ComplaintsforCatholic Match LLC

• Initial Complaint

  06/23/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  THIS COMPANY SEEMS TO BE ATTACKING THE BODY OF CHRIST. CM is a powerful co. capriciously enforcing unChristian rules to profit & to vent their own angers/frustrations on others (many examples documented online & below). CM behaves like Pharisees using rules (eg not picking grain on the sabbath) to condemn Jesus’ disciples in Matt-12 where Jesus says: “If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men.” Anyone banned by CM for an unintentional rule violation (A LOT of us exist) please pray for the Church. If you receive Holy Communion, it's heartbreaking CM works to cut you off from the Body of Christ (CM cornered the market for online Catholic dating). It's gut wrenching to read of efforts by many to make amends w/ CM & to see CM refuse forgiveness & mock them instead. EXAMPLES: "They clearly do not follow the teachings of Jesus” says one review, they “banned me from the site with no explanation… they were extremely cold to me, with no hint of humanity or concern for how they were making me feel or how they were negatively affecting my life… This is not the behavior of Christians.” - “My account was suspended” one woman writes. “Their reasoning is that my photo looks too young… I'm a devout Catholic, checks all the boxes. I'm someone they WANT on their site.” She goes on: “I tried to contact someone of authority to look into this matter but it seems impossible….” they have “no intention of reinstating me.” -“My account was removed despite having a 12 month subscription and when I emailed the moderators to ask why they refused to give me an answer” per another. “They banned me fir life just checking their opinion on premarital sex.” COMPLAINT: CM is attacking the Body of Christ. DESIRED RESOLUTION: forgive the innocent/remorseful; allow them to again interact w/ other Catholics on your monopoly site. “If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men.”

  Business response

  07/05/2024

  This member was told by another member that they didn’t wish to message any further on our site. He located the other member’s cell phone number without their permission to send a rude and inappropriate text message which is a strict violation of our Terms of Use. Because of the fear of potential safety issues that contacting a member off-site without their permission causes, we have a zero-tolerance policy for such violations and wish this member the best.

  Customer response

  07/09/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.
  
  [There is a lot of injustice in the world. An organization like this really shouldn't be adding to it.

  Anyone reading this who is particularly frustrated with Catholic Match, you can also contact the actual Catholic Church to let them know of your frustrations and to ask for prayers. The company is located near Pittsburgh, PA, and that Diocese and Most Reverend Bishop are welcoming and accessible (for example, write them a letter or contact them using the form on their Diocese website. If not for yourself, do it for the other people who have been, and will be, condemned by this company. The Priests in Zelienople, PA (the town where Catholic Match is loacted) are wonderful too.

  Regarding the company's respons (above), the information they have provided in incorrect (and it's also insulting). And to the Catholic Match workers, as you brag to your families and on social media about what great Christians you are, the reality is there is something much greater going on here.]
  
  Regards,
  
  **** *****

• Initial Complaint

  05/29/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  May 28, 2024 Catholicmatch LLC is a dating website. I filled out a a profile. They claimed my phone number is not valid. They are claiming I did not pass a security check. Clearly they do not have a real security and my phone works and all photos on my profile were valid. They refuse to explain why my profile has been deleted or what security check I failed. and...believe it or not,,,they continue to email me "matches". My account and emails can be accessed using this email address *************************** I want my profile back up and my account unlocked.

  Business response

  05/29/2024

  This member attempted to verify with a phone number which had already been used to verify a different account in another state with a different birthdate. This tipped off our security system to the likelihood of a scammer. Our team did reach out for further identity verification which we haven't received a response to. We are happy to unlock the account once we are confident in the legitimacy of the member. 

• Initial Complaint

  04/18/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I deleted my Catholic Match account in July 2023. The company (through Google) has been taking $31.86 out of my account since then. I was not directed to cancel the subscription upon deleting my account.

  Business response

  04/23/2024

  This member registered for Premium and was notified of the recurring transaction in two ways:

  1. A notification directly on the subscribe page where she chose her subscription length.
  
  2. Directly above the Place Order button it states: By continuing you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Purchase and understand that your credit card will be charged each billing period until you decide to cancel.
  
