 3 day cancellation period is a joke. It takes them a week just to establish your account, then its too late. Don't even get me started with this one.

3) I was told that Philly had one of the largest databases. Little did I expect to find NY and upper NJ people, but nobody from west-central PA. Thats how they inflate their numbers.

4) The members on the database don't check their accounts. I don't mind if they say 'no', but they aren't responding at all. How can you pay >$1k for a dating service and not be checking your account!

5) I tried to have the credit card company refund my money, but that didn't work. I've contacted the BBB, but they haven't responded back. Hopefully arbitration will work.

I'll feel much better if I can help save one person from this nightmare. If anyone is planning a class-action lawsuit against Great Expectations in King of Prussia, please contact me and I'll be the first to sign.

The prices are different because there are 3 to 4 different programs! Not everyone finds their soulmate, there is no guarantee, theres also no guarantee you will be around tommorrow. It's a fabulous way to date. members are screened and quaranteed to be SINGLE. members are sincere and really want to find love, and anyone reading all these complaints can easily see you all want 1 special person, so they did a good job in selecting you. some people love mcdonalds and some people hate it. You can't please everyone.Some of you gave up to soon, got frustrated because you wanted your soulmate yesterday. The company has been around for 30 years, so you'll have good and bad. There are thousands of happy and married couples that met though GE. I'm proud to work for the company and find it very rewarding to help members find happiness. Dating services go under everyday, this one has 30 years of success, that tells its own story.

I was grossly ripped off and lied to at the Great Expectations in Sacramento Ca. I had even called before my 3 day time limit and tried to cancel because afterwords I realized how foolish the $4,000 was! Yes $4,000.. The sales lady was very slick and convinced me she had my Mr. Right in mind in their very library and I just needed to get signed up to meet him etc,. They also charged me an additional $1,500 for pictures and video, I had been originally told this was included in the one time fee. I let this go for personal reasons including a staff member befriending me.. I look back and just chalk it up to education. If I can protect one person from this SLEAZY ORGANIZATION this is worth it... I am now happily engaged to a wonderful man that I did not meet through G.E. Thank you for reading this. If anyone thinks I could recoup my loss I would love to hear from you.

Adam,

1) You cannot spell, you need to go back to school (if you went to begin with) and learn how to do so. You are still a Monkey.

2) You are right about Internalizing your problems. Unfortunately you have no idea of what that means. I did blame others, but now I am just observing that you are a moron. You act as if you know what I needed and what I was looking for, you are a moron who was attacked and is now saying stupid things trying to rally your troops. Monkey.

3) You gamble, you are a moron. I do not gamble because it is a waste of time for morons.

4) You are a troller, who assumes a lot of things. I would LOVE to take your invitation to come to your "estate" (a thing pointed out only by an egoic moron) and we can meet face to face. In fact, do not respond here if you have any guts, invite me like you stated. Give me your address and send it to my email and you and I can have a pleasant conversation. I live close by and guess what? I'll even come to you and save you gas moron. I am dying to meet you.

5) I doubt highly you have 1) and estate (or your trailer may be called one) 2) a pretty wife (guys who troll have wifes who look like trolls)

6) You feel the need to defend yourself by saying you "did not need" to go to a service. No one here does Monkey, but we all expected certain things to be accomplished as promised for their service. I was one who left the service after 1 date. You are a recluse Adam (aren't most gays named Adam?) and I am not. I joined a service because I was hurt from another relationship. No big deal, whatever anyones reasons are it's fine. I believe you attacked everyone here first with your Holier than thou attitude just like the Monkey you are.

7)You are a hypocrite. Your whole "God Bless" thing at the end of your rebuttal is not only not being followed with your original response (by attacking others and me in this response) but it was said to try and make others think you are letting this go and are some kind of nice guy. You will not and are not, you are a coward, Monkey and a Moron who will have to respond to defend his little world on the computer. If you notice I did not respond until months later since someone else did and I went to see. I saw your foolish letter and thought I'd make you a challenge...Let's meet Moron.

8) Let's meet, you invited me so let's get to it. I don't care about any cowardly things you have to say now...you invited me so let's meet!

9) You are still a Moron, Moron.

