I almost got suckered in. I filled out a form on this page ----->
http://www.miamisburgsingles.org/ and got a call from Great Expectations. Miamisburg is the town I grew up in and I still live close to there. It's just a little village basically, and nothing like the skyline shown at that website. There is no skyline there. Anyway, I get this call and they want me to come down to Blue Ash, Ohio, near Cincinnati, for an appointment with them. That's about an hour away from where I live. At first I disagreed because they refused to tell me the cost of their service up front. Then I got a second call from them on my voice mail and I thought about it a little more then called them back and set up an appointment for this coming Saturday. They still refused to give me a price.
They said I needed to bring two forms of I.D., a driver's license and a credit card or a check book. They said they would have to run a background check on me to be sure I wasn't a felon and a credit check. Guess what that reqires? A social security number.
All of that concerned me and them not telling me the cost up front really bugged me. So I did a search for "great expectations cost" and it turned up this consumer reporting site's list of people who had filed complaints about Great Expectations----->
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/dating_services/great_expectations.htmlHere are a couple of "testimonials":
Bryan of Holly Springs GA (02/05/08)I contacted a web site entitled woodstocksingles.com thinking it was singles in my area. After going to that web site I filled out a questionnaire and then it all started. I was called and called and called - well, you get the picture. They called at least 6 times to get me to come to their office. I finally, reluctantly agreed. I met with the GM Mr. Ware he informed me of what a great program they had and how if I joined I would find the love of my life. He went on to say I was part of this service until marriage. I listened to his 30min presentation and watched an old video (from the 90's) during which he left the room about 4 times. Once to run a credit and marriage check.
He came back with that info. and asked, "I bet you are wondering how much this GREAT service would cost." I said of course and he told me 4,995 dollars. I was appalled and should have left then. But you see he is a psychologist (so he says). He then asks what is this $3,000 dollars you have on this credit card. See the credit check is solely to see how much money you have. Mr. Ware said I will make you a deal, I will lower the fee to $2,995 dollars and call it a student discount. I am NOT a student! This proves my statement about the credit report. I said well let me think about it. He stated this is a once in a life time deal and I cannot offer this to you ever again. One of many signs I should have left then.
So I signed it. After that I went home and did a little research and I was amazed that these people are still in business. Great Expectations is involved in several lawsuits nation wide. I talked to a former employee who stated you are video taped the whole time and when the person leaves, they are going to a room where several people are watching you trying to figure out how much to charge you! I know that is hearsay but those are her words. Well the latest is I have disputed my credit card and won briefly but then the credit was reversed. I am now filing paper work to go to small claims court in Fulton County with them. And if I have to I will use my media resources to let everyone in GA know what kind of people and business they are dealing with. I would like to get all the GA people I can together and fight this.
I am out 2,995 dollars and have received no benefit what so ever (other than pics which I do not have). Also my credit scores have fallen.Melissa of Round Rock TX (01/23/08)I enrolled with Great Expectations 01/09/2007, I should have never agreed to their services.I finally agreed to come in . When I arrived in their office, one of their sales people, Lisa, put me into a little room with my back to the door. She showed me a video with happy, smiling people and gave me forms to fill out with personal information (including DL# and SS#) and your dating goals. When you get the forms, you find out that you are not at AustinSingles, but at a company called Great Expectations. When I asked about it, Lisa stated that they used a different name to advertise because of marketing strategies to promote that they are local.
The sales techniques that they use are incredibly aggressive. I have never been in a situation where I was put under so much pressure. And it works, because generally you are in a little bit of a vulnerable state when you show up. They don't tell you anything about prices until you've been there for at least two hours. Then it comes: they tried to talk me into a $4195 membership, which supposedly was a really good deal because usually their membership is higher.
I stated that was high and the the monthly fees of 29.00 was more money I wanted to spend. She waived the monthly fee. I have since learned that not everyone pays the same amount even though you sign up for the same amount of time. So I could of paid less if I negotiated more. I repeatedly stated that I felt pressured and that I wanted to think about it.
According to Lisa, I had to sign today or I would not be able to get a membership for this price anymore, and she really wanted it for me. She said that me feeling pressured probably meant that I knew I had to do it, I was just afraid of change. To my shame and embarrassment, I did finally sign the contract although I was uncomfortable about it.
On Monday, I started looking into the real company, Great Expectations, and found all kinds of horror stories from people having signed up with this company. I immediately called the company to cancel. The girl I talked to stated that she had to look at my file. I never heard back. I called again on Thursday and finally got to speak to the owner, Michael Miess. He stated that there are no refunds. He said that I was a grown woman and nobody had forced me to sign. I now have to try and get my money back through an attorney, but do not have high hopes after reading other peoples experiences. I have lost a $4000 and have credit card debt. In addition, I am extremely depressed about having been talked into this.
I am embarassed that I fell for their sales pitch and now am in debt. They play on your emotions. I am a single mom and they used that continuously threw the pitch.Much, much more at the link. The states of Pennsylvania and Kansas are suing Great Expectations. What a scam. Get to people when they are feeling weak and lonely and promise them all kinds of happy relationship stuff to get them to sign on the bottom line for a ridiculous amount of money. There is a 65 year old woman who was charged over $5000 for their "service."
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