Suckered in, too . . .
I enjoyed reading your letter about TOGETHER RIP OFF. They got me for $3999. Tracy said I needed to sign up for the large plan because I needed many experiences. Of course she left before the three day cancellation period, when I called to reconsider. The Irvine CA branch went out of business, I had two horrible dates, and one referral who didn't call back. I did not do my research before signing up--I was newly divorced after 25 yrs. scared, lonely and on Prozac. If they were screening candidates, I should have been rejected. I was lured in after several phone calls. I'm doing great. I also found my own dates but I still feel used and abused after three years. Do you know how we can get even??

Together pulls out all the stops
Last June, I went to a outdoor concert with my brother and his girlfriend. We saw the booth, and passed it and I said "No way" and then we passed it by again, but then we saw there was a drawing for a prize. I went ahead and signed up. They promised no calls, but they called anyway. The company said that I could come in for a free interview, no obligation, no pressure to join. Ha!
        I was running late, so I called ahead to let them know I'd be about 15 minutes late. Anyway, I got there and they offered me something to drink. I asked for a drinking fountain, but they said they would get me a glass of water. There were no magazines, but there were at least 3 albums of positive letters, even a positive one about not liking the referral given to them (like 2 out of 80, mind you). Then my interviewer came out, Santina -- she was cute!! This must have been done on purpose! SO, we sat and talked. I found out she had no psychological schooling. She said things like "will you be worrying about money as you're walking up the aisle?"
        I WAS lonely, and I thought that this sounded like a good way to meet someone compatible with me. I had taken psychology, and she made it sound so great and logical. I guess the more intelligent you are the easier you fall! So, I agreed to take the tests. After I handed the test in I was in the room all by myself for quite a while. I needed to use the bathroom, and along the way I saw her just around a corner smoking and talking. Obviously she had someone else grade it and cared enough about her client to NOT BE IN THE SAME ROOM! Bells went off, but still it seemed OK. I figured I could quit anytime.
        Then, just as she was beginning to explain the contract to me and the three tiers (remember them?), the secretary did a pop in. "Oh, by the way, there is a Fourth of July Special." (it was July 3rd) Then my counselor said she had never heard of such an offer, and that she had to check it with her supervisor. I was getting the middle tier for a lower price than the lower tier, you see.
        She finally came back in, and made it seem as if this offer was made especially for me! Then I told her that I had trouble believing this was real, and thought it sounded like a scam. She almost cried, and left the room again! When she came back, she started out telling me about the death of her father and about how money wouldn't matter when I walked down the aisle. I told her I was in a financial bind, and she gave me the name of her car insurance provider, and then suggested I could put it on a credit card; just to see if my credit would be accepted. I thought that meant some kind of reasonable payment plan, and thought what the hell. Of course the charge went through, and she said the bill didn't come for a month. My bill was around $1600. She was so pleased that I was part of this that she took my picture and then showed me where to sign at the bottom of the contract.
        In my special notes, I was not to tell anyone about my special price, or it would be bumped up to the regular charge. Then, almost as an afterthought, she asked me to sign next to the first paragraph. I asked what it was; she did a horrible job explaining it. First she said it was because the contract would probably be folded and this would give them and idea that it was signed and by whom. Then she quickly explained what it said. I didn't understand, and said "Oh, you mean I can get my money back, until after the first date where I can only get half?" She said a muffled uh-huh. Still I signed.
        I ran home to dog-sit, and went to bed. When I woke up on the fourth, a terrible feeling of foreboding washed over me. I re-read the contract and found out what the paragraph ACTUALLY said! Well, it was a holiday, so I had to wait to call them back. I asked for a cancellation form, and they said they would call me back. No answer forever, so I called and complained to the BBB. Apparently there is some kind of law here in Missouri wich says any contract signed in the place of business and not in the person's home for an "etheral" service did not get a "cooling-off period". Can you believe that??
        I cancelled the charge on my card, and I told Together I was contemplating such an action, and they couldn't get me an appointment fast enough! I set it up for the next day, having already cancelled the charge without them knowing. They said I could meet with my counselor. When I got there (on time) they made me wait for 15 minutes (remember when I first came in I was 15 minutes late) and then finally a different lady came in. She was the manager, I asked where my counselor was and was told she was with a client but I could see her. I told her that I HAD an apppointment with her, and she asked me to not make a scene, that I could discuss the matter with her. There were a few people there waiting. Well, I followed her (Amy Kennedy Higgins) through the double glass doors within view of the waiting room, and a guy was sitting there! I think he was a bit higher up. Anyway, I immediately knew what this meeting was for -- to stonewall me and convince me to stay with their company. I decided to stay and try anyway -- perhaps I could reason with them or make them empathize with me.
