Dating tips and advice http://www.dating-service.com/blog In this part of the site, we share with you news and views on online dating, dating experiences, reviews of new dating and personals sites, and any other topics of interest. You are welcome to to contribute by using the form to comment on any of the posts. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:08:15 +0000 en hourly 1 Re-Billing Gets Rejected… An End to Auto-Renewals? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DatingTipsDatingServicecom/~3/6wnDLfPkr0I/ http://www.dating-service.com/blog/996/re-billing-gets-rejected/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:57:55 +0000 Alison http://www.dating-service.com/blog/?p=996

What is the biggest complaint most people have about online dating services? Surprisingly, it has nothing to do with the websites themselves but rather the common billing practices used by many online dating companies. Automatic renewal is a source of unhappiness for many people who join an online dating site, but the practice known as re-billing is also a highly complained about problem.

Even if you don’t know what re-billing is you’ve probably been exposed to it many different times and maybe even fallen prey to the negative aspects of this practice. Re-billing is the term for those pop-up windows that appear after you have made a purchase online; you know the ones, they offer to give you “cash back” or future discounts just by clicking on the button and joining a service, testing out a product, or otherwise agreeing to get involved with some other company. The problem is that many of these offers are extremely deceiving, getting out of them once you have signed up is extremely difficult, and they don’t make it clear that when you sign up the original website you were on receives money for referring you.

The practice of re-billing has been a huge moneymaker for many online dating sites, but the problem has become so out of hand that the credit card industry is finally cracking down on it. Mastercard recently announced it will suspend the merchant accounts of websites engaging in deceptive re-billing activities until they make changes that include:

  • Showing the billing terms clearly and up front
  • Clear notice that the consumer is enrolling in a paid service
  • Trial periods must be at least 10 days
  • Multiple methods of cancellation must be clearly made available

So the next time you come across a re-billing pop-up ad on an online dating website you’ll be in a better position to make a good decision based on having accurate and complete information presented to you.

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]]> http://www.dating-service.com/blog/996/re-billing-gets-rejected/feed/ 0 http://www.dating-service.com/blog/996/re-billing-gets-rejected/ St. Patrick’s Day For Singles http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DatingTipsDatingServicecom/~3/vVy03rihEF8/ http://www.dating-service.com/blog/991/st-patricks-day-for-singles/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:43:56 +0000 Alison http://www.dating-service.com/blog/?p=991

Erin go braugh, Ireland forever, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This is a holiday just made for parties, filled with drinking green beer and hanging out with friends. It seems everyone is “Irish for a day” on St. Patrick’s Day, making it one of the top reasons (or excuses, depending on your perspective) to go out and have fun.

Unlike many other holidays where the emphasis is on that “special someone” (think Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and of course Valentine’s Day), the very nature of St. Patrick’s Day is all about having fun, fun, and more fun. This makes it a terrific opportunity for singles to get out of the house, get out on the town, and simply enjoy themselves for the evening.

If you’re not sure where to go or what to do on St. Patrick’s Day, a quick look through the local paper or events calendar should be all it takes to find something appealing. Many communities have activities underway all day long, from fun runs in the morning to parades in the afternoon to concerts, dances, and beer gardens in the evening and into the night. Grab a friend (or even better, a group of friends) and head out to whatever event or activity strikes your fancy. Approach the evening as a chance to relax and have fun without the pressure of being on a date or having to interact with just one person. Laugh, play, dance, sing karaoke….whatever you want to do because it’s a day to celebrate the spirit and joyous approach to life of the Irish people.

Just remember, if you’re planning to drink alcohol don’t drive; designate a driver to make sure everyone can have a terrific time and get home safely at the end of the evening!

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]]> http://www.dating-service.com/blog/991/st-patricks-day-for-singles/feed/ 0 http://www.dating-service.com/blog/991/st-patricks-day-for-singles/ What You Didn’t See On The Oscars http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DatingTipsDatingServicecom/~3/A6ATfDEOAcM/ http://www.dating-service.com/blog/988/what-you-didnt-see-on-the-oscars/#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:35:40 +0000 Alison http://www.dating-service.com/blog/?p=988

The Academy Awards have come and gone for another year, and as always the Oscars created all sorts of buzz and publicity. But what you might not realize is that the world of online dating had an important role to play in this year’s Oscar telecast. Well, okay, actually it’s more accurate to say that online dating didn’t play an important role in this year’s Oscar telecast.

