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Matchmaking industry to introduce quality certification system
(Kyodo News International (Tokyo) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 23--TOKYO -- Eight major marriage-service companies joined hands on Friday to improve the public's confidence in the complaint-ridden industry.
An industry association set up by the eight will introduce a system to certify their quality of service by the end of this year in response to a large number of customer complaints including false explanation of services and the difficulty in canceling contracts without incurring penalties.
Specifically, third-party entities entrusted by the eight, including O-net Inc. and Zwei Co., will issue a certificate to marriage-service companies meeting certain quality levels in their services.
The matchmaking industry has become Japan's second in the services sector to adopt a quality-certification system, following the beauty industry.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will help the new industry association to launch the quality-certification system.
Under the new system, companies providing an introduction service for marriage partners will be checked if their service is meeting a service guideline compiled by METI and the industry association.
Among the requirements set under the guideline are clear-cut explanations of contract documents, cancellation policies and an obligation by the service providers to obtain public documents certifying that applicants are single.
Certified companies can post a certification mark on their service offices.
A total of 2,871 complaints over marriage services were filed with the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan in fiscal 2007, surging about 80 percent from fiscal 2000.
The new industry association will eventually call for smaller marriage-service companies to join it.
According to METI, an estimated 370 to 3,900 firms are providing marriage services, with service content ranging from traditional meeting arrangements to Internet-based matchmaking. About 600,000 people are said to have used the services of these companies.
To see more of Kyodo News International, go to http://www.kyodonews.com
Copyright (c) 2008, Kyodo News International, Tokyo
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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