Jun. 20, 2022 Edmonton Matchmakers: This company is a total scam. Here are 2 articles about it:
Located in: Strathcona Town Centre
Address: 7915 104 St NW Unit 230, Edmonton, AB T6E 4E1
May 10, 2017 "Service Alberta investigating complaints against Edmonton matchmaking company": This article is by Andrea Huncar on CBC news:
Service Alberta is investigating four new complaints against a matchmaking company stemming from a CBC Edmonton investigation.
Minister Stephanie McLean said her department received the complaints after two dissatisfied customers spoke out against Edmonton Matchmakers in April.
"I was absolutely heartbroken, both as the minister responsible for consumer protection and the minister of the status of women," McLean told Edmonton AM in an interview on Wednesday. "People being taken advantage of, especially women — it's really troubling."
McLean also expressed her gratitude to the women who publicly shared their stories.
"I'm thankful to the women who have come forward bravely and shared their stories because it does encourage others to come forward," she said.
In April, Margaret Clark, 67, was the first to raise concerns, shortly after launching a lawsuit against Canada Introductions, Inc., which operates as Edmonton Matchmakers.
She accused the company of using high-pressure sales tactics that convinced her to pay $10,494 for a membership at the Edmonton office located at 7915 104 St. in December 2014.
Service Alberta investigated in 2015 but concluded there wasn't enough evidence to take action against the company, prompting Clark to launch a civil suit and tell her story publicly.
"That's what needed to happen," said Clark. "My goal going forward was that this would never happen to anybody else. And hopefully there will be some closure for people at some point."
Her story encouraged several other women to contact CBC News. Val Taylor said Edmonton Matchmakers used the same high-pressure sales tactics to get her to pay $7,344 for a membership.
Taylor said she clearly stated that her matches must be employed but her sole coffee date was a "partially toothless," homeless man who "continuously chewed and destroyed plastic utensils."
Taylor said she immediately called the company, arguing the match didn't meet her criteria and shouldn't count as an introduction. But Edmonton Matchmakers disagreed.
The contract states that after clients receive their first referral they "will not be entitled to any refund."
'No longer in business'
On May 1, Canada Introductions filed a short dispute note, in response to Clark's claim. It states Canada Introductions "is no longer in business" and the operations were transferred to another company, also doing business as Edmonton Matchmakers, in March 2016.
In response to CBC inquiries and requests for interviews from the company, Rich Nichols, a strategic crisis communications consultant based in Dallas, Texas, contacted CBC News and provided written responses.
He said that AB Singles, Ltd. operates Edmonton Matchmakers. The new company "opened its business operations in Edmonton in April 2016" and "merely utilizes" the same name as the previous company, he said, adding "they are two legally separate and unaffiliated companies."
"AB Singles, Ltd., (doing business as) Edmonton Matchmakers, does NOT have a contractual relationship with Margaret Clark," he wrote.
CBC confirmed two weeks ago that Edmonton Matchmakers still operates at the same location in Edmonton where Clark purchased her membership, however.
On May 1, Beverly Sandalack launched a lawsuit similar to Clark's, also through U-SUE, a small-claims court agent based in Calgary.
Sandalack's statement of claim names AB Singles, Ltd., operating in Calgary as Alberta Matchmakers, as the defendant.
She accuses the company of failing to provide her with any matches after paying $5,485.85 on Nov. 26, 2016.
Nichols said Sandalack and AB Singles, Ltd. have negotiated a settlement and the company has issued a partial refund.
McLean said the province's Fair Trading Act offers some consumer protection, depending on the facts and circumstances.
"But in any situation,
a company cannot misrepresent their services,
they can't misrepresent their offers or exaggerate savings,
they cannot use aggressive pressure sales tactics to get you to sign a contract," she said.
"They can't grossly overcharge for their service which could be the case in these circumstances. For example, if only one match is provided or the match is grossly inappropriate in some way."
