Dating Services
Dating services
appeal to consumers both on and offline by offering opportunities to meet new
people. As with any service that requires you to provide personal information,
the Better Business Bureau recommends using caution and common sense before
entering into a contract.
To find a
service that may work for you, keep in mind the following tips:
Consider what
you would like to get from a dating service. Some services focus on developing
long-term matches, while others assist in broadening your scope of friends.
Determining what you hope to receive from a service will help you make the best
choice for your needs. Prepare to get personal. Get a sense of the questions
the company asks for use in creating your member profile, including your age,
profession, likes/dislikes, hobbies, etc. Also, find out if the service
requests photographs from you or if they will take pictures/create videos at
their place of business. Understand what benefits belong to becoming a member
of a dating service. Determine how members are introduced to one another and
how many referrals you can expect within a given time period. If the service
offers group activities, find out what they are and how often they occur.
Request detailed information about fees. Some dating services charge a flat rate
for their benefit package, while others may offer ala carte pricing that
requires additional payments for access to services tailored to your needs.
Make sure you understand what you can reasonably expect from the service
balanced against the investment you will be making. Verify claims the company
makes and ask for evidence. Keep in mind that no service can guarantee the
health status of its members. Don't commit to a contract until you have read it
carefully. Determine what recourse you have if you are dissatisfied with the
company's services.
Online Dating
Services
Rather than
engaging a traditional service, many people now turn to the Internet for help
making a romantic connection. While basic guidelines for dating services still
apply, "cyber matching" requires some additional precautions. Before
signing up with an online dating service, consider the following tips:
Review sites
that seem likely to attract the type of person you want to meet, and look for
sites that enforce behavioral standards and provide respectful and supportive
environments. Many online services offer free trials to help you determine if
their format works for you. Consider trying several before making a commitment
to one. Prepare your written profile. Initial contact with prospective matches
will be in writing, so consider readying a few paragraphs about yourself, your
hobbies, and your hopes for a potential partner. This will help you choose
sites that promote similar interests/values. For best results, be honest. Check
with the Better Business Bureau for reliability reports on companies. If a
company is not based in your area, search the BBB's national website at
www.bbb.org Research the demographics. Make certain there are plenty of members
within your geographic area and the age range in which you are interested.
Explore the site. Determine if you are comfortable using the searching and
browsing tools provided to view member profiles. Review the company's privacy
policy to see how personal information will be protected. Also, look for a
"Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)" section to resolve any concerns
you may have. If you still have questions after reading the "FAQ",
look for contact information to reach a company representative by e-mail or
phone. Remember that your safety is critical. Don't reveal any personal
information in your online dating profile, personal ads or private e-mails to
other singles - including your full name, specifics about where you live, or
any other info that could be used maliciously. Use only the communication tools
provide by the dating service. Don't invite singles to e-mail you at your
regular e-mail address until you have corresponded for a while. When you do
feel ready to exchange e-mails in private, consider creating a separate,
anonymous e-mail account at a free site.
For more
information, contact:
Better
Business Bureau
(800) 828-5000
www.bbb.org
(800) 771-7755
www.oag.state.ny.us
Wired Safety
email: webmaster@wiredsafety.org
www.wiresafety.org
This report is
general in nature and is not intended as a reliability report on any company,
service or product.