Chicagoland Singles Reviews (Legit Or Scam?)

Chicagoland Singles operates as a Great Expectations franchise with mixed reviews. Costs range $1,000-$8,000+ with no refunds after 3 days. The service receives 1-star Consumer Affairs rating and 2-star Yelp rating with common complaints about match quality and high-pressure sales tactics.

Key Insights: What You Need to Know

• Cost Range: $1,000-$8,000+ plus additional fees for photoshoots and mixer events

• Refund Policy: No refunds except 3-day state-mandated cancellation window

• Review Ratings: 1-star Consumer Affairs, 2-star Yelp, A+ BBB rating with 1/5 customer stars

• Common Complaints: High staff turnover, lack of suitable matches, poor date experiences

• Business Model: Database browsing similar to online dating sites but at premium pricing

• Legal History: Parent company Great Expectations has faced lawsuits in multiple states for deceptive practices

Our team has reviewed over 200 matchmaking services, diving deep into their operations, success rates, cost, and customer experiences. Our reviews are built on 14+ years of industry experience, extensive research, and a keen understanding of the matchmaking industry.

Keep reading for a full rundown on the must-know facts, from cost to actual user reviews and some of the most common complaints.

Chicagoland is part of the Great Expectations family, which is a nationally franchised dating agency. The company has been around since 1976, and began as a video dating service.

Today, all the franchise locations have a similar setup. Your member profile is listed in their database, and you’re eligible to attend special Chicagoland Singles events like speed dating, cruises, trips to Vegas, and wine tastings. Members can browse profiles similar to traditional online dating platforms like Match.com, but at significantly higher price points.

Initial Process: Contact begins through phone calls or online forms, followed by telephone screening and mandatory in-person consultation where contract details and pricing are discussed.

Profile Creation: Upon contract signing, members receive professional photography sessions conducted in-house studios. These photos create consistent aesthetics across profiles but may not be suitable for other dating platforms.

Match Selection: Your assigned matchmaker sends profiles based on "ideal partner" criteria. Members can also independently browse the database through the member login portal.

Communication: Initial contact occurs through the website's messaging system. If mutual interest exists, conversations can progress to potential meetings.

Pricing varies significantly based on individual circumstances and current promotions. The company doesn't publish specific rates on their website, preferring to discuss costs during in-person sales consultations.

Expected Investment Range: $1,000-$8,000+ depending on package selection and available promotions

Additional Costs:

• Professional photoshoot fees

• Mixer event attendance fees

• Special events (speed dating, cruises, wine tastings)

Contract Terms: No refunds available except during the 3-day cancellation period mandated by state law.

Overall, the Great Expectations franchise has a 1-star rating with Consumer Affairs.

Complaints lodged against Chicagoland Singles specifically included high staff turnover, lack of suitable matches in the database, and terrible first date experiences:

One of the few positive reviews started out as a 1-star review. It was then upgraded to 5 stars once the dissatisfied customer had worked it out with Chicagoland Singles legal team:

Chicagoland Singles Yelp Reviews Analysis

The trend of overwhelmingly negative reviews continues on Yelp.

The 15 Recommended Reviews for Chicagoland Singles on Yelp are a mixed bag. The Chicago matchmaking service received a 2-star rating for their 1375 E Woodfield Rd Schaumburg IL 60173 location.

The mixed feedback reveals distinct patterns:

Positive Experiences:

• Professional photography quality

• Organized special events and mixers

• Responsive customer service for event-related satisfaction

Negative Feedback Themes:

• High-pressure sales tactics during initial consultations

• Limited suitable matches within geographic areas

• Poor compatibility matching despite detailed preference discussions

• High staff turnover affecting service continuity

Let's take a closer look...

The 3 positive reviews included this one from a woman who hadn't met anyone yet, but was happy with the photographer:

This client was happy with the service:

Negative Chicagoland Singles Yelp reviews include complaints about perceived high-pressure sales tactics from reviewers who decided not to sign up.

Other reviewers like this one who did join reported being unhappy with the lack of matches, or said the people they did meet weren't compatible at all:

Better Business Bureau Standing

The Better Business Bureau currently has an “A+” rating listed for Chicagoland Singles, but they only have 1 out of 5 stars based on customer reviews.

Common Customer Complaints

• Match Quality Issues: Recurring complaints about incompatible introductions despite detailed preference discussions during onboarding.

• Geographic Limitations: Multiple reviewers reported insufficient quality matches within their desired geographic areas, particularly affecting suburban Chicago clients.

• Sales Process Concerns: Consistent reports of high-pressure sales tactics during initial consultations, with some potential clients feeling pressured into immediate contract decisions.

• Service Continuity: High staff turnover rates affect ongoing matchmaker relationships and service consistency.

The positive review was from a client who was happy with the Chicagoland Singles events:

The negative reviewers both mentioned lack of quality matches in their area.

It's important to do some online research before hiring a matchmaking service, but negative reviews should always be taken with a grain of salt. Happy clients aren’t always as likely to take the time to review a dating service on the internet.

But when you see recurring themes across multiple review sites, that could be a red flag.

Further, it’s worth noting that Great Expectations franchises are no stranger to the courtroom. Lawsuits for things like using high pressure sales tactics and deceptive practices were filed by Washington State, Wisconsin, and Arizona, to name a few.

There’s no doubt that doing a little research prior to hiring a matchmaking service can save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run.

Besides, don’t you want to hire the very best matchmaker in Chicago?

If you’re having difficulty meeting interesting, high-quality singles in Chicago you’re not alone. But why spend a lot of hard-earned money just so you can then spend time sending messages to potential matches on a website that feels a lot like online dating?

If you’d had any luck meeting the right people by messaging them on dating sites on your own, you probably wouldn’t be reading this right now.

What you need is a matchmaking service that handles everything for you, from generating interest to telling you when and where to show up for all your dates.

The matchmakers at VIDA Select make all those introductions on your behalf. And you’ll only be meeting pre-screened, highly compatible people that you’re truly interested in getting to know better.

At VIDA, you pre-approve all your potential matches. And you’ll have plenty of choice, because VIDA’s expert matchmakers have access to Chicago’s single largest database of eligible matches.

If you’re truly ready to find the partner of your dreams, schedule a laidback, zero-pressure, complimentary phone consultation with one of our professional matchmakers today.

Why spend another minute alone?

Simply click here to get started!