Son Shocked by $8,500 Charge on Father’s Credit Card
In a bewildering case that underscores the vulnerabilities faced by elderly individuals, an 80-year-old Florida man with dementia found himself entangled in an $8,500 contract with a matchmaking service. The incident has raised significant concerns about consumer protection for those with cognitive impairments.
A shocking discovery
Blake Mooney, the son of the elderly man, was astonished to discover an $8,500 charge from The Matchmaking Company, an Oklahoma-based firm, on his father’s credit card. “There’s nobody to talk to,” Mooney lamented, describing his futile attempts to resolve the issue through the company’s complex call system.
“There’s nobody to talk to,” the North Carolina man told News 6 in Orlando. “There’s nobody who can help you in any way other than [asking], ‘Would you like to sign up? Would you like to have some matchmaking done for you?’ ”
The troubling saga began in June when Mooney’s father took a ride-share from his assisted living facility to the company’s Winter Park office.
Within just 30 minutes, he had signed a contract promising him 12 dates for $8,495. Mooney explained that while his father’s mental state isn’t always obvious, deeper conversations reveal his cognitive struggles. “He’s got dementia,” Mooney emphasized, noting his father’s inability to recall basic information, such as his own birth year.
“Once [the conversation] starts involving financial situations, numbers, and dates, he would have no idea,” Mooney said. “You could call him right now and ask him what the date is, and he wouldn’t be able to recall it for you.”
Legal and ethical challenges
The family faced significant hurdles in reversing the transaction. “For the family members, you have to understand that, absent some court order, there’s going to be that freedom to enter into contracts,” Raymond Traendly, a lawyer with TK Law in Altamonte Springs, Fla., told the station.
Despite Mooney’s persistence—calling the firm numerous times—the company showed little interest in addressing the issue. It wasn’t until local media began investigating that progress was made.
Following media inquiries, The Matchmaking Company’s corporate counsel contacted Mooney. Despite initial denials from the firm, Mooney, who holds power of attorney, provided a doctor’s letter confirming his father’s dementia diagnosis. The company begrudgingly canceled the contract and issued a $6,000 refund, though it withheld $2,500 without explanation.
A cautionary tale
Mooney expressed relief at recovering most of the funds, acknowledging the potential financial devastation his father could have faced. “This would have financially killed him,” he remarked.
The incident highlights the urgent need for greater protection for elderly individuals, particularly those with cognitive impairments, in consumer transactions.