OPW – Nov 12 – There's a general consensus that it would be a good idea for the Internet dating industry to assert a set of standards on itself, before governments around the world take more initiative and impose them. Here's a few standards that are worthy of your attention.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Australia has this set of guidelines.
A group of leading German Internet dating services agreed on a set of best practices called the Spin Kodex to help consumers distinguish rogue from reputable services. They use the Federal Association of the Digital Economy to handle complaints.
And more recently, Jackie Elton (Christian Connection) has led the charge in the UK to build a set of standards under the Association of British Introduction Agencies. Its a work in progress and they're planning on launching it early next year.
What do you think. Your comments please?
What legitimate dating site isn’t already adhering to the guidelines laid out in these documents? And, if not, why not?
What legitimate dating site isn’t already adhering to the guidelines laid out in these documents? And, if not, why not?
Thanks for keeping us up to date on how the various consumer agencies are responding to these important issues. We have a short and sweet list of Five Signs You’re Using a Legitimate Dating Site.
Several things that seemed weak/missing in the draft guideline are (1) addressing billing questions like per message / per minute / recurring billing (2) making affiliate relationships explicit on referring websites (3) for international dating sites, addressing that the types of scams are different (see our advice articles – and the comments – on women being scammed on dating websites and an example of a nanny scammer targeting ladies)
We don’t like the idea of any more government regulation than absolutely necessary so we applaud your suggestion to have the industry make its own proposals.
Thanks for keeping us up to date on how the various consumer agencies are responding to these important issues. We have a short and sweet list of Five Signs You’re Using a Legitimate Dating Site.
Several things that seemed weak/missing in the draft guideline are (1) addressing billing questions like per message / per minute / recurring billing (2) making affiliate relationships explicit on referring websites (3) for international dating sites, addressing that the types of scams are different (see our advice articles – and the comments – on women being scammed on dating websites and an example of a nanny scammer targeting ladies)
We don’t like the idea of any more government regulation than absolutely necessary so we applaud your suggestion to have the industry make its own proposals.
Thanks – liked the 5 signs of a legitimate dating site. Unfortunately, the scammers get cleverer and cleverer at faking profiles which look genuine!
Sam, what is important is not only what a legitimate dating site is doing but what they are seen to be doing from the perspective of the user.
It is essential that average user of sites knows what he or she should have the right to expect. Unfortunately there are thousands of people who on a daily basis are getting a poor experience of dating sites and they are getting confused. That situation is very damaging. We need to demonstrate that are there good legitimate sites out there who meet a standard and genuinely serve their members.
Thanks – liked the 5 signs of a legitimate dating site. Unfortunately, the scammers get cleverer and cleverer at faking profiles which look genuine!
Sam, what is important is not only what a legitimate dating site is doing but what they are seen to be doing from the perspective of the user.
It is essential that average user of sites knows what he or she should have the right to expect. Unfortunately there are thousands of people who on a daily basis are getting a poor experience of dating sites and they are getting confused. That situation is very damaging. We need to demonstrate that are there good legitimate sites out there who meet a standard and genuinely serve their members.
There are lots of things that can give a poor customer dating experience. Broadly they fall into two categories, untrustworthy dating customers and untrustworthy dating operators.
The former ranges from the no show guy with the out of date photo to the scammer looking to defraud your customers. Pretty much every dating operator wants to stamp this out as it has massive negative brand impact.
The later are operators who are complicit in a poor customer experience ranging from difficulty cancelling the service to fake content and communication. This is the real issue that needs industry coop to stop.
There are lots of things that can give a poor customer dating experience. Broadly they fall into two categories, untrustworthy dating customers and untrustworthy dating operators.
The former ranges from the no show guy with the out of date photo to the scammer looking to defraud your customers. Pretty much every dating operator wants to stamp this out as it has massive negative brand impact.
The later are operators who are complicit in a poor customer experience ranging from difficulty cancelling the service to fake content and communication. This is the real issue that needs industry coop to stop.