Choosing an online dating site - UK tips

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Many online dating sites in the UK seem to offer much the same thing for the same price, but in practice the services may vary. Use the criteria below to help you make the right choice.

The key issues are security and privacy, the number of suitable members who will meet your needs, and the quality of the site and its reputation.

Check the Costs

Before you go looking for a site, decide what its worth to you and youw you want to pay for it. Some online dating sites charge a one-off registration fee, others set up a direct debit from your credit card to pay for monthly fees and some will charge a set fee for a fixed number of months membership. You should check to see if signing up means you agree to automatic renewal of your membership as cancellation may be more difficult than signup.

Do some research

Narrow down your options by spending some time reviewing member profiles already on the sites to get an idea of what type of people they attract. Are they people you might be interested in?

This is often easier on sites which allow you to use a site search engine which filters by age, preferences, and location. You wont be able to do any more than look without paying but it may well whet your appetite to see members apparently waiting for your call.

Some sites will indicate how many members are on line at any one time. Provided this is honest it will certainly give you an idea which sites have active members.

Get a recommendation

Find friends or colleagues who have tried online dating and get a personal recommendation for an online dating site from them.

An Internet search may reveal bulletin board, chat posts, or bloggs giving success stories or horror tales.

Privacy

Make sure that the chosen site will give you a fully anonymous account and that you can correspond without revealing your private email. You should never give out your personal details, email, phone number or address online and the best sites allow you to use an alias or have secure messaging services. Take the time to set up a web-based email account with Google or Yahoo if the site you choose doesn't allow this.

Writing your profile. See how much space you are allowed to write your online profile. This is your only opportunity to sell yourself and you need enough room to make a good impression.

Look for specialized sites.

If you've got a special interest, political affiliation or cultural or religious values that are important to you - and it might condition your selection of a potential mate -you may want to consider using a specialized site that links you with people with a similar background or interest.

Read the terms and conditions

Read any site users agreement, before joining. Make sure you know what you're getting into and how your personal information might be shared. Also look for hidden fees or commitments. Check carefully in the small print for additional costs after any 'special offer' period has expired, or after you've had your first introductions online.

This is an important issue, not only on dating sites. Too many people do not read the legal documentation even though they click a button confirming that they read and understand it. You wouldnt sign a legal document you had not carefully read and its not a smart thing to "sign" an Internet-based deal, particularly if you are also releasing credit card information.

Spread the risk.

There's nothing to prevent you from signing up to several online dating sites. If one site isn't putting you in touch with like-minded people you can stop your membership and still keep on dating.

Dont Panic

Internet dating is a personal thing. Your adventures on line can be frenetic or measured. If you want you can rush out and meet somebody the day you first connect, or you may prefer to spend some time getting an anonymous online friendship established before taking the bolder step of identifying yourself and meeting face to face.

Dont hesitate to dump somebody if you dont like him or her, but unless its as a result of inappropriate behaviour on their part why not do it gently. They are walking the same sensitive road you are and deserve to be treated as you would wish to be treated.

There may be an intermediate period when you move to personal e-mail, exchange of photos or longer letters and choices about meeting can be made rationally and without pressure.

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Choosing an online dating site - UK tips

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