Speed Dating Australia

3 cancelled events, no refund, enquiries ignored for months – This is a timeline of three events cancelled without refund and repeated attempts to communicate with the company, all of which were ignored. 20/9/23 event - CANCELLED. On 11/9/23 I paid $42.61 for an event supposed to take place 20/9/23. I paid via Eventbrite. On 17/9/23 I received an email from the organiser asking attendees to reply and… Read more

confirm their attendence. On 18/9/23 I confirmed (within 24 hours). On 18/9/23 I received an automated reply to my confirmation saying "Hi, we are closed for winter, tickets can still be purchased online." On 19/9/23 I received an email saying "We had just too many people either cancel or not confirm, which has forced us to have to cancel the event." which also provided a booking code to transfer to a different event. On 20/9/23 I used the code provided to book for an event to be held on 28/9/23. On 20/9/23 I emailed the organiser requesting confirmation of my booking, as during booking their website returned an SMTP (email) error from their PHP email library, suggesting that an email confirmation email failed to send. I got no response.

28/9/23 event - CANCELLED. On 24/9/23 I received an email from the organiser asking attendees to reply and confirm their attendence. On 25/9/23 I confirmed (within 24 hours). On 27/9/23 I got an email identical to the one from 19/9/23 saying "We had just too many people either cancel or not confirm, which has forced us to have to cancel the event." and again providing a booking code to transfer to a different event. On 27/9/23 I used the code provided to book for an event to be held on 18/10/23. On 27/9/23 I emailed the organiser saying "Thanks for the update. Could I ask if the numbers received for the past 2 cancelled events are trending towards one going ahead successfully soon? Just trying to manage my expectations."

18/10 event - CANCELLED. On 15/10/23 I received an email from the organiser asking attendees to reply and confirm their attendence. On 15/10/23 I confirmed (within 1 hour). On 17/10/23 I got an email identical to the last two saying "We had just too many people either cancel or not confirm, which has forced us to have to cancel the event." and for the third time providing a booking code to transfer to a different event. On 17/10/23 after 3 failed events I was no longer able to continue accepting re-bookings. I emailed the organiser saying:

>Just wanted to shoot you a note regarding a refund due to this cancellation. As this is the third cancellation in a row I've requested a refund for my ticket to the original event booked for 20/9/23. I booked this through Eventbrite so there should be a new refund request on Eventbrite for it. It was Eventbrite ticket #[provided]. > >I'm providing the below information to assist you in processing that refund request. > >Original ticket purchase was for the event in Perth on 20/9/23. This was purchased through Eventbrite on 11/9/23. Ticket # [provided]. >This was cancelled at short notice so I used the proffered code to re-book for 28/9/23. This booking was through the website. >The 28/9/23 event was also cancelled. At this time I used the provided contact email to inquire about whether the confirmation numbers were trending towards an event going ahead but I didn't receive any reply. I again accepted the offer to transfer to the later event on 18/10/23 which has just been cancelled. >Accepting a third rebooking would not be practical for me so a refund would be the appropriate remedy.

I received no reply. On 4/11/23 I followed up the previous email saying:

>As per the email below I requested a refund via the EventBrite website over 2 weeks ago but I can see that it's still pending on the EventBrite website. Could you please attend to this refund request expediciously? Ticket number [provided], refund request [provided]

On 13/2/24 I followed up again. On 13/2/24 I received an automated response saying "Hi, we are currently closed for xmas." I can't tell if there's any difference between them being closed or open. When they're closed they still take bookings for events. When they're open they still don't answer emails.

After several polite attempts to contact them regarding my issue I have had zero response. This is pretty inexplicable. I used the email address they suggested, the same one they were using to communicate with me. Either my emails are still sitting in their inbox unread or they deleted them. If they don't answer emails after months of being open then when do they expect to get to them? The reasonable assumption is that they never reply to emails about refunds.

My situation is clearly described as warranting a refund by Australia's fair trading guidelines regarding this type of event. I can't imagine any above board reason they would have for ignoring it. If you can't meet your obligations to consumers as a limited liability company in Australia you should not continue to operate as one. It's not just the right thing to do, it's the law.

Speed Dating Success – My partner and I met and had such a great experience from the speed dating event back in 2020 at Mofo Lounge, Prahran, Melbourne. It was both our first time with our own respective friends. We both never expected that we would meet our soul mates. We are now happily engaged and looking forward for our future marriage and other amazing life adventures together. Many thanks!!

Fun Speed Dating! – a well run, well organised speed dating event, great value for money. Matches arrived within in 24 hours. By far the best company in Adelaide!

Professional and good value – Events are well organised and everyone I have met there for a date has been lovely. The event locations a well chosen. Definitely recommend.

