Looking to fall in love with online dating? Make sure you read this before you open your wallet or purse.
A report from the Better Business Bureau suggests that complaints filed against singles dating sites are at their highest level. The amount of complaint files have doubled compared to the same time last year.
The spike in complaints were relating to online dating sites and matchmaking agencies, which were being tracked by the Bureau. Matchmaking singles dating agencies are being criticized for promising to arrange introductions based on specific customer requirements, charging thousands of dollars, and failing to deliver.
The main areas of complaints were relating to the poor quality of matches. The reason people pay the extra money and engage a professional dating agency is so they can be strategically matched up, rather than being overwhelmed with a huge pool of singles to sift through via online dating websites.
Un happy customers were being set up with smokers, conflicting religions, and in some cases, people who lived hundreds of miles away - hardly seems like these people are getting their $3500 worth of gold class membership that had all the accolades upon signing up! Other common issues encountered included agencies failing to fill the contracted amount of dates, which often lead to mismatches as mentioned above.
Dating websites were also in the firing line from unhappy singles. Some sites failed to adequately disclose that their monthly subscription fees were recurring, and automatically debiting credit cards each month. Other issues included being misled into opting for a trial option and subsequently charged for a full subscription several days later. Adequate discloser of billing processes and poor customer service were the main complaints leveled against online dating sites.
If this has happened to you, next time you consider joining an online dating site, (and there are plenty of reputable one's out there) make sure you go by recommendations from other people. Obtain these recommendations from non-affiliated online dating reviews, blogs or forums. Better yet, if you know someone that has experience dating online, ask him or her for advice.
With anything, growth brings growing pains, and online dating is growing fast. According to Dateline Research Group, online dating memberships are increasing at an international rate of 2 million per year. So with that in mind, it stands to reason that complaints are increasing inline with overall industry growth.
To make sure you get the most out of your online dating membership, commonsense is the key - so use it! Don't be lured in by gimmicks and spam emails with photos of 'beautiful singles' Only sign up if the dating site allows you to browse its data base so you can assess the quality of members. Don't hand over your credit card details for a free trial.
The online dating industry is largely unregulated, meaning the site owners are not required to run criminal background checks on their members. Once you become a member, it's largely up to you to trust your own instinct. Most sites provide a 'report abuse' option and rely on their customers to help weed out the dubious members.
Remember, when you join a dating site, there is a good chance you will be a little emotionally vulnerable. Stay safe and don't forget, commonsense is your best friend when dating online!