She said violating the legislation can result in penalties ranging from $3,000 to more serious criminal charges which could result in fines of up to $300,000 or two years in jail.
"I'm enthused that people are coming forward so we can investigate and hold companies accountable for their actions," she said.
With files from Mark Harvey
Service Alberta investigating complaints against Edmonton matchmaking company | CBC News
An employee of a dating service accused of preying on vulnerable women is scheduled to make a court appearance Thursday facing charges under the Fair Trading Act.
Claire Jones of Edmonton Matchmakers faces three charges including
exerting undue pressure on consumers to enter into a transaction
and knowing the consumer would be unable to receive reasonable benefit.
She is also charged with entering into a transaction representing services that could not be supplied.
Jones is scheduled to enter a plea in provincial court Thursday.
The charges, which were laid In May, came just over a year after two disgruntled customers told their stories to CBC.
A conviction for each offence carries a maximum penalty of $300,000 and imprisonment of two years.
In April 2017, 68-year-old Margaret Clark went public with her experience about Edmonton Matchmakers, located in the Old Strathcona neighbourhood, to warn others looking for love.
Clark, who is also suing the company, said she endured more than two hours of high-pressure sales tactics where she was warned a woman of her age didn't have much time left to date.
She spent $10,494 for a single, ill-suited date and never received a second match despite sending numerous emails, she said.
Clark broke into a huge smile when she learned of the charges this week.
"Oh my heavens, I am so happy," said Clark, who praised the province for carrying out the investigation. "It pays to stand up to people and for sure not be bullied."
'The claws came out'
After Clark shared her story last year, CBC received emails from other dissatisfied customers.
Val Taylor, then 54, told CBC the salesperson's "claws came out" when she hesitated to purchase a membership for $7,344. Feeling intimidated, Taylor says she signed up but only received one match.
She said her date locked her into the contract but was far from the man of her dreams.
14 complaints
Service Alberta confirmed the charges stem from an investigation, related to Taylor's case, into the operations of Edmonton Matchmakers and Alberta Matchmakers (Calgary). The department said both are owned by AB Singles Ltd, which has been registered in Alberta since April 2016. Prior to that, the operations were owned by Canada Introductions Inc., officials added.
Service Alberta said it received 14 complaints about the matchmaking company between 2015 and 2018. Half resulted in investigations. One has since been closed due to an unfounded complaint while another resulted in a settlement. Four investigations are still open.
In an emailed statement, Service Alberta Minister Brian Malkinson said: "Service Alberta is active in ensuring the operations of Edmonton and Alberta Matchmakers are compliant, including inspecting business practices and processes.
"We understand how incredibly frustrating this must be for people. Especially, since all they wanted to do was find love and that's something that we can all relate to."
Despite enduring "horrible comments" on social media and a radio station that made fun of her after she went public, Taylor said speaking out was worth it.
Her hope now is that "Someone else is not going to be in the situation I was in."
CBC visited Edmonton Matchmakers this week but a woman who answered the locked door declined to identify herself or provide comment.
In May 2017, Canada Introductions filed a short dispute note in court, in response to Clark's statement of claim. It states Canada Introductions "is no longer in business" and the operations were transferred to another company, also doing business as Edmonton Matchmakers, in March 2016.
Charges laid after Edmonton clients complain about matchmaking service | CBC News
These articles remind me of this because it's about people telling others about their bad experiences with this company:
"#MeToo movement becomes #WeToo in in victim-blaming Japan"/ "Outrage as women in Japan told not wear glasses in the workplace"
"You never look good when you are trying to make someone else look bad."- Unknown
Cham: Sometimes people need to be exposed for who they are hahah or maybe I should stop being petty
Tracy Au: There's a difference between trying to make someone look bad, and exposing them for who they are. It's like those #MeToo accusers and victims, they are plainly telling everybody about the perpetrators. They're not trying to make them look bad.
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