Safe dating Guide - Top Tips

Meeting new people online...

should always be a very safe, convenient, happy and enjoyable experience. Whilst all reputable online dating agencies take every care to ensure you're online your safety is never compromised, you should be wary of any that don't publish a Privacy Policy. This is a very basic indication that the dating agency has at least put some thought into your personal security. Your personal contact details must be kept confidential - this is a requirement of law. So, take time to read the online datng agencies Privacy Policy before signing up and make sure they assert their compliance with the Data Protection Act.

The ultimate goal of ukCupid is to help you find a partner and obviously at some stage you will want to meet face-to-face with some of the people you meet online. For many, this is a completely new experience and, as with any blind date, you should be safety conscious.

Common sense is the key phrase. Sensible precautions will help to make your date more enjoyable and ensure that you are comfortable with your situation. The following list of tips is not exhaustive but will hopefully get you thinking in the right way about your safety and security.

Initial Contact

If you receive a contact email, consider your words before replying. Be wary of giving out your surname, personal telephone numbers, home address, e-mail address showing your true name, a personal web site URL or any other information which identifies you.

We highly recommend that all initial contact is maintained via our privacy-assured email gateway until you have satisfied yourself that the other party is genuine and you are totally comfortable. Don't forget, it's absolutely free to reply to contact emails via ukCupid.

We recommend that you move with caution. Ask as many questions as you can without sounding over-cautious and make sure you are satisfied with the answers. Trust your instincts. Be selective.

Next Steps

So you're happy and have decided you want to take things a little further, maybe even meet. The safest way to move the relationship to the next level is to chat on the phone before you actually meet. A phone call can reveal much about your potential date and how well you're likely to get on when you you do finally meet.

The Date

Always meet your date in a public place, such as a pub, bar, restaurant or coffee shop - at a time when there's likely to be plenty of people around. There's safety in numbers and its easier to make your excuses and leave if things aren't going well.

Provide your own transport and if you decide to move on to another venue, go under your own steam. Don't accept a lift or offer a lift home to your date until you know them well and you're sure it's safe.

It's best not to invite your date into your home or go to theirs until you know them well enough to do so.

Make sure that at least one friend or family member knows where you're going and who you're meeting. It's also sensible to let them know what time to expect you home. Also, give them your date's name and telephone number.

Take your mobile phone with you. Make sure its fully charged and you've got credit. Programme the number of a reliable cab company into it's memory, just in case.

We recommend you apply these precautions for at least the first couple of dates.

Don't get carried away too soon. Remember, your date is a stranger and you should get to know them before getting too involved.

Be Safe! Be Happy!