Cancelled event and no refund – I purchased a ticket online on the 29th of October for a speed dating event on the 2nd of November. I received an email and text message on the 1st of November that the event has been cancelled. I replied via email and text that I would like a refund. When I did not receive a response after a few hours. I called during the day and could not leave… Read more

a voicemail, due to a silent answer. After multiple attempts to call during the day and evening. I emailed again to finally receive response via email “ok but please stop with the phone calls, we are running numerous events”. I replied to the email asking if they need my bank details.

It is now the 11th of November and I still haven’t received my refund. I was left with no choice but to contact my bank and lodge a dispute. Writing this review I hope that no one else has to experience the inconvenience that I and many other people have to go through when they purchased tickets from Speed Dating Australia, only for them to cancel and not refund our money

Speed Dating Australia, please don’t give a generic response that you have been running since 2004. Please take responsibility for the actions and refund the money that myself and other people have requested.

Speed Dating Australia *** EVENT CANCELLED *** - no refund - strange replies to my repeated email requests for refund – Speed Dating Australia cancelled event the day before by email for - Speed Dating Perth Inglewood Hotel 08 June 2023... SDA email requested -'We apologise for this inconvenience, would it please be possible to transfer you to another event list below: Booking code: AMG https://www.speeddatingaustralia.com/events/speed-dating-perth' I could… Read more

not find an event in my age group so I advised SDA and requested a refund with several emails. Despite my emails including the SDA email cancelling the event the SDA replies include 'Hi, we are closed for winter, tickets can still be purchased online. Thanks' and 'We can not see your payment,' Now no reply and still no refund. If no reply to email sent to SDA tonight within time limit given I will contact Department Consumer Protection - DOCEP WA for advise on how to proceed.

This Company no longer holds events just your money!!!! – no communication leading up to the event, no ticket, no phone number to call and then 24hrs before the event, they cancel and tell you to rebook but the code they doesn't work, they not communicate with you and they don't give your money back! Absolute [Content Removed] and everyone impacted from [Name Removed] the [Content Removed] need to make a… Read more

complaint to the ACCC and hopefully she can be done for fraud!!!!!!

(Response) Please see my screenshots of the "said" aggressive/abusive threats I made to them in my attempts to get my money back that was taken on false prentices.

Extremely Disappointed with Speed Dating Australia's Unprofessionalism – My recent interaction with Speed Dating Australia has left me deeply disappointed. I had purchased tickets for two events that were ultimately cancelled. Despite my attempts to request a refund, the company refused to provide any resolution or compensation. The lack of professionalism displayed by Speed Dating Australia is truly unacceptable.… Read more

Their disregard for customer satisfaction and refusal to take responsibility for their actions is disheartening. I strongly advise potential customers to reconsider engaging with this company, as my experience has been extremely unsatisfactory.

sexist and creepy – company has a lower age range for women then for men at the same event, perpetuating the completely outdated sexist ideal that womens 'value' decreases sooner then mens, and creates opportunities for creepy old dudes to date women far younger than them. gross.

Repeatedly cancel events then take your money and hope you give up – Do not purchase They had rescheduled Sydney Speed Dating events now 4 times, and have no plans to actually provide the service that you paid for. Warning do not purchase anything from this company, they threaten you with legal action when you ask for a refund!!!!!

This company will cancel events and not issue a refund. Buyer beware! – Perth event at Inglewood Hotel for 27th April 2023 was cancelled last minute and no refund issued when I requested. They responded by saying:"Can not see your payment details". I made transaction payment via PayPal weeks prior to the event. To anyone out there be warned, avoid this scamming business at all costs! I have not received my money back! They have scammed more people in the past and will continue to do so. Just read all the reviews.

Complete [Content Removed] – Speed Dating Australia Pty Ltd. takes your money and cancels their events the last minute and will not refund you. If you contact them for a refund they will ignore you and block you. This is illegal!

A well run event – I have attended a few speed dating events from different companies and this one is the most well organised and best value for money. Tickets are priced well and also includes finger food (brought out during the first break) and a drink card (provided during the second break to be used on selected beer or wine). The organiser explains how the… Read more

event works at the start and keeps things moving smoothly.

It's always a fun night, feels like being at a bar but you know everyone there is single.

Best Speed Dating Experience – The event was well run, good host, and quality venue with good food and drink card! If you’re considering attending a speed dating event, consider these guys!

Great Company & Events! – I have been to a few of these events run in the past few years. The company is great to deal with! The events are so much fun, they are certainly the best nights out I’ve had. It’s a great way to regain confidence talking with people, meeting new friends and making connections. I highly recommend it!

Don't book with them – I've been to one good event with this company. However since then I've booked multiple times and every time they have cancelled and refused to refund. They again cancelled an event scheduled for this week. I emailed them asking for a refund - no reply. Avoid this company.