It all has to do with the online dating site AshleyMadison.com and a commercial they wanted to run during the Oscar show. In case you haven’t heard of AshleyMadison.com, it is perhaps the most famous online dating services specially targeted at people who want to engage in extra-marital activities. It’s all about cheating. And this year for the first time ever AshleyMadison.com tried to run a television commercial during the Academy Awards television show.

The key word here is “tried”; the producers of the Oscars telecast turned down the ad as being inappropriate for Hollywood’s biggest night of the year. Why? Because it depicts infidelity and promotes AshleyMadison.com as a resource for those who want to engage in infidelity. Of course, the folks at AshleyMadison.com are quick to point out that Hollywood is hardly a place of virtue when it comes to monogamy and marital fidelity so it doesn’t make sense to them that their admittedly steamy but not vulgar ad has been declined.

What do you think? Is this a case of hypocrisy in action? Or is it an acceptable decision intended to keep the Academy Awards telecast appropriate for all ages to view?

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]]> http://www.dating-service.com/blog/988/what-you-didnt-see-on-the-oscars/feed/ 0 http://www.dating-service.com/blog/988/what-you-didnt-see-on-the-oscars/ The Next Generation Of Online Dating http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DatingTipsDatingServicecom/~3/Q0sToS_tQSw/ http://www.dating-service.com/blog/981/the-next-generation-of-online-dating/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:47:04 +0000 Alison http://www.dating-service.com/blog/?p=981

Online dating has come a long way since the first real mainstream online dating site, Match.com, came on the scene in 1995. Over the last 15 years online dating has transformed from the perception of being the place where “losers” go to meet to the more modern and correct perception of being the place where singles of all kinds can connect with others. The change has been dramatic indeed, but that doesn’t mean the pace of change is slowing down at all.

Just the opposite, in fact. Online dating continues to transform and change, in some cases literally before our very eyes, as new technology and a new generation of tech-friendly singles comes of age. The tremendous growth of social networking web sites such as MySpace.com and Facebook.com has rapidly started to blur the lines between traditional online dating services and newer ways to connect and find interesting singles to date and get to know.

Many younger singles are shying away from traditional online dating sites and instead focusing their efforts on the social networking sites. Why? Because they feel social networking sites allow them to combine a number of activities all in one convenient place (staying connected with friends, sharing information, dating, etc.) rather than having to access a separate dating site for that activity alone.

What are the traditional online dating sites doing about this phenomenon? In most cases they are actively embracing the social networking aspects of online dating, offering specialty applications for both the social networking sites and mobile phone use as well. For example, Zoosk and Datepad are among the more popular facebook dating aps, though there are many others.

Look for this trend to continue into the future as more and more young people turn to technology and the internet as integral parts of their daily lives!

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]]> http://www.dating-service.com/blog/981/the-next-generation-of-online-dating/feed/ 0 http://www.dating-service.com/blog/981/the-next-generation-of-online-dating/ eHarmony Welcomes Gay, Lesbian, And Bisexual Singles http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DatingTipsDatingServicecom/~3/b5iU3gcXDx4/ http://www.dating-service.com/blog/976/eharmony-welcomes-gay-lesbian-and-bisexual-singles/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:50:45 +0000 Alison http://www.dating-service.com/blog/?p=976

Online dating for specialty groups of singles has exploded in recent years, especially for gay, lesbian, and bisexual singles. One of the biggest online dating services, eHarmony.com, however, was accused of discriminating against this group of singles and faced a series of lawsuits over their practices. These lawsuits were recently settled and now eHarmony is more openly welcoming gays, lesbians, and bisexual singles to their services.

The lawsuits alleged that eHarmony.com did not do enough to provide visible and appropriate dating services to this large and diverse group of singles, and in fact suggested eHarmony.com actively discriminated against gay, lesbian, and bisexual singles who attempted to join the eHarmony.com community. After a little over two years of negotiating, though, eHarmony.com has agreed to be more proactive about serving this audience of singles and also be more forthright about displaying and providing easy access to their gay, lesbian, and bisexual dating services.

So what does this really mean? The most readily apparent change is that eHarmony.com will make links to their gay, lesbian, and bisexual dating services more visible and accessible from the main eHarmony.com web site. For instance, on the eHarmony.com home page there are currently links to other specialty dating services for seniors, Christians, Hispanics, African Americans, etc.; under the terms of the lawsuit settlement the home page will now display an equally prominent link to specialty dating services for gay, lesbian, and bisexual singles.

This is a big win for singles of all types, as it means even the largest online dating sites cannot use their size and influence to discriminate against specialty groups of singles. Now everyone can expect to receive equal treatment and equally convenient access to the online dating services best suited to their needs.