  We are unable to end Google Play subscriptions even when an account is deleted because Google does not give companies the capability to do so. Consumers receive email receipts from Google for recurring transactions every month. We have refunded as many of these months as was possible in our system.

• Initial Complaint

  03/20/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This app is nothing short of the most unsafe dating site I've ever used! Catholic Match had a deal of $44.99 for six months, so after much debate, I decided with the coaxing of a friend to try it. Almost instantly I realized the app was not at all how it is depicted. Most of the profiles are inactive and fraudulent. However, the main issue is the app is NOT SAFE! Here's why: 1. You can't pause your account (though there is a button for it, it pops up with a message that says "you must wait to pause this account" and then it never let's you pause) This feature simply does not work 2. The filters you put on for what you're looking for are totally disregarded and anyone in the WHOLE COUNTRY can see you even if you put a location range for who you'd like to see. This made me incredibly uncomfortable as that is not at all how the app is portrayed before purchasing. 3. The app only let's you prevent people over 15 older than you message you. Anyone up to 14 years older can see you and message you. It hated this and there is no way to turn it off. Again, not how the app is portrayed before purchasing. 4. You run out of people you can block. In what world on a dating app is it safe to prevent someone from blocking someone else from seeing your profile if you don't want them to? Again, not how the app was portrayed before purchasing. I asked for a refund after deactiving my account 48 hours after purchasing and they said no because I sent less than 10 messages and read some messages (most from much older men in states way far away that I did NOT want messaging me). I see on here many others supposedly received a refund and yet they won't help me after two days and feeling totally, totally unsafe and uneasy the entire time on it. In summary, never get Catholic Match. I am utterly disappointed that this service is connected to the Church in any capacity as it does not foster a safe enviornment in the slightest. Especially for women. And, then are unwilling to help too.

  Business response

  03/20/2024

  I would love to help the person submitting this complaint, however the name listed here is not the name used on their account with us. If she could please write to [email protected] and reference her BBB complaint and ask for Mariette, I will look into this immediately.

  Customer response

  03/20/2024

  I have been emailing with Mariette already under my name: ****** *******  I’ve attached correspondence and prof that I am a subscriber under my name I used on here, my email, and Catholic Match. 

  Business response

  03/20/2024

  We responded to this person in accordance with our Terms of Use. They have been referred to Apple for a refund and we wish them the best.

• Initial Complaint

  01/25/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Catholic Match, seemed outwardly legit but its services are not legit. Although I am conservative and reticent to do any online dating, with persuasion from my friends and family I decided to give it a try. I was surprised to see seemingly decent women who professed Christian values on the site. I narrowed down my search to my city, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were several pages of local profiles to browse through. All new Catholic Match members must take a personality test based on their faith. The sign-up questionnaire has about 25 questions or so. The answers to this test are used to help you find a suitable partner. They’ll also be displayed in your profile for other members to see. I tried to get in touch with a very select individual women with similar Christian values and learned that you will have to sign up for a premium account for 6 months before sending any messages. I narrowed down my search to only two women who were geographically local and seemed interested. I received a response from both locals. When I responded on a place and day to meet during the day on a weekend, suddenly Catholic Match blocked my account. So it is highly likely that Catholic match (using fake names such as Amy and Sandy ) were putting out fake messages in the name of the two locals women to pretend they were corresponding with me. When we were to meet one of the two local women in person my account was blocked. Catholic match (via this person calling themselves Sandy) asked me for my sensitive personal information (drivers license) if I wanted my account on Catholic Match reinstated. No legitimate company will ask sensitive information that contradicts standard security practices. I want my profile and photograph permanently removed from Catholic Match and a refund of the entire money paid to them. I am disappointed that Catholic Match uses (young men and women) such as me as bait in the name of doing a legitimate dating business service.

  Business response

  01/29/2024

  Our security team sometimes needs to request additional identity verification from members in order to keep our community safe. Since member does not wish to provide it, I have refunded the full amount as seen in the attached receipt and closed their account.

  Customer response

  01/30/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. 

  1) A refund has been made to my aunt who introduced me to CM

  2) There is no confirmation if my profile and photographs have been removed by CM. I would like to have proof of this.

