Friends 1st

[Lone4anger]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has had any dealings with an agency called Friends1st. They are a 'religious' dating site - not online but by sending details which they have vetted after putting together a profile for you. Anyway, one of their promises is that it will be confidential/private - just between you and them. With me, they broke that promise and tried to laugh it off, but it has caused a major problem at home (and yes, I am single but I have family members sharing the house with me). I said that because this aspect was broken I would not be using them and wanted to be taken off their lists/cancelled the payments etc. They are now threatening me with debt collectors etc etc. What would you do?

[Nanny0gg]

Trading Standards?

[Lone4anger]

I never thought of that, but I am not sure they have done something which would come under that heading... I will certainly have a look online.

[Rightho]

Anyway, one of their promises is that it will be confidential/private - just between you and them

There are a number of different issues here.

• breach of contract. If it was in their terms and conditions and they breached it, they have broken the contract. Whether that gives you a right to terminate the contract and/or not pay will depend on the circumstances of the case (for example if you have partially accepted services, you may be under an obligation to pay for what you have receive; but if the breach is a fundamental one, you may be entitled to set the contract aside totally). Your precise rights are fact sensitive and would need the terms to be looked at .From what you have said, if it is early on, you may be able to just cancel it.

• data protection. You don't say exactly what happened and how they broke your confidence, but it maybe a data protection breach. You can deal with this by checking if they are a registered data controller (they would need to be if it is a UK based organisation and failure to be registered is itself a breach of the act) here:

ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/what-we-do/register-of-data-controllers/

and you can complain about them to the ICO. But you'd need to be clear about what the breach was and how it took place.

• misuse of private information (breach of privacy).. This is a separate legal claim that, if you have suffered damage, can give you a cause of action entitling you to damages. There are mechanisms to issue proceedings under acronymns to protect privacy.

• as has already been said trading standards.

I would write them a formal letter setting out what happened in a very neutral fact based way including dates, times, their statement about privacy and make clear that you relied on that representation,

then say this is a breach of the contract terms/dp/privacy etc whichever matches your case.

and that you were entitled to terminate the contract and haven't received any services.

So therefore you trust that they will agree the contract has been cancelled and no money is due.

See what happens. Worst case scenario go and see a lawyer. You can get pro bono advice here if you fit their criteria.

www.barprobono.org.uk/

[clarrylove]

I work for an introduction agency. They are bound by Data Protection. What exactly did they do? Pm me if you like.

[J3an]

Dear Lone4anger,

Have you resolved the issue with FriendsFirst? I am in a similar situation myself for cancelling my membership early. FriendsFirst claim to offer a personal service for Christian singles to meet other like minded people off line. For a fee of £49.00 per month I have received profiles of legally married but separated men, my profile was given to a member who didn't want to meet women of African origin - when he found out I was he wasn't polite. All but two profiles were of men who are equally attractive but neither men were suitors. Most member profiles received do not live locally. FriendsFirst do not distribute profiles equally when making introductions. Two member who contacted me had my profile but I did not theirs. One said he wasn't a Christian but wanted to marry a Christian woman and due to technical issues he didn't have a FriendsFirst profile of himself. With hindsight, FriendsFirst knowingly approved my membership despite my not having recovered from previous relationship trauma. Once I had signed up as a member I was advised to have additional dating and relationship coaching with them costing an additional £30 for every 10 minutes coaching received. Once a member you receive a folder which contains a lot of up-selling of their services and cash incentives for recommending them to others.

The few members who I have spoken to have expressed simular dissatisfaction with the service but unlike you and I they continue to pay for their annual subscription because of the terms in the contract. Personally I believe FriendsFirst have breached several terms in their service to myself and others.

It would be most helpful to hear the outcome of your complaint.

[dmoat]

Hello Lone4anger. What happened with your problem with Friends 1st?

[MarketingMess]

I have been reading this recently updated thread, apparently there is no conclusion whether the issue was resolved. I recently applied to Friends1st, and was going to pay £500 to set up a profile, but the costs seem really high, considering they threaten you with legal action if you stop paying the direct debits. They must have admin charges, but these charges are exorbitant. A pp mentions that Friends 1st don't offer you introductions to anyone who is local to you, so I don't think I will bother now.