All   introduction agencies based in the U.K. are  required, under the consumer goods and services act, to provide a dating service that is "fit for purpose" .  Most dating agencies will work hard on your behalf and significantly  improve your chances of meeting new people and finding a partner. However we know that  a few personal  introduction agencies fall far short of satisfactory.

 

 

The following information is provided  by the ONLY introduction agency for professionals in the U.K with MONEY BACK GUARANTEES  (The Executive Club of St James's  see www.execclub.net  )  to encourage all dating agencies to improve their standard of service and to assist the public to remidy the situation should  a dating agency service fall short of reasonable expectations.

 

 

First check that the problem is not of your own making.

 

 

2                    How long have you been with the introduction agency, it will probably take around 3 to 4 months to know if the agency is delivering a proper service althouigh it should not take more than a few weeks to obtain your first introduction. If it does it sounds like they do not have any members matching your requirements, they should have told you this at youer interview..

 

3                    Have you been reasonable, not turning down perfectly good dates on some minor preconception “ don’t get on with Aries” or "he likes opera and I hate it". These are not sensible reasons why two people could not be soulmates.

 

4                    Unless you are stunning with a figure to die for (and God makes very few of you like this) don’t expect the guy to look like a film star  because if he was, maybe he would not date you anyway. (how many formula 1 drivers or film stars do you see with “ordinary” looking partners

 

5                    If you have  not been satisfied with the service, first discuss it with your introduction agency, telling them of your problems and giving them a chance to explain or improve the service to you.

 

6                    Have you acted politely and treated your dates with respect? You can hardly expect an introduction  agency to introduce  you with their best or newest clients if all you do is moan about life or slag off the agency or treat your dates in a way that leaves them feeling they would rather not have met you. From experience it is usually people with a problem that thinks it's the agencies fault all their dates are unsuitable when it is their negative whinging  manner that turns everybody off.  Stay positive on your dates, people are hoping to find someone to "lift" them  the dfate should be fun and interesting, not depressing!

 

7                    The price you pay has to be taken into consideration, it is reasonable to expect a different level of service from dating agencies charging £10,000 to one charging £250.

 

Do not wade in, demanding a refund without first giving the introduction agency a chance to make changes  to make the service work. It might be you need  to alter your profile to make the service  work better. Keep an open mind. Assuming that you have seriously considered the points above  and you are still not happy with the  dating agency then this is how we recommend improving the situation.

 

Always keep a copy of all correspondence whether by E;mail, fax or letter, and log the time date who you spoke to and list  and summarise telephone conversations.

 

Write a pleasant  but informative letter to the dating agency explaining in detail the reasons you are not happy. Don’t say "all the guys were rubbish",  but explain why you thought the date was unsuitable for you.  Remember to write and POST the letters ALWAYS date the letters and they can  in necessary be produced at County Court and carry considerable weight  in the unlikely event  you need to go this far. E.G. state how each person failed to reach the standard you were expecting eg. I asked for “professional gentleman aged up to 40, within 20 miles of where I lived. The first guy was a lorry driver, aged 55 and lived 6000 miles away. This person did not meet the criteria, I do not consider this an introduction, but a  waste of my time, I ask that you choose my dates more carefully as I would rather not meet anyone at all, than just anybody. Etc.

 

I am not happy with the service I am receiving at the present and  respectfully ask that you put more care into choosing people more suitable for me. If you don’t have such people available then perhaps we can discuss a  refund of my fees. However I would prefer some good matches if you have them

 

 

 

If things do not improve in say 5 to 12 weeks after the first letter write a more formal 2^nd letter.

 

Further to my letter of complaint of 28^th March I am afraid things are no better. Since joining your agency in September I have received a total of 4 introductions of which only one could be  described as within the specifications we discussed at the time of joining. At that meeting you led me to believe you had plenty of eligible gentlemen that would suit my needs. It would appear this is not true.

 

The service has fallen short of what  I would have considered reasonable given the fee I paid.

 

I would now like you to offer a partial refund my membership fee of £xxx as the service has failed to provide any introductions of the quality I was led to believe you would. I paid £xxx on 3^rd September and now request that you make an offer to refund part of my membership fee.

 

 

An unsatisfactory , or no reply

 

Further my previous letters of 28^th March and   5^th May I do not accept your explanation of why you were unable to provide a proper service. I paid your fees in good faith that you would be able to provide me with sufficient dates of an acceptable quality, neither of which in 6 months you were able to do.

 

If you do forward a refund as requested within 10 days I understand my options to pursue the matter include

 

Talking the matter up with:

 

I will wait for 10 days before deciding which route to pursue.

 

 

 

If after waiting 10 days you have not had your money refunded, you should  decide which method  you should pursue. The courts are very public friendly and put a lot of onus on the agency having to show they did provide a reasonable service.

 

 

Most dating agencies would hate to lose a case at the county court and will usually settle out of court if they think you have a reasonable case.

 

Always keep  this in mind, there may be nothing wrong with agency at all,  it works for most other  people.-  the problem might be you!  All agencies encounter a few people they would prefer hadn’t joined, just because you are the problem or unreasonable,  it is not a good reason to obtain a refund. We have a story in the trade of a well built lady in her 50’s joining  an agency and a month or so later telling the agency she would only meet “a high court judge or a surgeon” – dream on!   You guess the age group and build of people these guys  were dating.

 

If you get to a stage where you have to take action to recover your fees then you can always call for advice on  0207 930 5555 and I will give you advice of how to proceed.-  

 

Good luck

 

 

This site has been sponsored by The Executive Club of St James's setting the highest standards since 1985.  Our aim is to raise the standards of poorer agencies and provide information to the public to assist them to choose the best agency for their needs  and steer them away from the dubious operations that unfortunately exist in all professions. To see our main site including our famous  written refund guarantees see  www.thematchmaker.co.uk

 

dating agency professionals in london

introduction agencies for london professionals

 

 

www.execclub.net/who-are-we.htm

www.executiveclub.me.uk/who-joins-us.htm

 

 

 

updated   6th  June 2009