Friday, February 5, 2010
Shannon's Story
Elite Personnel Search is an online scam. Elite is suppose to b a professional matchmaker. I have paid nearly $4000 for absolutely no results and no real attempt on their part. I found Elite online and I didn't even finish the online form but a Kim Brady called me anyway to come in, so I thought I would try. I paid $3000 up front plus $400 for professional pictures that they required of me and then three more months of $325.00. Elite Personnel Search has been a total waste of money. After 6 months and THOUSANDS of dollars, they have not come up with a single match. In this 6 months, they only called twice with possible matches that were so off the mark that it was offensive. Then insult to injury, their accounting department called wanting more money and wonderd why my CC rejected their charge. They have threatened me with creditors and trying to ruin my credit because I refuse to pay for them more money. Their resources of dates are apparently slim and none. It would be one thing if they had shown me at least 1 candidate per month, but they couldn't even come up with more than two in 6 months. They may try to claim that I'm too picky but they haven't even come up with candidates for me to reject. I just recently logged into Match just to look around and saw the same two guys with the same bad photos. They weren't even a 70% match. It looks like I'll have to sue to get my money back and to keep them from ruining my credit. Verenia won't even tell you her full name because she knows that she is scamming and doesn't want to be sued, personally. To top it off, They lied to the BBB stating they had presented more candidates; people I had never seen or heard of before. They also tried to say that I had changed my criteria, which never happened. I have it in writing what my needs were. They never changed and Elite never came close to delivering.
Damage Resulting = Over $4000 loss, plus possible damage to my credit. They called only because they wanted more money and threatened to ruin my credit and turn me over to collections if I don't pay them more.
Damage Resulting = Over $4000 loss, plus possible damage to my credit. They called only because they wanted more money and threatened to ruin my credit and turn me over to collections if I don't pay them more.
Karen's Story
Hi,
To confirm my suspicsions I googled Elite and found your blog. Thank you for taking the time to give everyone the heads up. Here's a copy of what I put on the BBB review site tonight.
Thanks
Karen
I'm not an idiot and this agency's business practices are pretty transparent. I had to cancel my first intake appointment and the agency called me back a number of times to "make sure I was OK" (push me to reschedule). I went to my rescheduled appointment and their "offices" is nothing more than a room they rent with a shared reception. There is no sign, not even on the office door, the doorman had to look them up in his book (he hadn't heard of it). The office had absolutely no personal or business affects in it, making it look like it's rented by the hour. Curiously, I was not given the phone number of the local office, only the head office in California. This is probably because they had no phone I could see. I am attractive and accomplished, but can always tell when people are being too effusive in their compliments. I was just too perfect for them and they for me. The biggest red flag was the price, $5,900, which I told them I was not prepared to commit to without time to think it over. I was immediately offered a no interest payment plan, with $1,000 down and $272 for 18 months. I again hesitated and was told, without asking, that all I needed to do was give them $100 today, and $900 next week to hold their offer to work with me (like taking my money was my privilege and there was 100 people lined up behind me). It was starting to seem like a car dealership. I kept looking at my watch and kept getting pushed to sign up asap even after I said I had a work commitment I had to get to. I decided to give them the bums rush and talked my way out "to get to work" without paying the $100. Before I even got to my car I received a call and then a text to let me know I forgot to leave the deposit. The call came from the intake person's personal cell, not a business number. She told me to call her with my card number as soon as I got to work. The whole thing really seemed like a car dealership experience and I don't trust anyone who doesn't let you leave their office without making a commitment. I am a business owner and always let my clients leave to sleep on it if they want. Additionally, if you read the glowing reviews here and on the net, they contain a lot of similar wording and tone of voice. Even the punctuation usage is similar. Makes me wonder who wrote them all.
To confirm my suspicsions I googled Elite and found your blog. Thank you for taking the time to give everyone the heads up. Here's a copy of what I put on the BBB review site tonight.
