AG Nessel Reissues Consumer Alert on Dating Services

LANSING – As consumers search for love this Valentine’s Day, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reissuing her Dating Services Consumer Alert. When using dating services, Attorney General Nessel encourages consumers to be aware of potential scams, risks, and costly contracts.

“Dating services and apps can lead to love, but consumers should take steps to protect their personal information and carefully review contracts before signing,” said Attorney General Nessel. “Reading the fine print and protecting your privacy can help prevent financial consequences and unnecessary heartache later.”

Online Dating Services

In order to register for an online dating service, consumers are often asked to provide exhaustive personal information. How this information will be handled varies widely between companies. Most companies keep certain information private while making other details available to other members or even to anyone with internet access. And as the recent wave of security breaches demonstrates, hackers are capable of pulling information out of company databases thought to be secure against intruders. When joining an online dating service:

• Read the site's privacy policy, terms of service, and any membership agreement or contract very carefully.
• Do not use an e-mail address you use for other purposes and avoid using any address that contains your name or your employer or school name.
• Do not use a telephone number that can be traced to you through directory services.
• Never agree to meet for the first time in a private setting. Insist on a public place where there are sure to be other people around and tell a member of your family or a friend where you will be and when you will contact them again after the meeting.
• Report abusive communications to the webmaster of the dating service.

Location-Based Dating Services

Location-based or "real-world" dating services sometimes involve contracts with high costs and little chance of cancellation by the consumer. Contracts can easily run $1,000, and even $10,000 contracts are not uncommon. Again, consumers should scrutinize contracts before signing. Look for contract terms that clearly disclose:

• The exact cost and any future payments that may be required.
• Whether, and under what circumstances, you may cancel the contract and receive a refund.
• Whether you can transfer the contract to another location in the event you move.
• Exactly what the business, at a minimum, must do for you, including whether it guarantees a minimum number of matches.
• Whether the contract defines what will be considered a "match."

In addition to carefully reviewing the contract, there are other steps consumers can take to protect themselves before signing a contract with a real-world dating service:

• Beware of aggressive sales tactics.
• Get straight answers to your questions in writing.
• Be wary of verbal promises that are not in your contract, especially concerning the company's vast list of potential matches that meet your specific dating criteria.
• Don't pay for a contract you can't afford.
• Don't sign a contract that contains terms you think are unfair. If there are contract terms you don't like, demand in writing that they be changed or removed.

If you believe you’ve been a victim, contact the Department of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:

Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form

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