These can now be found all over the internet.  Some of them are genuine and very professionally operated but just as many (if not more) are simply a "front" for attracting visitors to the site and then heavily promoting other related and non-related services or products.

Unfortunately, many individuals or companies who set up these dating service websites simply view them as a lucrative sideline, or an easy way to make money with a minimum of commitment to the people who use them.  No wonder there are so many!  How do you sort out the good from the bad?  Read on.

• Totally "free" Dating Websites:  There is no such thing as a "free lunch".  If a dating website advertises itself as totally free of charge - to use as well as register - there will be a catch.  The owners will be making money somewhere.  These sites are usually completely crammed with advertising encouraging you to click on various links taking you to other sites that are trying to sell you something.  Even clicking on the links may earn the owners a commission.  (N.B.  Many good dating sites run low key advertising to help keep their prices down. They also have link pages - but they generally only display links to resources that are informative or related to dating, and these are listed in a separate area of the site).  With "free" dating websites, the "free" part is simply the carrot they use to attract you in the first instance, in the hope that you will spend your money in other ways.

Totally free dating sites are the most notorious on the internet for attracting the wrong type of people - anyone can sign up regardless of their real intentions, motives, or marital status.  As no credit/debit card payment is made, users can never be traced - and they know it!  The sites are totally automated, usually very basic, and you are highly unlikely to find an address (that isn't a PO Box No) or a phone number for the owners of these sites should you have a real problem with one its users.

 

At best, you may find that the majority of people listed on free dating sites are either time-wasters (only signed up because it's free), economical with the truth, only looking for casual sex, already in relationships, badly behaved, or not genuinely committed to finding a partner.  At worst, the only genuine thing about them could be their e-mail address (which you will never have access to anyway) or they could be positively dangerous!

 

You have been warned!  Do not touch this type of dating website with a barge-pole!!

Things you should look for on any internet dating site:

• Evidence that members' names and addresses are required and verified.
• A clearly set out complaints procedure.
• A privacy policy - including a statement that your e-mail address will not be passed to any other company.
• A telephone helpline.
• An office address 

Do not part with any money unless the site complies with ALL the above.

These are organisations which generally provide a more personal service than dating services that only operate online.  All their members have invested a reasonable amount of money to join, which demonstrates their commitment and ensures their continued enthusiasm.  Reputable agencies will check out their members, work very hard on their behalf throughout their membership, and provide a great deal of professional advice and support.  They will also ensure that good standards of conduct are maintained in the membership, and will take steps to maintain an equal balance between men and women if necessary.

Traditional introduction agencies gain most of their clients via newspaper and magazine advertising.  An increasing number now have websites, but usually do not offer an online dating service.

How to identify a good agency

The choice of introduction agencies available can be mind-boggling and, as standards vary considerably - how does the dating novice choose between them?  The following are things you should look for in a good agency:

