Match.com: Crafty cupids

tj37003

My friend convinced me that online dating was, far from being the sole domain of the desperate and weird, an excellent way to meet beautiful, normal women. I signed up for a free account with match.com and was happily inundated with messages from local lovelies.

Tempted by the fact that the site offers a three day free trial if you sign up for a paid subscription to their service, I figured I had nothing to lose. I could use those three days to see if it was for me and, potentially, not pay a penny. However, within five minutes of me subscribing (Almost £30 for a month! Eesh.), the site locked me out. Every time I sign in, I'm taken to a page saying the site is undergoing improvement.

Now 20 hours later, and still locked out, my friends have informed me that their accounts are working just fine. The site isn't under maintenance at all...!

Of course, without being able to log-in, I can't access my account settings to access the option that allows me to cease payment, and I can't access the help section to lodge a formal complaint. When I finally located a way to contact them, a reeeeally helpful automated email informed me that the correct course of action is for me to log-in. I'm infuriated.

Does anyone think this more than mildly suspicious? Anyone else want to bet on the odds that when my 3 free days have elapsed, my account comes mysteriously back online?

Sorry for the rant. Needed to get it off my chest and warn others of this potentially unscrupulous practice!

pitkin2020

Try clearing your history and cookies and see if it makes a difference. I would also (if possible) try logging in your friends computer. I haven't used the site but I do have a similar problem with a forum i'm on, I clear history/cookies and I can log in, annoying but works.

VfM4meplse

The site was down last night, but has been running fine all day and getting winked at as I write....having said that don't expect too much from Match.

michaelvintner

Better and free

http://www.plentyoffish.com/

VfM4meplse

michaelvintner wrote: »

Better and free

http://www.plentyoffish.com/

But used by psychopaths :eek:

erdd2

tj37003 wrote: »

My friend convinced me that online dating was, far from being the sole domain of the desperate and weird, an excellent way to meet beautiful, normal women. I signed up for a free account with match.com and was happily inundated with messages from local lovelies.

Tempted by the fact that the site offers a three day free trial if you sign up for a paid subscription to their service, I figured I had nothing to lose. I could use those three days to see if it was for me and, potentially, not pay a penny. However, within five minutes of me subscribing (Almost £30 for a month! Eesh.), the site locked me out. Every time I sign in, I'm taken to a page saying the site is undergoing improvement.

Now 20 hours later, and still locked out, my friends have informed me that their accounts are working just fine. The site isn't under maintenance at all...!

Of course, without being able to log-in, I can't access my account settings to access the option that allows me to cease payment, and I can't access the help section to lodge a formal complaint. When I finally located a way to contact them, a reeeeally helpful automated email informed me that the correct course of action is for me to log-in. I'm infuriated.

Does anyone think this more than mildly suspicious? Anyone else want to bet on the odds that when my 3 free days have elapsed, my account comes mysteriously back online?

Sorry for the rant. Needed to get it off my chest and warn others of this potentially unscrupulous practice!

Somebody set this site up and nobody ever puts them self, skills, resources, time, handbag. wotever out long term without seeking some form of remuneration...financial or otherwise. This raises the often asked qs...when is a freebie actually a freebie and is there actually a freebie to be had!

LisaB85

VfM4meplse wrote: »

But used by psychopaths :eek:

The only true psycho I met was on Match, this man kept going on about wanting to see a girlfriend with an underage person :eek:

Match were on Watchdog not so long ago being slated for their complicated cancellation system, people were being charged 6 months after closing their accounts.

LisaB85

Red_Shoes_No_Knickers wrote: »

I hope you reported him to the police?

I did but apparently there wasn't enough evidence other than the messages he sent to me, didn't warrant more investigation.

smileylondongal

Match was indeed featured on Watchdog and there might be some advice on the Watchdog website if you have a peek?

I think most dating websites act the same, unfortunately. Having said that, and this was a while back, I joined it and met some lovely people. I think with enough screening of your own, including a phone call or two, you can screen out any 'odd' people, let's say! In fact just as my subscription was coming to and end, I met a really nice guy and almost four years later, we married! Still happy seven years on with a lovely little chap of our own. Anyway, just wanted to say on a slight aside not to give up if you were interested in this route.

tj37003

Well, the site finally started working again. Huzzah. Turns out the cache needed clearing (Thanks, Pitkin!). It would have been nice for the site to have told me this rather than pretending it was undergoing maintenance!

I have just discovered that the Watchdog complaint is indeed still valid. The three day free trial in which a user is apparently able to cancel at any time is a complete farce. One of the reasons I went for it was that it said I could easily cancel my payments at any time by going to 'My Subscription'. Well, I had a look in there last night (not to cancel - just out of curiosity) and the section was 'Not available at this time'. Today, now a paying customer, I find no option for online payment management at all!

Now, I'm getting a whole lot of love from users on the site (whey!)... but the company itself is just... greedy, cynical and mean!

darkpool

match.com are a bunch of crooks with their autorenewal