For Valentine's Day on February 14th: Consumer advice center gives tips on finding a partner online
Be careful of fake profiles when looking for a partner: countless online portals advertise great love or a quick flirt. However, providers work with fake profiles, trial memberships are converted into expensive subscriptions or consumers have to pay bills despite cancellation. The Brandenburg Consumer Center (VZB) explains what those looking for a partner should pay attention to on the Internet on the occasion of Valentine's Day on February 14th.
Know what you want
Whether dating agency or contact exchange – various platforms on the Internet offer to help you find a partner. With contact exchanges, the provider usually only provides the platform on which singles actively search. With a dating agency, on the other hand, the provider sends suitable partner suggestions based on an individually created profile.
“Consumers should therefore take a close look at the various offers on the online platforms and the providers behind them and compare services and prices,” says Michèle Scherer, Digital World Consultant at VZB. Consumers should not be blinded by generally positive reviews and top grades
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Be careful with free membership and trial offers
“Providers often advertise free memberships or discounted trial offers, which, however, have their pitfalls when you take a closer look,” Scherer continued. There are offers that provide free access. However, in order to get in touch with other searchers, a paid premium membership is necessary. Consumers also reported to the consumer advice center several times that trial offers were automatically converted into longer-term and significantly more expensive memberships after the test phase had ended.
Use the right of withdrawal
If the offer is not suitable, consumers can generally revoke contracts concluded online within 14 days of the conclusion of the contract. But be careful: “In the event of a revocation, some dating agencies demand compensation for the services provided up to the revocation,” says Scherer. This can mean: The provider says that the consumer has already had contact with other members and has therefore already used the provider's service. The consumer has to pay for these services. Scherer advises: “In such a case, those affected should not accept the claim too hastily, but rather examine it very carefully to see whether and, above all, to what extent compensation is to be paid.” If in doubt, those affected should seek legal help. The same applies to cases in which providers do not accept a revocation within the statutory period.
Terminate the contract early
If you have a long membership, consumers should check it again and again.
“We advise terminating contracts with long terms early and in a verifiable manner in order to rule out unwanted automatic extensions,” said the consumer advocate. Trial memberships can also be tricky. “If the contract is automatically extended after a trial membership, please cancel immediately after completion as a precautionary measure,” says Scherer.
Read the small print carefully: Find a partner with a fake
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The provider's general terms and conditions describe the services, contract components and also the rights and obligations of the consumer in detail. “We strongly advise you to take a critical look at the small print before concluding the contract,” said the consumer advocate. A study by the consumer advice center from 2018 showed that online dating portals also use fake profiles. According to a current sample from the VZB, this practice has not changed to date. “Providers state in their terms and conditions that they work with moderators or controllers who create fictitious profiles,” says Scherer. Real meetings with them do not take place.
If you have problems with dating agencies and dating sites, those affected can contact the Brandenburg Consumer Center for personal advice:
- in the consumer advice centers, make an appointment on 0331 / 98 22 999 5 (Mon to Fri, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or online at vzb.de/termine ,
- Telephone advice on 09001 / 775 770 (Mon to Fri, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1€/min on German landline, mobile phone varies) and
- Email advice at vzb.de/emailberatung
Article image: Shutterstock / By Andrey_Popov
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