Match Group Agrees to Pay $14 Million, Permanently Stop Deceptive Advertising, Cancellation, and Billing Practices to Resolve FTC Charges

Match Group, Inc., and Match Group, LLC (Match), the owners and operators of online dating services Match.com, OkCupid, PlentyOfFish, The League, and other dating sites, have agreed to pay $14 million, permanently stop misrepresenting guarantees and locking consumers out of paid-for accounts, and simplify Match.com’s cancellation processes to resolve the Federal Trade Commission’s charges.

In its September 2019 complaint, the FTC alleged that Match:

• deceptively induced consumers to subscribe to Match.com by promising them a free six-month subscription if they did not “meet someone special”—without adequately disclosing that consumers had to meet several onerous requirements before the company would honor its guarantee;
• unfairly suspended the accounts of users who unsuccessfully filed billing disputes, keeping their money without providing the paid-for services; and
• made it difficult for users to cancel their subscriptions.

In addition to requiring Match to pay $14 million, which the FTC will use to provide redress to injured consumers, the proposed order also requires Match to:

• clearly and conspicuously disclose the terms of its “six-month guarantee,” as well as any other material restrictions, limitations, or conditions relating to guarantees;
• not misrepresent any material restrictions, limitations, or conditions relating to guarantees;
• refrain from retaliating, threatening to take adverse action, or taking any adverse action against consumers for filing billing disputes and denying consumers who file billing disputes access to paid-for goods or services; and
• provide simple mechanisms for consumers to cancel their subscriptions.

The Commission vote approving the stipulated final order was 3-0. The FTC filed the proposed order in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Stipulated final orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court Judge.

The lead staff attorney on this matter was Reid Tepfer together with attorneys Jason Moon, Hasan Aijaz, Erica Hilliard, Nicole Conte and Tammy Chung of the FTC’s Southwest Region.