• A professionally produced brochure which explains their system clearly and tells you exactly what you can expect to get for your money i.e. length of membership or number of introductions.  Ensure that there are no hidden costs in the small print.  If they are trying to "match" you to other agency members - does their brochure tell you what happens if they are unable to provide a reasonable amount of suitable introductions within your membership term?
• An office address that you can visit if you wish, and is open during normal office hours.  Don't join an introduction agency that operates from a PO Box.  The service they provide may not be up to scratch, and use of a PO Box avoids confrontation by dissatisfied customers.
• A telephone help-line.  If they don't have one - at best, they are not successful enough to operate the business in a professional manner.  At worst, they could be here today and gone tomorrow (with your money).  A good agency should be available to help and advise you on any aspect of your membership.
• A reasonable length of time in business.  This will be a good indication of their experience in dating services and their success overall.  The longer they have been in business the better.  Newly set-up introduction agencies (under 1 year) may not have the membership levels or the expertise to provide a good service.  The year the agency was established should be clearly stated in their brochure.  If you have any doubt in your mind, ask for evidence.
• Large number of active members.  Some agencies boast a ridiculously high level of single members, which could have been obtained over a number of years, but only a very small proportion are actually current members.  If they state they have 20,000 members yet only operate over a very small area, then be suspicious.  Ask how many members are active now.
• Members living within reasonable distance of your home.  The agency may indeed have a large membership, but this is no good to you if you live in Glasgow, and the majority are based in the south.  If the agency does not ask you to state the geographical areas you are interested in, or does not make a statement in its literature that you will be provided with introductions within reasonable distance of your home - then do not join!
• Safety procedures.  Make sure that the system the agency uses is safe, and that adequate screening procedures are being used.  A statement on safety should be included in their literature.  Surnames and home addresses should never by divulged by the agency to other members under any circumstances, and there should be some evidence that all members' home addresses are checked out.  If you have a special concern (e.g. you have small children and are worried about paedophiles), ask the agency for their policy on combating this problem.
• Scope to cater for special circumstances.  For example, if you are a single parent (or have children who live elsewhere), ask how many agency members would be willing to accept a partner who already has a family.
• Evidence of success.  Copies of letters of recommendation from satisfied clients should be included in any agency's brochure, and the originals available for inspection at their office.
• Realistic claims regarding their service.  Any introduction agency that claims that they will definitely find your perfect partner is being unrealistic or downright dishonest!  No agency, or any other dating service, can make this sort of guarantee.  At the end of the day, all they can do is introduce you to likely candidates.  It is then up to you and the other party to make the relationship work!  But don't confuse this with specialist agencies that only cater for certain sections of society.  They may be able to guarantee that every introduction you have will either share or accept your lifestyle, but should not guarantee anything further than that.
• Fees that are commensurate with the level of service provided.  Expensive agencies are not necessarily better than less expensive ones, but you will pay more for agencies that employ labour-intensive methods of introduction.  Across the board, agencies that have a consistently high turnover of single members are generally able to offer more competitive prices.  It is also in direct contravention of the Equal Opportunities Act to charge men and women different fees, and any agency doing this is trading illegally.
• Responsible payment methods.  The agency should ask that cheques/POs are payable to a company - not an individual, and advise that cash should be sent by Registered Post.  If you are paying by credit/debit card online, you should ensure that your card details are being transmitted in secure environment so that they cannot be accessed by anyone else during transmission.  A locked padlock or similar symbol should be present on the payments page.
• Privacy policy.  You should ensure that their policy states that they will not pass on your address or personal details to other companies.  This is a potential security risk - especially to ladies living alone.
• No "hard sell" tactics.  Whilst it is normal for any business to follow-up leads with polite reminder letters, you should not be bombarded with dozens of unwanted letters and phone calls.  If an agency needs to do this, they are desperately short of single members. 

Finally, don't be afraid to ask about anything you don't understand or isn't covered in their brochure.  A good agency will want you to be entirely happy before enrolling you.  DON'T JOIN ANY AGENCY THAT CAN'T OR WON'T ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS SATISFACTORILY!   

There are varying methods in use by introduction agencies to bring about introductions:

• Lists or Registers of Members:  On joining, you receive a list or register of all existing members and contact them yourself.  Your details will also be added to the list/register, and new single members can contact you.  Some introduction agencies produce pre-printed registers on a monthly or quarterly basis.  The drawback here is that by the time you receive the register, it could already be out of date.  Other introduction agencies produce lists of members "on demand" from their database that, if they are a professional organisation, are constantly updated i.e. do not include people who have recently met a partner.
  
  Advantages:  Membership fees are usually very reasonably priced, and you have the freedom to contact members of your choice.  When new members contact you, it is nice to know that they have read your profile and have personally selected you.  The list/register system is very sociable, and allows members to talk to each other freely without obligation.
  
  Disadvantages:  Initially, you have to do a fair amount of work yourself in choosing those who are of interest to you.  You also have to spend time contacting them.  Not everyone who contacts you may be compatible, and you need to be able to say "thanks, but no thanks".
  
  
• Computer Matching:  Your information is entered into a computer system, and you will be provided with details of single members who "match" you on various criteria e.g. interests, personality traits, age, background, build etc., taking into consideration your own specific requirements for a partner.
  
  
• Personal Matching:  The introduction agency will interview you, and then selections will be made for you by their staff.  Depending on the level of service provided, you can either be supplied with direct contact details, or agency staff will act as a "go-between" and contact the members of your choice in order to arrange a meeting.

Advantages:  Both computer and personal matching narrow the field down considerably, thereby saving your time and effort.  Can also make first meetings easier if the agency has already approached the person on your behalf.

