Glass of wine in hand, the man sitting opposite me in the restaurant was in full flow. While he was droning on about his work commitments, I zoned in and out, trying to work out how I was going to get through this first date. I had expected to meet an eligible bachelor, but he had turned out to be so boring that he made me want to stick asparagus up my nostrils.

This memory came flooding back when I read about Tereza Burki, a London financier who last week successfully sued an elite matchmaking service for the return of her £12,600 ($18,000) fee after they failed to find her the man of her dreams.

I thought it would be a higher calibre of human. I was disappointed. Credit:Shutterstock

A couple of years ago, I too joined an expensive matchmaking agency. I had just come out of a seven-year relationship and was on the wrong side of 50. I soon tired of online dating and receiving messages from overweight baldies who peppered their emails with childish emojis. I hankered to find Mr Right-for-me, a man who was suitably educated and a successful professional.

And so this is how I found myself throwing money at an upmarket matchmaking agency in central London. The agency claimed to filter out the undesirables, the mediocre and give clients the personal touch, so I handed over the hefty sum of £6000 ($9000).