Mar 27 — I've been asked what my personal opinion on background checks is…here it is, again. Background checks good! Background checks legislation bad! I just hope the background checks providers improve their checks to the point that they mesh with public perception. I'm glad to see TRUE has volunteered that checks are not perfect (recently in a TV interview). I don't think background checks legislation is necessary. It's drawn a lot of attention on the industry and shed the wrong light on us. When a paying subscriber lays down their credit card, they are exposing themselves, their identity. They can be traced. Why someone with malicious intent would sign up with their credit card on a paid online dating site is beyond me. The free dating sites and social networks don't have this protective layer. The social networks don't ask for credit cards but the press have blown things out of proportion with the social networking sites as well. Internet dating (most especially on paid sites) is simply far safer than the real world. I know you're all sick to death of this…but, your comments please. – Mark Brooks
Reasons FOR Legislation
1) To limit liabilities (Companies’ and Clients’)
2) Sooner the FBI / CIA will investigate if many Dot Com Companies (Not only Personals / Not only USA Companies)
– are avoiding paying taxes or also many are Laundering Money.
– could avoid pay taxes or also many could Launder Money.
Also Public Dot Com Companies have to agree / fulfil / operate in compliance of Sarbanes Oxley Act (aka SOX NORMS)
Regards,
Fernando Ardenghi.
Buenos Aires.
Argentina.
ardenghifer@gmail.com
Background checks would be good ONLY IF they were foolproof. And that would require a large upfront fee and significant time and paperwork in order to accomplish. True.com’s background checks, for example are not complete, as they readily admit. But, by touting them, they give their legitimate members a false sense of security that they are safe from frauds.
I am happy to include disclosures (we already do) on my site that:
1. We do not do background checks on our members, and
2. As in any dating situation, persons should be careful and find out as much as they can about their potential partner before getting serious.