:===Begin Quote===
[Hate Groups : Scientology] $320,000 to look for love
Item 5347 • Posted: Tue, Dec. 09 2003 • Weblogged by ReligionNewsBlog.com
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/5347-.html

The Advertiser (Australia), Dec. 10, 2003
By Simonne Reid, Court Reporter

A West Coast farmer has spent almost $320,000 with a dating agency – without meeting one woman.

The man from Cleve on the Eyre Peninsula, who does not wish to be identified, is taking legal action against Affinity Consulting International based in Queensland.

It has led to the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, Mark Bodycoat, to issue a warning when using such agencies.

The man first contacted Affinity, which has links to the Church of Scientology, in March last year.

An agency employee is alleged to have told the farmer if he spent $5000 he would receive a "basic introduction service", the court papers say.

He paid the money on the same day using his credit card.

The court documents say that during the next three days, he paid a further $65,000 after the employee, Shannon Courtney Grant, promised him "extra services" including that she would be his personal consultant and fly from Queensland to his home to help him produce an introduction video.

It is also alleged that later that month, Ms Grant told the man she wanted to quit her job and move in with him but she could not cease her employment until he paid Affinity more than $250,000.

In total, he claims to have paid the company $319,890 between March 13 and June 6, of last year.

He is suing the dating agency and Ms Grant in the District Court for breach of contract as well as breaching the Trade Practices Act and Fair Trading Act and is seeking unspecified damages, interest and costs.

In his statement of claim, the farmer alleges the claims made by Ms Grant that Affinity "would provide the best personal service to ensure that a client's dream of finding their perfect partner became a reality" were "false" and "unconscionable". The Office of Consumer and Business Affairs received 23 complaints last financial year concerning introduction agencies.

The majority of the complaints related to the failure of agencies to provide introductions as represented in the advertisements or in the contract.

Mr Bodycoat said yesterday consumers had to ask questions, shop around and find out exactly what an agency was promising to deliver before signing up.

"Most complaints focused on breach of contract issues and on failure to deliver on promises, as perceived by the client or as promised by the company," Mr Bodycoat said.

A defence has not yet been filed. Any court date would be set after a defence is filed.

:===End Quote===

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From: "Jeff Jacobsen" <cultxpt@ev1.net>
Subject: expensive Co$ dating service, MSNBC.COM
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 15:13:59 -0000
Message-ID: <vth2dn5i010vfd@corp.supernews.com>
X-User-Info: 216.203.252.204 216.203.252.204 cultxpt

http://www.msnbc.com/news/970652.asp?0si=-

Spendy dating service has Scientology ties
Plus: Bush supporters aren't laughing;
Ozzy's crash won't be aired
By Jeannette Walls
with Ashley Pearson
MSNBC

Dec. 11 --- Good news for lonely, single Scientologists. Scientology, whose members include such happy couples as John Travolta and Kelly Preston, reportedly has ties to a dating service called Affinity International.

BUT BEWARE. Apparently, the group's services don't always come cheap. In fact, an Australian farmer has filed a lawsuit, claiming that he paid Affinity International of Queensland more than $230,000 --- and he still hasn't found love. The farmer allegedly forked over an initial fee of about $3,700 for a "basic introduction service," another $48,000 for "extra services" from a personal consultant, and then the consultant said she wanted to quit her job and move in with him, but couldn't unless he paid Affinity another $185,000, according to an article in the Australian newspaper The Advertiser. Affinity, notes the paper, "has ties to Scientology." A spokeswoman for Scientology in the U.S. tells the Scoop that she has never heard of Affinity International, or of a group called Affinity Exchange that has operated in the U.S. and other countries, touting itself as a dating service catering to followers of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. "The best way to pay is by VISA or MasterCard, credit or debit card," noted the Affinity Exchange's Web site. "If you do not have a card, you might find someone who does, give them the money, and use their card number." * * * * * www.lisamcpherson.org

From: "Feisty" <sunny@skytoday.com>
Subject: "Stupid Cupid" - Ohio Beacon Journal
Message-ID: <6fGEb.13499$aw2.7332588@newssrv26.news.prodigy.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2003 17:07:14 GMT

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/living/7528453.htm

Stupid Cupid

Good news for lonely, single Scientologists.

Scientology, whose members include such happy couples as John Travolta and Kelly Preston, reportedly has ties to a dating service called Affinity International, reports MSN.com.

But beware. Apparently, the group's services don't always come cheap. In fact, an Australian farmer has filed a lawsuit, claiming that he paid Affinity International of Queensland more than $230,000 -- and he still hasn't found love.

The farmer says he forked over an initial fee of about $3,700 for a ``basic introduction service,'' another $48,000 for ``extra services'' -- hmmm! -- from a personal consultant, then the consultant said she wanted to quit her job and move in with him, but couldn't unless he paid Affinity another $185,000, according to the Aussie newspaper The Advertiser.

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