Here are some of the frequently asked questions we see about online dating:
Services offer a range of different subscription options to meet the individual needs of their members. Sometimes selecting the subscription option with a longer term (for example more than 6 months) can prove to be more cost effective for the user. It’s important to choose the option that is right for you and to read all the information that is available.
Automatic renewal is a common practice in many industries (also seen in magazine subscriptions or gym memberships) and it is legal. Automatically renewing subscriptions can offer users the convenience of ensuring that they don’t experience any disruptions to the service. Read the terms and conditions carefully when you sign up to any online dating service, and follow the process specified for the cancellation of services.
Precise arrangements for cancelling your subscription will vary between services. The process will normally include contacting your service provider a reasonable amount of time before the end date of your subscription to cancel both the subscription and the payments. Failure to cancel both may result in future payments being made through Automatic Renewals. Check the terms and conditions to see if your subscription is subject to Automatic Renewal.
Some services allow you to suspend your profile which means that your profile will not be visible online until you reactivate it. Suspension of a profile does not mean the subscription has been cancelled, so check to ensure you have cancelled and not suspended if that is what you want to do. If you want to end a subscription and have your profile removed, be sure to follow both any instructions provided by the service.
Arrangements for cancelling your subscription/membership will vary between services (see question above on how to cancel a subscription). If you have followed the process for cancellation provided by the dating service and have still been charged then you need to contact the service to query this.
If you selected a subscription option/package which gave you a preferential deal as a result of a longer term sign-up, you may be committed for the full period of the subscription. Contact the service and they will confirm your position and explain any options that you may have.
Some companies run a number of dating services and in some cases they “pool” users from more than one service in order to increase the number and variety of people from whom you might find a match. If a company offers “pooling” then this should be explained when you register, and details will be in the terms and conditions. Any service that “pools” users has to make sure the pooling is done responsibly, taking into consideration specific interests.
Automatic renewal is a common practice in many industries (also seen in magazine subscriptions or gym memberships) and it is legal. Automatically renewing subscriptions can offer users the convenience of ensuring that they don’t experience any disruptions to the service. Read the terms and conditions carefully when you sign up to any online dating service, and follow the process specified for the cancellation of services.
Precise arrangements for cancelling your subscription will vary between services. The process will normally include contacting your service provider a reasonable amount of time before the end date of your subscription to cancel both the subscription and the payments. Failure to cancel both may result in future payments being made through Automatic Renewals. Check the terms and conditions to see if your subscription is subject to Automatic Renewal.
Some services allow you to suspend your profile which means that your profile will not be visible online until you reactivate it. Suspension of a profile does not mean the subscription has been cancelled, so check to ensure you have cancelled and not suspended if that is what you want to do. If you want to end a subscription and have your profile removed, be sure to follow both any instructions provided by the service.
Arrangements for cancelling your subscription/membership will vary between services (see question above on how to cancel a subscription). If you have followed the process for cancellation provided by the dating service and have still been charged then you need to contact the service to query this.
If you selected a subscription option/package which gave you a preferential deal as a result of a longer term sign-up, you may be committed for the full period of the subscription. Contact the service and they will confirm your position and explain any options that you may have.
REPORT IT.
All services have rules about behaviour and should have means of reporting unacceptable behaviour. Do not hesitate to report anyone you feel is offensive or threatening. And tell the dating site servicer if you suspect someone of being a scammer or a possible physical threat. You could well be helping others as well as dealing with your own fears. There is more advice on this from the ODA via this link.
This is serious. Work on the “better safe than sorry” principle and report it right away to the dating service. The ODA has user guidance on this here.
The ODA is not a regulatory body. Our approach to complaints is set out here. Our focus is on raising standards across the sector through guidance and good practice.
We expect our members and indeed all businesses in the sector, to deal properly with any complaints their users have. We are unable to deal with any complaints made to us.