        I can't believe I went through this hell just because I wanted to find a girl who could like me!! We talked, and I saw that he had my case file spread out. Obviously thay had spent hours preparing themselves for this!! What REALLY scared me was that my three top negative traits were there, separately written down by hand in thick black ink. One was "gives up easily." Shit! I thought. I had told this to Santina my counselor as one of the reasons why I thought I wasn't getting dates.
        So I tried different options. Can I just get a full refund, because I didn't understand the paragraph. No, their board wouldn't allow that. Could I do a payment plan. In jumped Amy, this evil bitch of a woman! I don't say she was a bitch cause she was on the other side of the table and I am mad now -- but she seemed to be relishing the fact that she could break me and make me squirm!! She said that on SOME occasions they MAY offer a payment plan, but it was though a bank with a percentage rate more outrageous than my credit card! Then I offered to pay them monthly -- like $300 a month. They said they were a small company and couldn't afford that. What is that? First they say they answer to a board (big company) and then they say they're small (so why can't they decide themselves on this matter) -- I was so scared! I knew I was up against a truly evil scamming force! So I stood up and said "That's it, you're not getting a dime for me!" They told me to be reasonable. That I could either pay them like 800 for nothing, or pay the whole amount and stay with them and get some great dates (they had already said this several times -- and even said the same "walking down the aisle" thing!!!!). I said no way, this is over and walked out. Amy was so shocked at this turn of events, that she said the first thing that came into her head.
        Now, earlier she had told me she had gotten her masters in psychology. So, I had told then I knew I was outgunned, but I was holding my hat in my hands and pleading them to let me out of this. Real good psychologist, not being affected by this truth and sincere plead! I am sure if she practiced, she would be quickly disbarred because of her conduct. Anyway, she said "Stop running away, John."
        I answered, as I held the door open and enough adrenaline pumped through me as to make me shake, that "You scamming bastards! And you, Amy, psychologist are supposed to help people; you should be ashamed of yourself but obviously you sold your soul to this company and so you no longer have any morals!" or something like that. I was so pissed! I stormed out of their oblivious of everything around me, I just prayed they wouldn't follow me try to stop me cause I didn't know if I would run away faster or deck my pursuer.
        I got away clean and jogged down the stairs and through the double doors and into the light. It was eerie because there outside the door was some staff on a cigarette break, laughing and oblivious to me or my condition. I crossed some streets mindless of traffic (I am sure there were no cars, though) and got to my car talking to myself the whole time. Inside the car I talked louder and shook harder and gritted my teeth and hit the steering wheel till I was finally albe to calm myself down a bit to drive.
        OK, so the dispute was finally accepted by the credit card compnay. Their lawyers found reason for my dispute and told the company. My complaint to the BBB went nowhere. They sent my letter to Together, who screamed bloody murder, and the BBB refused to help. I quickly discovered that member businesses PAY to be in the BBB. Their loyalty being clear, I gave up using them (which is why, I figured, there were very few complaints on file) and concentrated on my credit card. Together got 30 days to prove I should pay them. I was so stressed out. The 30 days came and went with no response from them! I was so relieved. Then the credit card company said they would allow another 15 days to see if they had mailed in their complaint. I was a nervous wreck again, just trying to let it go so I could work and sleep. Then those days passed without incident, so I was told it stood, and I was so relieved!!!
        That was in August. Now it is February 2000, and today I recieved a letter from my credit card company saying that Together had made a request to place the entire charge BACK ON, and they were thinking about honoring it unless I write them back before March 1st! God, my head hurts now!! It's been 6 months -- I thought it was over!! Do you know what this is like? They sent me a copy of Together's letter (it was not dated -- the credit card's letter was Feb. 8) and it is truly horrible! It is filled with lies, such as claims that I got two referrals.
        So now, like a bolt out of the blue, they have come to haunt me again! I dont know what to do. I tried getting assistance from a well-known consumer action section of a local TV news station, but they were lukewarm to the how to help me since my dispute was done. I wanted Together to admit the contract was over and to send all my tests, picture and notes on me by certified mail like their contract specified. They never returned their calls, so that was dropped, too. I didn't even bring it up to my state Attorney General. I thought it was over!
        Something needs to be done about this company. I am sorry you got farther under their clutches than I did. How many people do you think they have wronged? Perhaps we could all get together and file a joint suit through the Federal Government or something? The thing is that they are a franchise, and if there is an overriding company, they could say they have no idea or control of what is happening. Still there must be some recourse. I can sign an affadavit to my statement if it comes to that. Gotta go, good luck in your fight and in alerting others to this HORRIBLE company.

Thanks for your letter. I do agree that the Better Business Bureau is a vastly overrated resource and is largely useless; for more information visit Don't Trust the Better Business Bureau and "Better" Business Bureau??. Consumers should rely on their state attorney general for leads on fraudulent companies.