As a former employee at the Dallas center of GE, I can tell you a few things about this company.
First of all, boht the Ft. Worth and Dallas directors are drug users.
The lies and deceitful tacticts to entrap people to join are absolutely happening every day there.
I cannot imagine how this company continues to exist. I have had to deal with more unhappy people who felt cheated because they were promised do much at their sales appointment.
I saw pedophiles join GE and not discovered until a year later.
Background checks?? The only checks they do is your credit to see how much money you have available. IF you are well off, they offer you the 4 Grand deal.... if you are poor, they either scoot you out the door or offer you a package for much less.
This company is disgraceful.
Please withhold my name! Thank you

Keith and all others,
Again sorry the members of the oppisite sex didn't find you marketable enough to select (the way i understand GE is the person chosen has to Ok you too). How is this any diffenent then than the time , energy, and $ you all have invested in other methods of meeting people (i.e. bars) without success? A wise person once told me to internalize my problems rather than externalize them and blame myself for my failures rather than looking for elsewhere to place the blame. Again for all those who don't understand there is a risk associated with joining services such as these(although i took a positive approach and viewed it as an intelligent/educated risk)no success was guaranteed.

Last night i went to a casino in AC and when i lost some $ at a poker table i didn't blame the dealer for flopping the wrong cards, but myself for not playing the hand i was dealt well.Keith you may believe i am a "monkey" for or employeed by one of these services but i assure you that this is incorrect as i assume you are guy looks like a "monkey" and joined a service believing tey would turn you a marketable prince and were dissapointed when you selected hot women who had no interest in meeting you.

As for my happiness you can think as you will, but i invite you anytime down to my estate to see the love in this home and the happiness a service helped me to find as you look at the big smile on my face. I still wish you and all other singles the best of luck in finding whatever it is you are looking for and remember as with most things in life it is effort and attitude that creates success.

A side note - i didn't NEED a service to help my find love but saw it as a viable option to open another avenue of exposure to increase my probabilities of success. Good luck to you all and God bless...

Adam, drop your Holier than thou attitude with this. Fact is, that you HAD to go through a dating service because you were too scared to face someone on your own steam in person. I got caught up in this because I was scared at the time of other things in life.

It is a dysfunctional system and you are another person caught up in it. You say you are happy, I doubt it. You sound more like a monkey for a dating service who was hired or works for one...

Just a quick note for all of the unsuccessful people out there. I was a member of a national franchised dating service and met my wife there 2 and a half years ago and have never been more happy in my life. The $4000 fee i paid for something priceless is less important then the change in my ppocket and far less then the cost of the ring (she smiles).

People don't seem to understand the way i did that there is a risk associated with joining any service (no different then any other method of meeting people or any relationship for that matter) and success is not guaranteed. I know 3 other people who have been part of these type of organizations and 2 of them have had succuss as well. The one who has not perhaps as many of you posting on this board has unrealistic expectations (not great but UNREAL) and needs to accept the realaties of today's societies geographic pool of singles and make the best of it.

Remember all of you who were willing to spend the money if your other methods of meeting singles was effective then you never would have joined or gone to the office for that matter. A special note for those who have found happiness on your own .... if you are so happy with what you found then spend your time with your happy partner and stop sweating the couple bucks you spent in the past for a potential opportunity to meet someone. Life is to short .... move on.... aren't there bigger issues in today's world than some people trying to make a buck (for all you suckers who don't know that is why people go into ANY business).

God bless all and i hope you singles all someday find a way to take this strong negative energy you have about a business that tries to help people and turn it to positive energy and focus on finding happiness (try it out you may be suprised at your success)

Just a quick note for all of the unsuccessful people out there. I was a member of a national franchised dating service and met my wife there 2 and a half years ago and have never been more happy in my life. The $4000 fee i paid for something priceless is less important then the change in my ppocket and far less then the cost of the ring (she smiles).

People don't seem to understand the way i did that there is a risk associated with joining any service (no different then any other method of meeting people or any relationship for that matter) and success is not guaranteed. I know 3 other people who have been part of these type of organizations and 2 of them have had succuss as well. The one who has not perhaps as many of you posting on this board has unrealistic expectations (not great but UNREAL) and needs to accept the realaties of today's societies geographic pool of singles and make the best of it.