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]]> http://www.dating-service.com/blog/976/eharmony-welcomes-gay-lesbian-and-bisexual-singles/feed/ 0 http://www.dating-service.com/blog/976/eharmony-welcomes-gay-lesbian-and-bisexual-singles/ Matchmakers For Millionaires http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DatingTipsDatingServicecom/~3/3VfSJ9pTKgI/ http://www.dating-service.com/blog/964/matchmakers-for-millionaires/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:09:00 +0000 Alison http://www.dating-service.com/blog/?p=964

One of the things most singles dream about at some point is finding that perfect match and finding out he or she is a millionaire. Wouldn’t it be fun to date someone for whom money is no object? Someone who will “spoil” you and treat you to dating adventures and experiences others simply can’t match?

Just as there are online dating sites for all sorts of specialty groups and audiences, so too are there online dating sites that focus on meeting the online dating needs of millionaires. So what, exactly, does it take to get introduced to millionaires via some of these specialty online dating sites?

Keep in mind that these sites are selective about the singles (men and women) accepted into their programs. In most cases the millionaires are the ones paying hefty fees to join and the “regular” singles are the ones facing the most detailed and specific selection processes. If you aren’t a millionaire and are interested in being considered for matchmaking on one of these sites you’ll need to meet their often very exacting standards.

Some examples of typical requirements include:

Age – Anywhere from 20’s to 40’s in most cases, with some accepting older singles in select cases

Characteristics – Complainers, whiners, and gold-diggers need not apply! These types of sites are looking for single that are attractive, articulate, classy, and emotionally balanced and secure.

Occupation – Mostly looking for educated, professional types who have a steady employment background; this is important to many millionaires because they are not interested in dating someone who is after their money or has shown erratic behaviors in the past.

Here are a few of the better known Millionaire sites we’ve reviewed, though there are many others to choose from:

To combat the problem of fraudsters, the more established Millionaire sites have introduced certification procedures in which members are required to submit proof of their income and their “Net Worth”! At the very least, members should expect to have thier photos and identity verified.

In the end, if you choose to apply to one of the online dating sites catering to millionaires you should not be surprised if you are rejected. Most of these web sites only accept a very small percentage (often less than .5%) of people who are not millionaire clients. With that said, though, don’t let the overall odds scare you off. You’ll never know what could happen until you give it a try!

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]]> http://www.dating-service.com/blog/964/matchmakers-for-millionaires/feed/ 0 http://www.dating-service.com/blog/964/matchmakers-for-millionaires/ Battling The Winter Dating Blahs http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DatingTipsDatingServicecom/~3/SchE4ZWXPag/ http://www.dating-service.com/blog/961/battling-the-winter-dating-blahs/#comments Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:25:43 +0000 Alison http://www.dating-service.com/blog/?p=961

You’ve made it through the holiday season and into the New Year, a period of time that is often quite difficult for singles and online daters. All of that pressure to “find someone special” can make what are supposed to be happy times into depressed and unpleasant times.

But now it’s February and those dismal, depressed times should be long gone, right? Wrong! Just because the holidays are over does not mean online daters aren’t still feeling the winter blahs. It’s still getting dark early, the weather is still pretty crummy, and it’s still hard sometimes to find yourself looking for dates and feeling quite alone.

So what can you do to overcome these winter dating blahs? As it turns out, plenty!

Keep to a routine – Establish a routine and stick to it because this kind of structure has a positive effect on your mood. The best routines include regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and getting enough sleep each night.

Keep your friends close – The winter blahs are all about feeling a lack of energy, so fight them off by keeping in contact with your friends who energize you. Talk regularly on the phone, set up regular coffee or lunch dates, and make sure you have regular contact with those people who are most energizing and fun to be around.

Practice optimism – It’s easy to get “stuck” in negativity during the winter months; it’s too hard to find dates, the weather is too ugly to go outside, and the like. Remember, though, that the power of positive thinking and optimism are real. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of what you’re feeling and experiencing, make a point of paying attention to the positive aspects of your life. It sounds silly, but it really does work.

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]]> http://www.dating-service.com/blog/961/battling-the-winter-dating-blahs/feed/ 0 http://www.dating-service.com/blog/961/battling-the-winter-dating-blahs/ Growth In the Online Dating Industry http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DatingTipsDatingServicecom/~3/1UXzJnRfIfw/ http://www.dating-service.com/blog/958/growth-in-the-online-dating-industry/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:36:30 +0000 blog http://www.dating-service.com/blog/?p=958

Recession. Unemployment. Home foreclosures. It seems everywhere you turn these days, the news is filled with stories about how tough the economy is across all income levels, locations, and professions. And while there’s no doubt that it’s a terribly tough time for those who are out of work, a small glimmer of good news is coming out of the online dating industry.

