Dating Site Operator to Pay Restitution, Fine for Auto Renewals (XBIZ)

Read the full article by Rhett Pardon at XBIZ.com

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Spark Networks USA, the parent company of niche dating sites Jdate.com and ChristianMingle.com, can now be added to a growing list of dating website operators that have been probed, prosecuted and punished for unfair or deceptive acts.

Los Angeles-based Spark Networks recently agreed to pay $500,000 in penalties and up to $985,000 in restitution to customers whose subscriptions automatically renewed or who were denied refunds when requested.

In a final court judgment signed by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge earlier this month, Spark Networks also agreed to change its website and sales practices after being sued by the Santa Monica city attorney and district attorneys in San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.

Industry attorney Corey D. Silverstein of Silverstein Legal told XBIZ that the judgment sends a message to all website operators — that California authorities won’t hesitate to use their resources to go after businesses that are doing harm to consumers.

“The State of California is taking the lead once again, reminding website operators that government is no longer tolerating billing practices (most notably automatic renewal billing) that aren’t fully transparent and require express consent by consumers,” Silverstein said.