Remember all of you who were willing to spend the money if your other methods of meeting singles was effective then you never would have joined or gone to the office for that matter. A special note for those who have found happiness on your own .... if you are so happy with what you found then spend your time with your happy partner and stop sweating the couple bucks you spent in the past for a potential opportunity to meet someone. Life is to short .... move on.... aren't there bigger issues in today's world than some people trying to make a buck (for all you suckers who don't know that is why people go into ANY business).

God bless all and i hope you singles all someday find a way to take this strong negative energy you have about a business that tries to help people and turn it to positive energy and focus on finding happiness (try it out you may be suprised at your success)

REPORT THIS COMPANY TO YOUR STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL

Reading the complaints against Great Expectations Dating Service echos the same experiences I have had with this company. They are a fraudulent, dishonest and unethical operation. When I signed up with them, I too was told there were more men than women in my age group, and that I would have absolutely no problems getting dates. A report was just recently published about the scarcity of men in the Hartford and eastern Connecticut region, and that single women are more common in this are than other locations around the country!! I was also promised that there would be several social gatherings during the year by Great Expectations. I got a notification of one Christmas party by mail. I was also told that each member was required to respond to the dating inquiries they received from other memebers, or else they would be dropped from the program. I submitted over 30 inquiries and only heard back from one! Great Expectations never followed up on on any of the inquiries I made the whole time I was a member. I had one date over the course of one year as a member. The staff were rude and insolent once I signed up and paid my fee. I had one staff member refer me to a man in his 70's, 25 years older than myself!! When displeased with their service I asked to speak with the manager, a woman with whom I use to work at another company, and she refused to speak with me. When I asked for the phone number of their corporate headquarters, they refused to give that to me also. I found a number in Massachusetts which was supposed to be their headquarters, but all I got was recordings. The website states that Great Expectations Dating Service is part of GE Management Worlwide, Inc. THERE IS NO SUCH COMPANY LISTED WITH DUNN & BRADSTREET!!!! There is one Great Expectations Dating Service location listed in Ft. Worth, TX, but I am unsure whether or not this is the company's headquarters. It is highly likely that Great Expectations Dating Services is not even a legal company. THESE CROOKS NEED TO BE BROUGHT DOWN!!! FRAUD, FRAUD, FRAUD!!!

I can totally sympathize with your debacle. These people are professional theives as are most dating services which ask outlandish fees. You can always tell who these people are by asking them up front what their fees are. ANY company which gives you a sales pitch first or says something like "we can't give that out until you come in or we see you" BS is a con game.

My nightmare was (and in a way still is, although not a nightmare for me anymore) with TOGETHER dating service. These people did the same nonsense GE did. However I only gave them $600 of their $1,200 proposed fee.

The minute I went on my first date I could tell this was a HUGE con. This woman had NOTHING in common with me (computer matched my a*s). Then...I called to cancel my mebership (as a side note, the rep who signed me up had quit in the week since I first joined), being young and naive. At first they just gave me a run-around not saying either way. You see, I just wanted out...not even my money back. I figured they could keep $600 and only send me on one date (A disaster date) and all would be happy. Boy was I wrong!

They insisted I go on another date, I refused. I told them I wanted out and they could keep my $600. They said I signed a contract and owed them $600 more. True, I signed a contract I said...but I didn't OWE you anything, you should be kissing my butt for giving you $600 for absolutely NOTHING. I fell into your con game, your pyramid scheme.

Next, their collection agency started harassing me. Calling me at work, home and sending letters. this guy was a serious jerk (as all collection agency morons are, destined to die an early death from job related stresses), taking on someone elses battles which they have no idea of all in the name of making a dollar.

I finally contacted my lawyer, who told me to write to them and to formally let them know to stop harassing me as per some law. I told them, to take me to court if they had an issue with this.

Now friends, it is 6 years later. They have left me alone for all this time and got the better of the "600 they did nothing"deal for 6 whole years.

UNTIL NOW. I have moved to a different State for the last three years and am now married for 5. But some cowboy lawyer saw fit to write a letter to my parents house (I am 38!) threateneing to sue me for $700 (How it got up that high is another large mystery)! You gotta love these fools, wait a few years and then hit em again, send the attack dogs with renewed vigor and do it all over again.

To be honest, I am not sure of the law now or any statute of limitations included. the contract has long been burned and I make more than $700 a day now.

However, Together will never ever see a dime from me. So keep paying your lawyer to send letters to a wrong address in a wrong state about a 6 year old wrong case and I'll see you in the next life.

