Edmonton woman pays thousands for a date and ends up with toothless homeless man

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

He wasn't homeless, and he also wasn't paid to go out on this date unless someone had evidence of this.

Sorry.. what he meant was that no guy who lives in a trailer on the side of the road and doesn't have dental coverage is spending thousands of dollars on a matchmaking service.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Sorry.. what he meant was that no guy who lives in a trailer on the side of the road and doesn't have dental coverage is spending thousands of dollars on a matchmaking service.

Maybe they knew he could only afford $100. There obviously isn't a set fee.

He could also be a victim don't you agree? Maybe he was expecting better as well.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Sorry.. what he meant was that no guy who lives in a trailer on the side of the road and doesn't have dental coverage is spending thousands of dollars on a matchmaking service.

How do you know this?

And how do you know he wasn't renovating his house?

Or maybe he just moved from another City and brought his RV with him as temporary living accommodations?

Maybe he was heading out on a camping trip the next day?

And maybe he didn't care about having perfect teeth.

A lot of maybe's and what-if's. But taking this story at face value, with only one side of it could be very misleading. There could be massive amounts of hyperbole from her side. Maybe missing a tooth to her, is missing all his teeth. Maybe living in a trailer, could mean "$120,000 fifth wheel hooked up to a $95,000 1 ton dually, and the guy is on the road a lot with a high paying trades job in the patch.", and she didn't know the value. I know a lot of heavy duty oil field mechanics have this type of set-up.

Without his side of the story, and a picture of this guy, we could also be listening to a woman who just made a ton of assumptions that are unfounded.

Is that likely? probably not, it's likely a scam. But nobody knows for sure, and it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility, especially in Alberta. It's a one-sided narrative at this point.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Sorry.. what he meant was that no guy who lives in a trailer on the side of the road and doesn't have dental coverage is spending thousands of dollars on a matchmaking service.

As Pylon said, you don't always know what someone's situation is. In the town I grew up, there was a homeless guy that lived in a shack in the woods next to the golf course. He made money by finding lost golf balls and reselling them. When I got older, I found out he was actually really wealthy and eccentric (he sued a company for millions and then lived like a homeless man). His kids actually went to school with me and I had no idea because they never mentioned he was their dad. I don't know the whole story, but at some point he just broke and went off the grid.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

In the town I grew up, there was a homeless guy that lived in a shack in the woods next to the golf course. He made money by finding lost golf balls and reselling them. When I got older, I found out he was actually really wealthy and eccentric (he sued a company for millions and then lived like a homeless man). His kids actually went to school with me and I had no idea because they never mentioned he was their dad. I don't know the whole story, but at some point he just broke and went off the grid.

So in other words, the average OkCupid user.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

He wasn't homeless, and he also wasn't paid to go out on this date unless someone had evidence of this.

Call me a snob, but if you don't have an address...

He was paid to go on the date, unless you have evidence he wasn't.

SO THERE!

Apparently you don't think this outfit is a scam. I do. Makes sense to me that part of the scam would be to continue the scam by scamming someone with a scam. Like paying some guy a few bucks to get the scam-ee completely on the hook.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by pylon

How do you know this?

I read the article. I suggest it if you haven't.

Maybe she's a liar and, despite sitting down with another human being who could easily dispute any lies, fabricated an entire story about that person in order to have a story for the news instead of telling the facts as she knew them. Ask yourself this: they met on a date, how would she know he lived in a trailer unless he told her that? How would she know he was unemployed? Could it be he... told her?

Your versions of a plausible reality aren't really wrong, but they're certainly far fetched.

I'd present you with these facts:
- Edmonton Matchmakers are being sued for dishonest business practices by another woman
- This is the second woman in the article (I'm sure there are more!) that was refused service after 1 date, despite being promised 12
- Their parent company was fined $500,000 (plus 20K restitution) under the Texas Deceptive Trade Act in 2015
- The comments on the BBB: https://www.bbb.org/edmonton/busines...and-complaints

So sure, focus on her appearance and the slight possibility she's lying for attention, feel free. But in the process you're ignoring the overwhelming evidence that suggests she's likely a victim and one of many.

Or maybe you think they're all lying. Who knows.

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Maybe they knew he could only afford $100. There obviously isn't a set fee.

He could also be a victim don't you agree? Maybe he was expecting better as well.

I agree. I don't really blame him in any way.

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Definitely not asking too much but she's got to understand that she's an overweight middle aged woman who isn't that attractive either.