Thanks
Karen
I'm not an idiot and this agency's business practices are pretty transparent. I had to cancel my first intake appointment and the agency called me back a number of times to "make sure I was OK" (push me to reschedule). I went to my rescheduled appointment and their "offices" is nothing more than a room they rent with a shared reception. There is no sign, not even on the office door, the doorman had to look them up in his book (he hadn't heard of it). The office had absolutely no personal or business affects in it, making it look like it's rented by the hour. Curiously, I was not given the phone number of the local office, only the head office in California. This is probably because they had no phone I could see. I am attractive and accomplished, but can always tell when people are being too effusive in their compliments. I was just too perfect for them and they for me. The biggest red flag was the price, $5,900, which I told them I was not prepared to commit to without time to think it over. I was immediately offered a no interest payment plan, with $1,000 down and $272 for 18 months. I again hesitated and was told, without asking, that all I needed to do was give them $100 today, and $900 next week to hold their offer to work with me (like taking my money was my privilege and there was 100 people lined up behind me). It was starting to seem like a car dealership. I kept looking at my watch and kept getting pushed to sign up asap even after I said I had a work commitment I had to get to. I decided to give them the bums rush and talked my way out "to get to work" without paying the $100. Before I even got to my car I received a call and then a text to let me know I forgot to leave the deposit. The call came from the intake person's personal cell, not a business number. She told me to call her with my card number as soon as I got to work. The whole thing really seemed like a car dealership experience and I don't trust anyone who doesn't let you leave their office without making a commitment. I am a business owner and always let my clients leave to sleep on it if they want. Additionally, if you read the glowing reviews here and on the net, they contain a lot of similar wording and tone of voice. Even the punctuation usage is similar. Makes me wonder who wrote them all.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Scammed in Denver
Elite Personnel Search is an online scam. Elite is suppose to be a professional matchmaker. I have paid nearly $4000 for absolutely no results and no real attempt on their part. I did a 3 hour interview with Kim Brady. I paid $3000 up front plus $400 for professional pictures that they required of me and then three more months of $325.00. Elite Personnel Search has been a total waste of money. After 6 months and THOUSANDS of dollars, they have not come up with a single match.
In this 6 months, they only called twice with possible matches that were so off the mark that it was offensive. Then insult to injury, their accounting department called wanting more money and wondered why my CC rejected their charge. They have threatened me with creditors and trying to ruin my credit because I refuse to pay for them more money. Their resources of dates are apparently slim and none.
It would be one thing if they had shown me candidates to consider, but they couldn't even come up with more than two in 6 months - not even close to my requests. I later found the same two guys with the same bad photos on Match. They weren't even a 70% match. It looks like I'll have to sue to get my money back and to keep them from ruining my credit. Verenia won't even tell you her full name because she knows that she is scamming and doesn't want to be sued, personally.
Damage Resulting = Over $4000 loss, plus possible damage to my credit. They called only because they wanted more money and threatened to ruin my credit and turn me over to collections if I don't pay them more.
Tooredphoenix
denver, Colorado
U.S.A.
In this 6 months, they only called twice with possible matches that were so off the mark that it was offensive. Then insult to injury, their accounting department called wanting more money and wondered why my CC rejected their charge. They have threatened me with creditors and trying to ruin my credit because I refuse to pay for them more money. Their resources of dates are apparently slim and none.
It would be one thing if they had shown me candidates to consider, but they couldn't even come up with more than two in 6 months - not even close to my requests. I later found the same two guys with the same bad photos on Match. They weren't even a 70% match. It looks like I'll have to sue to get my money back and to keep them from ruining my credit. Verenia won't even tell you her full name because she knows that she is scamming and doesn't want to be sued, personally.
Damage Resulting = Over $4000 loss, plus possible damage to my credit. They called only because they wanted more money and threatened to ruin my credit and turn me over to collections if I don't pay them more.
Tooredphoenix
denver, Colorado
U.S.A.
Elite Personal Scam - my story
I joined a dating service called Elite Personal Search. I "joined" through the Boston office, but they are located around the country and headquartered in California. They are scam artists.
I met with a woman named Susie Giblin, a slick, high-pressure saleswoman who told me I was better looking than Tom Cruise (I'm not), and that I passed Elite's stringent membership guidelines and would be allowed to join. I paid $6,000 and signed a contract. The next day, I called to rescind and get out of the contract. My calls were ignored and re-routed, I could not get a person on the phone. After three days I got an email saying my payment had been processed.
I figured I did not have a way out, so I started to fill out their forms. In that time, I realized they did not run the background check they claimed to. They also started sending me other members personal information before I officially started. Mind you, this is before I even filled out forms saying what I was looking for. But this girl was not. This was 7 months ago. I have been trying to get a refund ever since. The people I need to speak with "just left the office" and never return phone calls. I have been asking for a refund for months.
Some people have had far worse experiences. I was smart enough to realize pretty quickly that they are total scam artists. They prey on your insecurities until you overpay for a service you may or may not need.
I have read many horror stories online and met other people that fell victim to the service. I decided to create this blog to save others the heartache and embarrassment that will surely follow enrollment with Elite Personal Search. Use match.com, its cheaper and better!
EMAIL ME WITH YOUR STORY AT zbtaldo@gmail.com
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