Stay away from these cons, the best advice anyone can ever give you.

by the way, I met my current wife at a county fair. God will show you your soul mate when he is ready.

"Constructive solution on how to resolve or avoid this Rip-off in the future" - - don't be high pressured into signing with this Company.

I signed in 8/2002. I was told that they have "thousands" of members, and was also given the story that they needed to get more women into the program. The sales lady kept me there for 5 hours while she gave me her sales pitch. After that, she finally disclosed the price ... $4,000 for two years ... if I purchased the membership that day. If I wanted time to think about it, I believe it would have costed $800 more.

I made the mistake of signing. The sales lady said that they have thousands of members. Well, they may have in the entire Company, but what they don't tell you is how many you have to choose from in your area. In the Chicago suburb that I signed with, they only had 67 men in my category/age group for me to choose from. (Please listen to my advise. You can do much better signing up with an on-line dating service.)

Because the costs of their memberships are so high, I'm guessing this was the reason why I almost never saw any new members appear. (Now you don't have to view the binders of members, you can surf their internet site ... for another fee of $20 a month.) For a $4,000 membership, c'mon this should be included.

My membership was for two years. After 14 months now, I still have not gone on one date. I've had quite a few men inquire about me, but they were all way too old for me. I'm in the "want to get married and start a family" phase, and these guys are all in the "retirement" phase.

If I knew of a way to get my money back, I would have started the process immediately. They are just not getting many new members. I have been seeing the same faces ever since I signed up. What a waste of $4,000. I have met more men through the internet - - which is much cheaper, and you have more of a selection. Just because the internet is cheaper certainly does not reflect on the quality of person you will find. (This is also something that GE tries to convince you of.)

So, the best way to make sure you don't get ripped-off is to not sign up. Take it from someone that has learned her lesson. They just caught me at a vulnerable time where I really wanted to meet a nice guy.

I had an interview today with a GE in San Francisco office at 6:30 pm and didn't want to purchase the membership today, so sales person forsed me to purchase it (started at $5,500.00), she was rude, she said, if I will not to pay GE money right now I will date just with a low quality man, who has a yellow teeth, stooped, taking the dogs for blind dates.... :)
She keept me till I said 20 times already: "I would love to get a membership, but let me think about it some time, please...."
She said no, you have to pay for it right now, and I said, I don't have a credit card, don't have cash with me and she said, you are making $100,000.00 and don't have with you $1000.00 ($1,000.00 it's the last price which she offered me)?

And after I just said I have to go, she said, that I panished now and she will never sell me a membership for her wonderfull GE :)
Funny story, is't?
Happy end (I was close to paying them $1000.00)

I joined in September, only a month ago. I was tricked when I was told how there are so many members to meet. I was referring to members in this area. Unfortuneately, I did same as others and signed. I wasn't contacted for a picture for over a week, to delay rebuttal of the agreement. The member number I was given was over 400. It wasn't until then that I found out there were only 40 members, and that included men AND women. When that is divided into the different ages brackets, and then educational background, it is minuscule. I was told the cost is $2500. I will do all I can to get out of this.

I joined in September, only a month ago. I was tricked when I was told how there are so many members to meet. I was referring to members in this area. Unfortuneately, I did same as others and signed. I wasn't contacted for a picture for over a week, to delay rebuttal of the agreement. The member number I was given was over 400. It wasn't until then that I found out there were only 40 members, and that included men AND women. When that is divided into the different ages brackets, and then educational background, it is minuscule. I was told the cost is $2500. I will do all I can to get out of this.

I joined in September, only a month ago. I was tricked when I was told how there are so many members to meet. I was referring to members in this area. Unfortuneately, I did same as others and signed. I wasn't contacted for a picture for over a week, to delay rebuttal of the agreement. The member number I was given was over 400. It wasn't until then that I found out there were only 40 members, and that included men AND women. When that is divided into the different ages brackets, and then educational background, it is minuscule. I was told the cost is $2500. I will do all I can to get out of this.

I joined in September, only a month ago. I was tricked when I was told how there are so many members to meet. I was referring to members in this area. Unfortuneately, I did same as others and signed. I wasn't contacted for a picture for over a week, to delay rebuttal of the agreement. The member number I was given was over 400. It wasn't until then that I found out there were only 40 members, and that included men AND women. When that is divided into the different ages brackets, and then educational background, it is minuscule. I was told the cost is $2500. I will do all I can to get out of this.