Online dating is one of the few really strong growth industries around; by some estimates, it’s poised to expand as much as 20% to even 30% in the next one to two years. With all of this tremendous growth, then, it’s not too surprising that the online dating industry is one sector that has experienced (and continues to experience) steady job growth.

What most people don’t stop to think about is all of the “behind the scenes” stuff that goes on at an online dating website. From programmers to customer relations to marketing to web designers and more, there are lots and lots of jobs available for those who are interested in pursuing them. In most cases the jobs are clustered in whatever city or location is the headquarters (or major regional hub) of the dating site itself, but in some cases you may be able to work remotely.

For instance, Match.com and Chemistry.com have a number of jobs posted for their Dallas, Texas, location, while eHarmony.com lists several diverse types of jobs for their Pasadena, California, location. There are even a number of international online dating sites with plenty of job openings, including DatingDirect.com (France), Shaadi.com (India), Lavalife.com (Canada), and FriendScout24.com (Germany).

So if you’re looking for a job and feeling frustrated, it might be a good idea to check out job postings at a variety of online dating websites.

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]]> http://www.dating-service.com/blog/958/growth-in-the-online-dating-industry/feed/ 0 http://www.dating-service.com/blog/958/growth-in-the-online-dating-industry/ Things To Do In A Snowstorm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DatingTipsDatingServicecom/~3/R9fkqpoGMP0/ http://www.dating-service.com/blog/953/things-to-do-in-a-snowstorm/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:45:04 +0000 Alison http://www.dating-service.com/blog/?p=953

It’s a well known phenomenon that during the cold winter months, people tend to have sex more often; just take a look at the number of babies typically born in August, September, and October, and you’ll see how true this is. But what about all of those singles out there who aren’t involved in a relationship? What do they do when a raging snowstorm keeps them inside for days on end?

Turns out, they go online and join online dating sites. From Australia to the United Kingdom to the United States, online dating services report significant surges in website visitors and new members during the winter months. This has been especially true during the winter of 2009/2010 so far because it has been such a tremendously cold and wintry season.

For instance, in the UK there are reports from MySingleFriend.com and Singles365.com that their visitor tallies were up from 27% to as much as 55% during the recent plunge in temperatures and piles of snow. And it’s not just the snowbound in the UK turning to online dating sites, either; in the United States the adultery online website AshleyMadison.com reports it gained as many as 10,000 new members each day during the recent spate of snowstorms and frigid temperatures.

So the next time you’re trapped inside by cold temperatures, snow, ice, or the like, why not take a look at an online dating site? With all of those new members signing up you’re more likely than ever to find someone special online!

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]]> http://www.dating-service.com/blog/953/things-to-do-in-a-snowstorm/feed/ 0 http://www.dating-service.com/blog/953/things-to-do-in-a-snowstorm/ Beware The Bawdy Bankers http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DatingTipsDatingServicecom/~3/xXGdG2Liz1k/ http://www.dating-service.com/blog/948/beware-the-bawdy-bankers/#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:20:41 +0000 Alison http://www.dating-service.com/blog/?p=948

When you picture a banker in your mind, what does it look like? I see a person (man or woman) in a conservative suit, with a calm and disciplined demeanor, and a face that cries out “trust me with your money”. Okay, I know, that’s a stereotype, but you have to admit that most people involved in the banking industry tend to be more conservative, disciplined, and structured. And that’s a good thing, really, because after all you wouldn’t want somebody wild and crazy handling your financial stuff, right? (Those kinds of people are on Wall Street in the big financial firms, but that’s a topic for a different blog entry!)

Well, you can throw that stereotype of typical banking types out the window, because one of the leading web sites devoted to helping people arrange to have affairs (IllicitEncounters.com) is reporting a sharp spike in bankers and other financial workers joining the site in search of affairs. Why? The answers might not be all that surprising, when you think about it:

  1. To feel as if someone loves them
  2. Because their life at home has undergone a great deal of stress
  3. To boost their ego
  4. To enjoy the thrill of great sex without the burden of a relationship

I’d like to think that these kinds of bawdy bankers have enough smarts to go trolling for encounters at web sites set up just for those seeking affairs and the like, but I suspect that isn’t necessarily the case. There are probably plenty of them who opt for the more mainstream dating sites rather than the affair-specific sites.

So the next time you find yourself connecting with a single whose profession is listed as “banker”, be sure to exercise a bit of extra caution. You don’t want to get caught up in much more than you bargained for!

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