Monday, July 6, 2009

Money & Business

Alpha Consumer by Kimberly Palmer

Report: Online Dating's Bad for the Wallet

February 04, 2008 11:52 AM ET | Kimberly Palmer | Permanent Link | Print

Not only do you have to worry about your heart while making dates online, but now your wallet is at risk, too. The Better Business Bureau reports today that complaints about online dating services are on the rise.

The most common gripe? Poor matches. Consumers said they were set up with people who did not meet their criteria, including some who were already married or who smoked despite their request for a nonsmoker.

And the bad dates came at a hefty price, with many services costing upwards of $50 a month.

To protect your money (and heart), the BBB recommends that you be skeptical of advertising for online dating, do a Web search before signing up to see if others have complained about the company, and stand strong against high-pressure sales tactics and automatic contract renewals. (And remember, you can always dispute unfair charges with your credit card company.)

• You can learn about the benefits of living in a small house and creating an emergency fund, among other financial tips, at this week's Carnival of Personal Finance.

Tags: internet | personal finance

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Reader Comments

^The genious above

Following your line of reasoning, so is marriage.

prostitution

Its prostitution, the service being the pimp, madam.

Its all about sex.FOR MONEY

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Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about how to save money, avoid scams, manage debt, and be a savvy shopper. Share with her your own money issues by sending questions to alphaconsumer@usnews.com.

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