How to Find a Genuine Dating Website

Like most things in life it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch and recently dating websites have been given a bad name. There are lots of good dating sites out there, so it’s just a matter of doing your homework.

Ask your friends

With an estimated 9 million people in the UK having used dating websites, statistically you are likely to know at least one person who has used a dating website and you are likely to know at least one person who found their partner on an online dating site. Ask them what they liked about it, what they didn’t like and if there were any hidden surprises.

Check review sites

By searching the internet for reviews of the website, you will be able to find out what former members thought of the dating website. If the reviews are positive and the website fits what you are looking for it’s time to check it out.

Read the terms and conditions

Before signing up for a dating website, take a look at the site’s terms and conditions page to find out how they use your data and what they do to protect their members from scammers. It’s also important to check how your payments will be taken and how to cancel your account when you need to.

Check for contact details

If you can’t find the company’s contact details on the website before you join, then don’t join the website. Without contact details you won’t be able to get in touch with someone if you need help with anything.

Try before you buy

Most dating websites will allow you to try out the site before you subscribe. On some sites, this may mean that you can carry out a limited amount of searches before subscribing, while other sites such as Muddy Matches allow you to carry out unlimited searches as a free member. Make sure that you have had a look around and familiarise yourself with the site before paying for a subscription.

100,000 members on the Isle of Man?

If there are more registered members in an area than there are people registered on the census for that area, steer clear of the site. If you live in a densely populated area you are more likely to find hundreds or even thousands of matches in your area than if you live in a sparsely populated area.

For more safety advice, head to our safety advice page.