   CM has no policy to protect our sensitive information including our profile and photographs. Yet the moderators who pry into our personal profiles play god by blocking our account. I have now learned that this is a common CM practice from friends who have used their service. Sadly this was my first time and I have learned a good lesson not to trust websites as CM. Most of us our aware that no legitimate company will ask you such sensitive information. While texts and emails can appear to come from legitimate companies and have a seemingly logical reason for asking for money or information, reputable organizations will never ask you to share sensitive personal information (such as your social security, drivers license, passport or similar such classified information). These pieces of information could be shared with third parties, which may include marketers and data brokers that sell your personal information for profit. See the major data breaches  *********************************************************************************************************************
   CM does not protect our privacy with the very fact that out photos and profiles are reused.
  
  I want my profile and photograph permanently removed from Catholic Match. As for the refund it will go to my aunt who as a gift to me paid for it, assuming in good faith that CM practices  are legit. Thank you.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  ****** ***

  Business response

  01/30/2024

  This profile has been fully and completely removed from our site since the user would not complete the additionally required identity verification. All photos and profile information were immediately removed at the time of the refund being issued.

  As for security, CatholicMatch treats your personal information with the highest level of security.
  
  All information that you provide to us is SSL-encrypted. This is the most trusted and secure of encryption technologies. You will find a lock in the URL indicating that the connection is secure.
  
  You will also find the small lock icon in the URL, which appears every time you are using a secured website.  This site is protected by 256-bit SSL-encryption, which means that all of your data is transmitted in encrypted form and is inaccessible to third parties.
  
  Another means of security verification is the URL bar. Once you double-click the address, you will find an "s" behind "http" which indicates a completely secure connection. 
  
  We always adhere to our Privacy Policy and Data Protection obligations. This includes third party privacy protection.

• Initial Complaint

  01/01/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Business advertises a solution to dating but lacks transparency in delivery of “services”. Business supports keeping inactive customer accounts for active users to pointlessly message. Inactive users indicate a fictional reality of there being active users to those that are unaware. This is a deceptive practice that gives a false sense of a “service” being fulfilled. Numerous reviews on this issue have been filed on third party accountability websites across the years with no action being taken.

  Business response

  01/01/2024

  This person's Premium subscription has been refunded. He had an account for less than a week before filing the complaint, and only messaged two people which is a very short amount of time to determine that there has been some issue preventing success when there has been little use of the site at all. We faithfully hide profiles after a period of complete inactivity - if you are seeing a profile, that person is at least occasionally logging in. We wish this person the best.

• Initial Complaint

  12/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I seek neither money nor goods. I ask only that Catholic Match take action when members violate standards of basic honesty in writing their profiles or when they fail to follow Catholic Match guidelines in posting photos, something that Catholic Match does not always do now. Within the past two months, I reported two members, each for posting inaccurate information on their profiles. One claimed to have no children living at home, but then later in her profile admitted that her adult children were still living at home. Another claimed to attend Mass weekly, and then later in her profile admitted to attending "one to three times per month" which is clearly not the same as weekly; Catholic catechism teaches that deliberately missing weekly Mass is a "grave" sin. Catholic Match refused to correct either of these instances of false information. Finally, my primary photo was pulled by Catholic Match without warning and with no input from me because it violated their standard that the photo must show the individual "facing toward the camera." I reported a photo within the past month that was more egregious in that regard than mine, but the photo has not been removed even though I sent a copy of my pulled photo to CM and pointed out that this new member's photo was more in violation of their guidelines than mine was (photos of each attached). They refused to remove the photo. Instead, I received an insulting and threatening email from the author of that guideline, Mr. Nathan ****** terming my reports to be "frivolous" and "vindictive"(photo attached). That claim is blatantly untrue. I have always reported facts only and avoided any type of verbal abuse. I am only asking that Catholic Match pledge to honestly and equitably enforce basic standards of honesty in member content and to enforce the photo guidelines they themselves have written. Nothing more.

  Business response

  12/28/2023

  We try to apply our rules for the benefit of all members and we do not publicly comment on any security actions we take in order to provide the best possible environment for all our members.

