Class Action Suit Against HotRussianBrides - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

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Class Action Suit Against HotRussianBrides
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Posted by: dakotaridge

For anybody who might be interested ... I'm looking for people to participate in a class-action lawsuit against Hot Russian Brides / Russian Love match. This company has outdone even AW with the most blatant case of false advertising and fraud I have ever run across.

Everything they do is meant to deceive men into paying them money. Massive fraud is the basis for the suit.

First, they have a policy of "you cannot exchange email addresses in your letters." They lie through their teeth about why this is. "It's to protect the women." I don't think so, Tim. It's to protect their profits. They have a clause that you must agree to before signing on to their site - you cannot visit any woman they list unless you go through them. They charge 3 to 10 times the going rate for everything from apartments to airfare.

Here's the catch: they only broker profiles from other agencies. But they assume they have the authority to dictate policy for Russia, Ukraine, etc. by deciding "nobody can visit women in these countries unless they pay us 3 to 10 times the going rate for the entire visit." Hello? Doesn't RUSSIA decide who can and cannot visit women in Russia? Doesn't UKRAINE decide who can and cannot visit women in Ukraine? Since when does a private American company have the authority to control passage into and out of every country in Eastern Europe???

Today (11/18), they sent out a mass mailing, with a new policy: you can no longer exchange even postal addresses. The reason why is "Earlier today we sent out an email informing our members of a correspondence policy change that will take effect on 11/21. In an effort to alleviate some of your concerns, we'd like to elaborate as to why this change was made. Over the past several months, many of the ladies who participate in our service have expressed concerns over our existing policy regarding the exchange of postal addresses. Namely, they are worried about giving their home address to men they've never met in person. While some of you may feel such concerns are unwarranted, experience has shown us exactly the opposite."

This is the most blatant lie I have ever seen, used for only one purpose: to lock men into paying their rates to do anything. 100% of the women they list are brokered from other agencies. None of the women they list even know they exist. And yet all these women are "expressing concern" over voluntarily choosing to give their home addresses to men they've never met. Of course, it's only incidental that HRB / RLM profits immensely by these concerns, and it's only incidental that no other web site in history has ever claimed that "the women represented in the profiles we rent from other agencies have expressed great concern TO US (but not to the agencies they list with) over the possible ramifications of VOLUNTARILY giving their postal address to a man they've never met."

Using this unfathomable fraud and false advertising to collect money is slightly illegal in America.

Anybody interested in joining this suit, PM me.

Posted by: Leprechaun

Hi dakota, there seems to be a few solicitors getting internet dating cases under their belts.

http://www.russianmeetingplace.com/...read.php?t=6261

Posted by: bingism

Personally I think it'll be a tough one to pursue, unless the angle is "false advertising". They clearly state on the site that a "validated" profile is one where they have a scanned copy of photo ID and that they have personally spoken to the lady in question. If you have proof sufficient to withstand the "balance of probability" litmus test (unless you're going criminal and then obviously "beyond all reasonable doubt"), then it's a clear case of false advertising, or at least misrepresentation. This then leads onto the question of "many of our ladies are concerned about the postal address issue", etc...

With regards their "correspondence policy", I don't think there's much to go for on this one since it is very clear in their User Agreement what the score is. If, however, you could prove that you were using the service prior to 18/11 and corresponding with someone and were about to exchange contact details, it might be a different story. It would be a reasonable case to argue that you were using the service in good faith with a view to meeting your correspondant in the near future without the use of the service. If (because of the new policy) you felt forced into continuing to use the service or to use their very expensive introduction service, you could present an argument that could result in reimbursed costs to you. There may also be some element of compensation for mental anguish, etc, and potentially some punitive damages.

In some fortunate way, I think that the "correspondence policy" is a huge mistake on the part of HRB. Why on earth would anyone use this service? The User Agreement is fairly clear and I for one would take one look and run for the hills...

Just my thoughts. Good Luck!

Bing

Posted by: Leprechaun

Aye, the average internet user would run a mile from complications, some just about have the ability to turn on the pc and type what they want in a websearch, The problem is most wont bother to check out the user agreement or the FAQs in a site before handing over their sheckles and most sites make it difficult for the average user to understand policies.

Posted by: bingism

It certainly sucks, but difficult to take to court... The arguments always going to be "why didn't you read it?"... Would be interesting to see if Dakota can get a solid case together though.

Posted by: Leprechaun

Yep, It'll be tuff alright.

I know there are easier sites out there for the average user to understand, (the free ones) so lets hope that they find sites like this first (and not too many scammers on them). Another problem is webmasters advertise these sites hoping to make commission also, so most webmasters really don't care either which site the user goes to, thus helping unscrupulous sites achieve visitors & profits.

Posted by: Texas Proud

My problem is I do not see any fraud or false advertising...

They state clearly that you can not exchange email addresses... with the statement 'to protect the women' as you say... well, would it NOT protect the women? You mightn not think so, but they do... a difference of opinion, not fact... and YES, they want to do it to make MORE money, but their statement is not "false"...

They say "you must use our site to visit the woman"... well, what happens if you do not? NOTHING... They are not going to sue you to collect the money you might owe them under their agreement...

You have a contract with them and they are spelling out the terms.. your option is to NOT USE THEM... if ALL (as stated) are on other sites, then GO TO THE OTHER SITES!!!

Posted by: inlove

I don't see much ground for a law suit. Their agreement is published on the website, and you cannot become a member without agreeing to the terms. If they have changed their terms in a process, and you don't agree with the change, you should be able to terminate the membership and get your money back, whatever is left on your account. If they don't allow it, then you have something to sue for.. Otherwise, a dead case, IMHO..

Posted by: ham

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Proud

My problem is I do not see any fraud or false advertising...

They state clearly that you can not exchange email addresses... with the statement 'to protect the women' as you say... well, would it NOT protect the women? You mightn not think so, but they do... a difference of opinion, not fact... and YES, they want to do it to make MORE money, but their statement is not "false"...

They say "you must use our site to visit the woman"... well, what happens if you do not? NOTHING... They are not going to sue you to collect the money you might owe them under their agreement...

You have a contract with them and they are spelling out the terms.. your option is to NOT USE THEM... if ALL (as stated) are on other sites, then GO TO THE OTHER SITES!!!

sounds more reasonable.
I think any $200/h yellow pages lawyer could have written small print bulletproof enough to stop most lawsuits of this kind dead in their tracks.

Big agencies are mostly all alike.

Posted by: Rockyof Florida

HRB/RLM is in the process of changing their policy on contact information. You will be able to buy the contact info if the lady gives the O.K. This is per an email I received from HRB. It will COST you, though!

Posted by: Link

I saw this website today and I'm new here but it seems like a major rip-off for me. The photos of the girls are more like watching soft core porn rather than regular profiles. In other words: it seems to damn good to be true.

Posted by: freebird

Quote:

Originally Posted by Link

I saw this website today and I'm new here but it seems like a major ripoff for me. The photos of the girls are more like watching soft core porn rather than regular profiles. In other words: it seems to damn good to be true.

There are a lot of rip-off agencies, the best plan is to check carefully, read the small print & ask questions!

Posted by: blucatz

One thing the agreement does not tell you is the exact requirements for being able to get the contact information of the ladies. All it says is that you must be a qualified paid member for at least 3 months. After 3 months, you need to have bought 2500 credits, look at the price of the credits and do the math. They will not tell you this part until you become a member.

Posted by: blucatz

I also have first hand knowledge that allot of the women on this site actually get paid a commision to keep men chatting and buying credits. That is why the women look too good to be true.