As a former loan officer in the mortgage industry, I would like to share some information with everyone on this forum regarding sales and sales tactics. When they initially contact you about the online forms you submit and use lines such as, "Do you want to be single the rest of your life?" which is a sales tactic, it creates self doubt about your situation and causes you to think you need help finding Mr. or Mrs. Right. When you visit the office and fill out those forms, you are providing them with the ammunition they need to play on your emotions. You are giving them the information regarding the most intimate moments of your life, information on breakups, divorces, abusive relationships, caring for sick family members and every other private detail of your life.
Ask questions before you fill out anything and agree to buy a membership. Demand guarantees. Don't take their word for anything. Get it in writing. Demand a contract. They have members sign contracts to protect the company. Demand a contract to protect yourself. If they are offended by this or try to make you feel bad, don't walk, run out the door. If they try to make you feel bad for asking questions or for asking for any guarantee in writing, run, don't walk. It's another sales tactic to intentionally make you feel bad for questioning anything. No company or its employees should be offended when a customer demands any guarantee in writing. If they can't guarantee anything in writing, ask, "Why not?"
Don't fall for the line, "Nothing is guaranteed." That's why they have you sign a contract agreeing to pay the fees for their services. Your money is guaranteed the minute you sign a contract with them. Demand the membership numbers for your area in writing, a contract. This is a guarantee they have that number of members in your area. Demand a guarantee in writing that you will meet Mr. or Mrs. Right. Remember you are the client and it's your money. You have the right to demand guarantees in writing. The question, "How much is Mr. or Mrs. Right worth to you?" is another sales pitch. How many sales reps do you think they have as clients? They read the information you provide, play on your emotions, build you up, and then hit you with that sales pitch.
Demand to see their credentials if they claim to be relationship counselors or experts. They should have some type of certification or degree. Ask yourself are they just sales reps and what qualifies them as relationship experts? If they are offended or try to make you feel bad when asking for their credentials, this is another sales tactic and another sign to run out the door. If they try to pressure you into buying a membership on the spot, you need to ask yourself, "Why are they pressuring me to make this decision immediately?" They don't want you to think about it and question anything.
Two of Us claims, they conduct background checks on their clients, someone also conducted a background check on Bernie Madoff, the same Bernie Madoff who single-handedly orchestrated one of the largest Ponzi schemes in history. Background checks aren't worth the paper they are written on. This is another sales pitch to draw you in. Beware! The insulting comments made by the sales reps at this company are the first sign to run. If they were truly concerned about anyone, they wouldn't make insulting comments, prey on vulnerable people and take advantage of anyone suffering from any kind of trauma or dealing with grief. True professionals would not conduct themselves in this manner.
As a former loan officer, I had never pressured anyone into making a hasty decision, especially when it came to personal finances. Maybe being single isn't such a bad thing. I was a single mom, not looking for a relationship and met my second husband. We've been married for 23 years. Stop worrying about finding the right person and you will meet Mr. or Mrs. Right. Maybe you haven't yet for a reason. We are truly responsible for our own happiness. Having a relationship can surely add to that happiness but we can't depend on others to make us happy or feel fulfilled. These are some of life's lessons I had learned being a single mom. Please take this information into consideration before spending money on something you don't need.