Cancelled event at last minute, refused refund – All those reviews below about them cancelling events at the last second and refusing refunds are 100% true. I had to issue a chargeback via my bank to get my money back. If a business does this to you don't hesitate to file a chargeback. Refusing a refund is illegal (Victoria). Here's the email chain in case they claim I acted like a crazy… Read more

person.

Sep 28

Dear Member,

Sorry for the late notice but unfortunately we will have to cancel the event this week. As you are aware we like to confirm final numbers leading up to an event. We had too many people pull out or not confirm which has forced us to unfortunately have to cancel this event.

We apologise for this inconvenience, would it please be possible to transfer you to another event ?

https://www.speeddatingaustralia.com/events/speed-dating-melbourne

Please use booking code NMF

Thanks for your support and patience.

-- Melbourne Speed Date - Speed Dating Australia Pty Ltd. Established 2004.

Sep 28

I think I'd prefer a refund please.

Oct 1

Hi, just following up on this, I'll need a refund processed by middle of next week or I'll file a chargeback claim.

Thanks.

Oct 6

Hello,

It is Thursday and I've not heard from you. A chargeback has been submitted to commbank.

I have my family thanks to this busines – Went along to an event Brisbane Speed dating held in 2017. It was so well organised and despite initial nervousness I had such a fun time. It's a million times better than internet dating- dating is a numbers game so meeting 25 people in 1 night was great!

Event cancelled, no refund – The Brisbane event I booked and paid for was cancelled due to the floods, I received an email saying we could rebook on their website using the code given. Their website has now been down for many weeks, [Name Removed] emailed to say it would be up and running soon but no sign of it. I requested a refund but only got an automated part time email… Read more

like others on here. I requested again and said I would take matters further if I didn't get a reply but have been ghosted. I will be reporting this business to the Qld consumer body, they have clearly gone out of business and are illegally keeping people's money.

Reported to Consumers Vic. Fraudulent business – Event cancelled and no refund offered and the "business" is no longer responding to emails. Only automatic emails stating "We are a national business. Due to covid, we are currently running part time". No listed phone number available. Reported to Consumers VIC

They refused to refund when events were cancelled – IF SEVERAL CUSTOMERS POSTED NEGATIVE REVIEWS ABOUT THEIR REFUSAL TO REFUND WHEN EVENTS ARE CANCELLED, THIS MUST BE THE TRUTH. THEY BLAMED COVID BUT THEY ACTUALLY REFUSED TO REFUND TO MANY CUSTOMERS BACK IN 2014 WAY BEFORE COVID. As you can see from many negative reviews here, Sydney Speed Date often cancelled the events and when customers tried… Read more

to request refund a few times, they banned the customers for aggressive behaviour. I had a similar situation in the past when they refused to refund me and when I sent a couple of emails chasing the refund, they banned me for aggressive behaviour. They normally do this to customers so that they can avoid refunding people. They cannot be contacted by phone and they did not reply to email when you . Roxy is very rude and aggressive herself, she should be banned from doing business like this instead of banning people requesting for refunds.

Also, their way of doing business is unethical. The fact that they threatened people to remove genuine reviews for defamation is ridiculous and unlawful. I know the law very well and I have posted many negative reviews about the bad businesses for people to take precaution without any single defamation case. You are allowed to post genuine and true reviews about the business. Defamation only arises when you post misleading and false information which affects the business. Their threat of defamation case to remove review is pathetic and unlawful and has no ground to stay on. It will not stop me from posting true reviews about how they treat customers badly and ban them unfairly and refused to refund when events are cancelled. I have all the evidence from email and phone correspondence that they banned and refused to refund me so do not assert ridiculous defamation case to me.

Stay away from sydney speed dating. It will save you the hassle of chasing refunds when events are cancelled and having to deal with rude and aggressive roxy who will ban you for aggressive behaviour when you chased refund.

Great speed dating co – The organisers of these events are great with communication. I have been to a few of SDA’s events over the years and they are always well organised and great fun.

Great to meet people face to face – I had a great evening at Speed Dating Australia in Perth. Roxy was friendly and explained clearly how things worked at a speed date. After the initial nerves I felt more relaxed when I realised that all the ladies were there for the same reason as myself - having a friendly chat with no pressure, and if things clicked, maybe catch up another time… Read more

to continue the conversation. I like the personal interactions compared to mobile phone swipe left/right dating apps.

A good night to meet many people – The event took place in a hotel which was great however there was some background noise from the street which some times made it hard to understand people. The host was great and friendly and explained everything in a clear language.

A fun way to meet people – I went to a speed dating event in Perth and was pleasantly surprised. The host was friendly and the event was well organised. I met lots of great people and had some interesting conversations. You do only get about 5 minutes to chat so it can sometimes feel like conversations are interrupted when the bell goes - but can be a good reason to meet up later to continue.