Sure, she might be employed but he might be employed as well. She called him homeless and he wasn't so wouldn't be shocked if he had a job as well.

And again, this is one side of the story. The man might have a completely different story.

.

You've said this a few times. What part of the article leads you to believe that she doesn't understand the reality that she's middle aged and overweight?

[pylon]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

So sure, focus on her appearance and the slight possibility she's lying for attention, feel free. But in the process you're ignoring the overwhelming evidence that suggests she's likely a victim and one of many.

Firstly, I haven't said one word about her appearance. At all. Never. That being said, she looks like a perfectly acceptable 50 something woman to me.

Secondly, I acknowledged twice it was likely a scam.

My gripe all along has been with CBC being OK with pointing out the physical flaws in the match, and it being socially acceptable. If he was jobless. FCir criticism. If he was homeless, fair as well. It would be fine the other way if it was the female being criticized with "She ended up being a stripper with 4 children when I requested an accountant with no kids." Nothing wrong with that whatsoever.

But.... "She was a fat, gap toothed stripper....." not cool. That's where the double standard came in.

The height slam on short guys, is looked at like the 'fat card' on women. CBC would have never used physical descriptions like that if it was a male victim describing his encounter with a female. That was my argument all along.

Personally, if someone wants to criticize my appearance, fill your boots. IDGAF. I stopped giving a crap about others opinions long ago. However, I understand that not all people have thick skin, and we are taught as a society that fat-shaming, making fun of peoples flaws, etc... is wrong, and I don't do that. (Unless I'm giving a close friend the gears or something).

[PepsiFree]

And here I thought the most egregious part of the article was the multiple women (and possibly men) getting scammed out of thousands of dollars from a company with a crooked past, not the line "he was shorter than her."

Live and learn I guess.

[CaptainCrunch]

It always surprises me when people get taken in scams like this in the modern age of uncensored reviews on the internet. Its not like the good old days when you'd call the BBB and hope that somebody had phoned in a complaint.

If you search any company on the internet you're going to find their history fairly quickly including that this companies affiliates in the States were forced to shut down via court order.

I guess I also have to question someone who's willing to toss $7000.00 or more on a dating site without doing her homework.

Yes its kind of comedy gold that they sent her out with a guy that's opposite of her profile request. But at the same time when I mentioned PT Barnum and his one born every minute quote, it wasn't meant to say that people are stupid or suckers. Its meant to say that the average successful scammer like a successful business person knows his market and can exploit it to maximum profit.

In otherwords, this company was basically designed around preying on woman like this.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

And here I thought the most egregious part of the article was the multiple women (and possibly men) getting scammed out of thousands of dollars from a company with a crooked past, not the line "he was shorter than her."

Live and learn I guess.

But CC just hit the nail on the head. F'ing google the company. Call the BBB. Yes, you can still call them and ask for information on a company if you do not have access to a computer or smart phone. Which I would assume you do if you can afford a $7500 hook up service. This is not a service designed for poor people living pay cheque to pay cheque. And if you are, why the hell are you spending $7500 on this?

If someone buys a car, that's known to have an issue with the transmission failing at 50,000 kms, and the transmission fails at 50,619, do you really feel sorry for their plight? Especially in an age where there is mountains of information and reviews being thrown at you on every single product ever? There is risks to everything, and especially when they're known, getting stung just ends up being a self fulfilling prophecy.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by wittynickname

So today I've learned that a woman expecting a man to have a job and decent dental hygiene is asking for way, way too much.

I guess this is why I don't date very much. Damn astronomical standards we ladies have.

Originally Posted by Peanut

Yep. Better not be middle-aged and also dare to *gasp* look middle-aged while you're at it.

The company is a scam and she is a victim. It doesn't really matter what she looks like or how old she is. And besides, nowhere in there did I read that she wanted someone young, tall, fit and rich. She wanted someone in her age range who was employed. That she considered attractive, which I interpret to mean "had dental hygiene", in this case.

Also to all the dudes complaining about height shaming. It sucks that happens. But the knife cuts both ways, be honest. Most men wouldn't choose to date a woman who was several inches taller than them. This lady was 5'10, which is pretty tall, especially for a woman of her age group.

Middle-aged women definitely have it tougher than men in the dating scene. There are biological and social reasons for that, and probably not the thread to discuss it. But generally speaking, guys don't hate being single. Relationships are a vehicle for having a family. Once that ship has sailed, you're trying to find a needle in a haystack because guys in that age group who are single are probably not that unhappy.

