A Sydney fitness model has come out on top in a battle against an elite dating agency which she claims set her up with an ‘unsuitable man’ after she forked out $5000.
Zoë Daly handed over the hefty sum late last year, after meeting with Elite Introductions founder, Trudy Gilbert, who promised she would meet ‘amazing men’.
But after what she deemed a nightmare first date, which involved her ‘very negative’ potential suitor ‘speaking about himself the whole time,’ Ms Daly requested a refund.
Originally hoping to meet a ‘like-minded, ambitious, successful, professional’ man, she was disappointed when her date showed no interest in her, was ‘not passionate about his job’, was ‘ashamed’ of his family, and made offensive comments about her car.
Fitness model, Zoë Daly, (pictured) was unimpressed with a man she was set up with by an elite dating agency, so she sued and won back 80% of her original membership fee, which was $5000 for 12 months
A NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard Ms Daly, who’s amassed an impressive 214,000 Instagram followers, met with ‘millionaire matchmaker’ Ms Gilbert on November 7.
The fit blonde claimed she was ‘not ready to sign up’ on the day, but was persuaded by Ms Gilbert who told her the men wouldn’t be around if she waited until the New Year.
Subsequently, she paid the 12 month membership fee of $4,995, under the pretense she would meet between 8‑10 ‘amazing men’ throughout the course of the year.
Ms Daly complained the man she was matched with looked significantly older than his 40 years, even though she had specified her preference was for men aged 32-38.
Ms Daly handed over the hefty sum late last year, after meeting with Elite Introductions founder, Trudy Gilbert, who promised she would meet ‘amazing men’
The tribunal heard the man in question talked about ‘previous introductions and how terrible they were’ and said he was travelling overseas until February so would ‘not be available until after that time.’
For Ms Daly, this confirmed that signing up in the new year could have been a better choice.
The self proclaimed lifestyle coach and online trainer made multiple claims against the agency and its founder, including misleading and deceptive conduct under the Australian Consumer Law on the basis the agency did not present her with ‘amazing men’.
She also said Ms Gilbert engaged in ‘unconscionable conduct’ or ‘placed her under undue influence or pressure to sign up’.
Ms Daly paid the 12 month membership fee of $4,995, under the pretense she would meet between 8‑10 ‘amazing men’ throughout the course of the year
A tribunal heard Ms Daly met with ‘millionaire matchmaker’ Trudy Gilbert (pictured) on November 7
Ms Gilbert did not give evidence in person at the hearing, but said her former client had ‘unreasonably formed the view that not even a year of introductions with the agency could lead to a better outcome.’
Senior Tribunal Member Scott Anthony McDonald said Ms Daly’s evidence would be accepted under the grounds she was the target of ‘misleading and deceptive statements and pressure sales techniques.’
He added it was unfortunate the company didn’t offer a cooling off period, which was the requirement for similar consumer contracts.
Ms Gilbert was ordered to give a refund of $4000 – 80 per cent of Ms Daly’s membership fee.
Ms Daly was unimpressed with her suitor talking about ‘previous introductions and how terrible they were’ and how he wouldn’t be back in the country until February next year
Ms Gilbert said her former client had ‘unreasonably formed the view that not even a year of introductions with the agency (banner pictured) could lead to a better outcome’
According to Ms Gilbert, the ambitious trainer ‘joined willingly’, telling Fairfax Media she ‘had one date and a huge amount of compatibility with this man.’
She argued the ‘attractive, high-earning, well-educated man’ had received positive feedback from other clients, and she had matched the pair because of their shared ‘love of skiing’ and ‘clear vision of their goals’.
The experienced public speaker says she plans to defend herself against Ms Daly’s claims she used ‘deceptive conduct’.
The physically appealing blonde claimed she was ‘not ready to sign up’ on the day, but was persuaded by Ms Gilbert who used ‘deceptive conduct’