  Customer response

  12/29/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

  As I have already made clear, Catholic Match does NOT apply its rules fairly and equitably.  On the contrary, they apply the rules that they lay out capriciously and arbitrarily.  If they did, in fact, apply their rules as they claim, I would be satisfied.  I will be monitoring their actions in the future to see if they live up to their claims.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  ******* ******

• Initial Complaint

  11/19/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On November 14, 2023 I subscribed for a 6mon subscription with the advertisement being $15.00/mon. The business did not charge month by month, but instead charged for the entire 6 months in advance. Within less than 72hrs I contacted the business asking for a refund, for I had hardly utilized any of the app features nor had/engaged in any actual conversations yet. Furthermore, unforeseen personal circumstances came up that have prompted me to no longer want to continue with the services that I had basically not even used yet. I contacted the company directly and received a response, but it was not very reassuring as this didn't even refund half of the price I paid. I paid $53.70, and received a refund of $23.71, meaning I paid $30 dollars for less than 3 days worth of a service that was guaranteed for much longer than that! Would appreciate the remaining $30 refunded as well.

  Business response

  12/06/2023

  ******** wrote in for a refund after already having used the Premium subscription to send off-site contact information to another member. This rendered her ineligible for a complete refund. She was refunded the difference between a 6 month subscription to a 1 month subscription on the 19th and was still upset. She was refunded the additional amount on November 22nd, having received back the entirety of her 6 month subscription even though she used it to send contact information to another member.

• Initial Complaint

  07/15/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The company locked by account for unreasonable cause and don't return my subscription fee. I recommended other users on the platform to do web search for my name. There is nothing in the user agreement against this. I want a refund.

  Business response

  07/21/2022

  To explain, giving out your full name and telling people to google your name in your first message to someone jeopardizes both you and them. We contacted you and informed you that this was not permitted for safety reasons. We then gave you suggestions on safe messaging techniques, and mentioned that we would remove the lock on your account AND start your full 6 month subscription over again if you agreed to abide by our safety rules. I see that you never replied to our offer. At this time I’ve refunded your subscription in full and permanently removed your account. You can expect to see your refund within 72 hours.

• Initial Complaint

  06/16/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Since i discovered that CatholicMatch does not allow non subscribers to send or even to respond to messages, I have been trying to discover a way to make it easier to actually communicate with non paying members. (had I known they couldn't respond, I most likely wouldn't have purchased the subscription even though it was the heavily discounted St. Valentine's day sale.) this borders on false advertisement, they need to make it clear before you purchase a subscription that you will not receive a response unless the person is also a paying user, and have a way to know who is a paying user and who isn't so you know who you might get a response from. or allow us to post outside contact info like an Instagram account at our own risk.

  Business response

  06/23/2022

  There appears to be a misunderstanding on how our site works. No matter if someone pays for a subscription or not, everyone can reply to a message. Our members who have a Basic subscription (free) can read and reply to a message after a waiting period, and then can continue conversing with that same person without having to purchase a subscription. Therefore, you can message any member you want knowing that she WILL reply IF she is interested. You are welcome to visit our Help page where our FAQs explaining the difference between our Premium and Basic memberships are located.

  
  Concerning your suggestion that members be allowed to post outside contact information, that is a serious safety risk to our members and posting your contact information in your profile is not allowed on our site. However, once you get to know someone and want to move the relationship to the next level, you are welcome to share your contact information through our message platform.

  
  I hope that this clears up any confusion and better explains how we take our members safety very seriously.

  Customer response

  06/25/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  Either they have recently changed their policy on who can respond to members, as their help pages refer to only being able to read messages for free "When you receive a message from another member, click on the message that you received from within your Message Inbox and choose the option to "Start Unlocking". When you do this, it'll begin a countdown until the contents of the message are revealed to you. At the end of the countdown, return to that same message in your Message Inbox  to view its contents." ( *****************************************************************How-can-I-unlock-a-message-Basic-Free-Members- )
  
  One also wonders why someone would want to "Subscribe to read messages and correspond regularly" if you don't need to pay to reply to messages?
  
  ( https://plus.catholicmatch.com/articles/messages-can-now-be-read-for-free )
  
  And if these are no longer accurate, then why are these pages still on their website? you would think a web based business would have better housekeeping with their footprint if that is the case.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  **** ******

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