 

Disadvantages:  Obviously more expensive than the list/register system as it is more labour intensive.  Can be too limiting & doesn't take into consideration that chemistry can often occur between two people who have entirely different interests/personalities.  Can be de-motivating if you don't get on with someone supposedly "ideal" for you, and long intervals can occur between matches. 

• Bespoke Agencies:  Generally only used by well-heeled high-flying professionals who do not have the time or opportunities to meet people on a similar level.  This type of introduction agency will assign you a personal consultant who will work with you every step of the way.  No expense is spared, and if they are unable to find your ideal partner within their current membership, they will actively head-hunt a partner for you outside of the agency.

Advantages:  Ideal for the busy professional as the agency does all the work, and makes all the arrangements.  Apart from the initial interview, your only commitment is spending time with people, and providing your consultant with feedback.

 

Disadvantages:  Extremely expensive & fees can run into thousands of pounds.  Choice of potential partners, for friendship or dating, may be very limited due to the high cost.  There is no guarantee that you will be successful within a certain period, if at all. 

• Specialist Agencies:  There are a number of agencies that specialise in a particular section of society.  For example:
  • Single Parents
  • Ethnic minorities (e.g. Asian, Jewish)
  • Professionals
  • People with strong religious convictions (e.g. committed Christians)
  • Disabled
  • Farming people
  • Environmentalists
  • People seeking a partner from abroad
    
    The list is endless.  If you have a lifestyle or background that a prospective partner should either share or fully accept, then a suitable specialist introduction agency may be your best option.

Some traditional introduction agencies and online dating websites run these alongside one-to-one introductions, and other organisations concentrate solely on events.  These can include dinner parties in restaurants, discos, weekends away/singles holidays, sporting events, specialised events (e.g. for music lover, golf enthusiasts, visits to stately homes etc).  A membership fee is usually payable on joining, and the cost of events are extra.  You receive a monthly or quarterly programme of events, and can book into those that are of interest to you.

Advantages:  You can simply enjoy the event and general socialising with single people of both sexes.  No pressure to pair off with any particular individual.  Ideal for people without too many other commitments, who enjoy a busy and varied social life.

Disadvantages:  Can be too localised - i.e. you may see the same faces at every event.  Can be difficult for people who dislike arriving at events alone, or for those who are not good at socialising with strangers in group situations.  Single parents may find that the number of events they can attend are limited due to their commitments, and some events can be too expensive for those on a budget.

• Joining a dating service is not necessarily a "quick fix".  You may not be successful in forming a lasting relationship within the first few weeks or months.  Be patient and keep trying!  Play the "numbers game" - the more people you contact (and contact you), the more likely you are to find the right person in the long run.
  
• Make an effort to contact other single people yourself.  Don't just sit back and wait for people to contact you.
  
• Keep an open mind.  Don't dismiss someone because they don't match up in every single detail to your idea of the perfect partner.  We all have our shortcomings, and all successful relationships are based on compromise to a certain extent - on both sides.
  
• Be prepared to put yourself out a little.  For example, don't limit yourself to meeting single people who live on your doorstep.  Extend your search to neighbouring towns or counties.  Far better to meet the right person, even if they do live some distance away, rather than making an unsuitable relationship with someone just because they happen to be convenient.
  
• Be positive!  Don't continually put obstacles in the way of meeting people - concentrate instead on all the reasons why you should meet them.
  
• Maintain a cheerful and enthusiastic attitude!  No-one wants to be in the company of someone who has a negative attitude and is constantly moaning and groaning, especially about past relationships.

KNO has taken all the advantages of traditional and online dating, and combined them in one superb system - an entirely new concept on the internet.

So what's different, and what are the benefits to YOU:

• More members to meet - off-line members also included on the system - our advertising reaches people that the internet doesn't.  Not available on other dating sites, as there are no other ways of joining other than online.   
• All members are actively seeking a partner - profiles of members who are inactive are automatically hidden from view.
• Try before you buy - as well as uploading your free profile & photo, you can send as many Mini-Messages as you like to other members  for FREE!  Generate some interest before you decide to Upgrade.   
• Telephone helpline for advice about any aspect of your membership or dating in general - not offered by other online dating sites.