My father had an experience similar to this with a Great Expectation branch in Florida. He was smart enough to quit GE shortly after arriving home from his signup, and followed complicated procedures for getting his $4,000 refunded. But six months after doing so, the company had still not credited his credit card.

I got involved, filed complaints with the Florida Dept. of Consumer Affairs, and Better Business Bureau, and sent letters to the state Attorney General.

The company came up with various absurd excuses for not crediting his account. We kept at them and after another two months. Nine months after he'd signed, they finally credited him the $4,000. I'd urge anyone considering using this service to carefully research it before signing on the dotted line.

Typical, typical, TYPICAL!!! I guarantee that Miss Cynthia is NOT an "ex" employee, but probably screwing the owner right now, and thought she'd help out her meal-ticket by making a LEGITIMATE, and COMMON complaint against her employer look irrational and bogus.

Good job on cleverly, and instantly calling this woman "narrow-minded"....EXACT jargon used by ALLLL dating service sales people, who try to down-play the "stigma" that dating services are for lonely, desperate people. Usually, Miss Cynthia would use that tactic to GAIN this woman's membership, and the moment this woman saw the TRUTH of this dating service's 'Great' and Powerful Oz "behind the curtain", like a rattle snake in a corner, her fangs began to glisten in the sunlight!!!

If you're an EX employee who thought the company was so 'great', why aren't you there now? Most people who are happy, move on and really don't pay attention to what happens next. Those of us who feel ashamed for ever being apart of such a scam are the ones who fight for the public to be warned. The only reason you're here is because you really aren't who you say you are....and you're STILL trying to make a buck! SHAME ON YOU!

And remember what Miss Cynthia said boys and girls....don't judge REALITY the FIRST time you see it...they need you to wait 3 days before you wake up from their spell so you CAN'T get your money back!!!!

P.S.--To the woman who paid $1200 for her membership....don't feel embarrassed! YOU GOT OFF CHEAP! I've seen people there get charged $4000!!!!

I am a former employee with Great Expectations and I will start out by saying that I am still fond of the company, the employees and the services they provide. After reading this complaint against them, I was reminded of how narrow-minded people can be.



GE provides resource libraries for singles throughout the US. And because they continue to screen, interview and sign new members every day, the membership database is lucuid - ever changing. Literally different from one day to the next. It's like a revolving door where current members become inactive - together or with non-members - and their new members become active. She should think of this service as a supplement to her dating / social life, and not as the only means - if so, she would see and appreciate the service which GE provides when compared to her other attempts to met single, compatible people.



Like being a member of a gym, you can't judge your experience there from your first visit. You can't give up after one try. You must continue to use the tools provided before you can see the results that you joined there to see!

I am a former employee with Great Expectations and I will start out by saying that I am still fond of the company, the employees and the services they provide. After reading this complaint against them, I was reminded of how narrow-minded people can be.



GE provides resource libraries for singles throughout the US. And because they continue to screen, interview and sign new members every day, the membership database is lucuid - ever changing. Literally different from one day to the next. It's like a revolving door where current members become inactive - together or with non-members - and their new members become active. She should think of this service as a supplement to her dating / social life, and not as the only means - if so, she would see and appreciate the service which GE provides when compared to her other attempts to met single, compatible people.



Like being a member of a gym, you can't judge your experience there from your first visit. You can't give up after one try. You must continue to use the tools provided before you can see the results that you joined there to see!

I am a former employee with Great Expectations and I will start out by saying that I am still fond of the company, the employees and the services they provide. After reading this complaint against them, I was reminded of how narrow-minded people can be.



GE provides resource libraries for singles throughout the US. And because they continue to screen, interview and sign new members every day, the membership database is lucuid - ever changing. Literally different from one day to the next. It's like a revolving door where current members become inactive - together or with non-members - and their new members become active. She should think of this service as a supplement to her dating / social life, and not as the only means - if so, she would see and appreciate the service which GE provides when compared to her other attempts to met single, compatible people.



Like being a member of a gym, you can't judge your experience there from your first visit. You can't give up after one try. You must continue to use the tools provided before you can see the results that you joined there to see!