Also, I think height for women is an attractive trait. Maybe I am in the minority there. I have some unconventional tastes.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Middle-aged women definitely have it tougher than men in the dating scene. There are biological and social reasons for that, and probably not the thread to discuss it. But generally speaking, guys don't hate being single. Relationships are a vehicle for having a family. Once that ship has sailed, you're trying to find a needle in a haystack because guys in that age group who are single are probably not that unhappy.

Also, I think height for women is an attractive trait. Maybe I am in the minority there. I have some unconventional tastes.

That's a good assessment, I got over the whole rush to get married thing, and I kind of like the single life and being able to be a little bit picky about dating instead of rushing to find the one. If I find the one I find the one.

But for woman, it is hard because as much as we've progressed as a society a woman over 30 who's single might as well put on a frumpy dress, get some eyeglasses and a bunch of hair elastics, buy some cats and go work in a library, because that's how she's seem in her social circle.

Poor blah blah, she's going to die alone and angry.

As for the tall thing, for some reason, I like short girls, maybe its that manly instinct of protecting someone that's smaller then you.

[Sainters7]

Haha I used to hate when really tall guys would date short girls when I was single. Some of us don't have a choice! That and it looks like you're babysitting

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Call me a snob, but if you don't have an address...

He was paid to go on the date, unless you have evidence he wasn't.

SO THERE!

Apparently you don't think this outfit is a scam. I do. Makes sense to me that part of the scam would be to continue the scam by scamming someone with a scam. Like paying some guy a few bucks to get the scam-ee completely on the hook.

Even if he was a homeless guy who was paid, it doesn't make it right to shame his appearance. He was probably fed a line of BS as well.

If she knows where he lives, it should be pretty easy to get to the bottom of it.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Peanut

You've said this a few times. What part of the article leads you to believe that she doesn't understand the reality that she's middle aged and overweight?

The fact that this is a story? Sorry but a guy missing teeth who may be unemployed is in her league. Who knows, he can be a great guy as well, even with missing teeth and *gasp* lives in a trailer.

Maybe she needs to open up her options if she really wants to find love. Maybe men who live in trailers could be what she has been missing out on.

I'm 5'6 and 185 pounds, do I expect to be attractive to tall pretty women? Nope. I'm in my thirties and finding a date is hard enough, do you think I will be looking down on unemployed women who may be missing a few teeth if I'm single and 55? I really don't think that would be fair considering I'll be a fat old man, but hopefully still employed!

Fact is she didn't like his teeth which are easily fixable, and he can get a job. She didn't give him a chance. What if he's sitting at home pissed off because the company hooked him up with someone who is over weight? Is that fair? Teeth are a lot easier to fix than losing weight is. She'd be just as mad if she met someone who was great but he didn't like her because of her looks. It's a two way street.

[afc wimbledon]

I am struggling to understand why anyone is debating this, its just a minor slightly sad, slightly funny story.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

The fact that this is a story? Sorry but a guy missing teeth who may be unemployed is in her league. Who knows, he can be a great guy as well, even with missing teeth and *gasp* lives in a trailer.

Maybe she needs to open up her options if she really wants to find love. Maybe men who live in trailers could be what she has been missing out on.

I'm 5'6 and 185 pounds, do I expect to be attractive to tall pretty women? Nope. I'm in my thirties and finding a date is hard enough, do you think I will be looking down on unemployed women who may be missing a few teeth if I'm single and 55? I really don't think that would be fair considering I'll be a fat old man, but hopefully still employed!

Fact is she didn't like his teeth which are easily fixable, and he can get a job. She didn't give him a chance. What if he's sitting at home pissed off because the company hooked him up with someone who is over weight? Is that fair? Teeth are a lot easier to fix than losing weight is. She'd be just as mad if she met someone who was great but he didn't like her because of her looks. It's a two way street.

Nooooooo,

The fact is this company had no intention to fulfill what they sold to her. All of these other details are irrelevant. The only relanavene in the mans appearance is to compare him to the match she was promised (it does not matter if what she asked for was realistic or not if the business promised to provide it). This is a story because a women was allegedly defrauded for 10k along with allegedly 1 other person who has also filed a suit.

You keep being confused that this is somehow a legitamate business with a sincere attempt to match her with someone suitable.

[Coys1882]

Strange arguments on here.

A woman can look like Roseanne Barr and pay a company to find her Brad Pitt from Legends of the Fall - that's her right. If they can't make it happen - refund her money. What they can't do is just stick her with Brad Pitt from Twelve Monkeys.