newjerseynewsroom.com

BY GINA G. SCALA 

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Almost everyone has had a disastrous first date with this “really great” man or woman their family and friends think are “perfect” for them. There’s little one can do to end the misery of that first date as they sit across the table in a dimly light restaurant, taking long sips of alcohol.

But Jeanne McCarthy, a 64-year-old New Jersey woman who used a professional matchmaking company to help her find love, has plenty of options. She’s taking legal action against Two of Us, an online dating service with more than 20 years of matchmaking experience.

In her lawsuit, McCarthy, who paid a non-refundable $7,000 to the company, said she received only two matches in five months and the only date she got was with "a man with 3 drunk driving convictions and [an] outstanding criminal warrant" in Arizona.

The Lawrenceville, N.J. branch of the matchmaking service promised McCarthy "quality matches at the rate of one or two during every two-week period,” the lawsuit, filed in Mercer County Superior Court June 4, states.

Instead, the men were “completely inappropriate,” the suit states. McCarthy signed up saying she wanted a man 58 to 67 years old with an active lifestyle like her.

McCarthy signed a contract with the company in January 2011 based on an advertising campaign and consultation with a company representative in which she was assured of extensive screening and criminal background checks on potential matches.

She is seeking her money back, treble damages and punitive damages for breach of contract, fraud in the inducement, and consumer fraud.

A woman at the Two of Us offices June 15 refused to provide her name, but did say the company does sometimes have customers that are unhappy and she’s been paid up to $25,000 for dating services, the Trentonian reported.

Ethan Baker, Two of Us' vice president of operations and general counsel, said the company has not been served and could not comment on the specific allegations of the lawsuit.

"We are providing a service that deals with peoples' emotions," he told ABC News. "It's not like you have one product and you can tell if it's defective. Each person and result varies dramatically. One person may be disappointed with one introduction but the next can lead to a lifetime with someone else."

With 14 locations nationwide, four in New Jersey, including the Lawrenceville branch; each office is individually owned and operated. The management company, in Glendale, Calif., oversees all offices.

“We don't guarantee dates, we guarantee introductions," Baker said. "After we provide the exchange of information for two members, it's up to them to talk to each other, set up a date and do what they need to do. That's clear in the contract as well."

Check out what other customers have to say.