Frequently Asked Questions.

"My Profile" FAQs

1. Do I get received mail alerts?
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   Yes, but only an unread e-mail alert.
   
   Every night a job runs that checks your mail box for unread messages, and informs you if you have received any. You get this via an e-mail to your personal e-mail address you entered when you joined up.
   
   If you do not get this then either:
   a) you read all your messages on the day they arrived or
   b) The e-mail is being dumped in your "junk" folder. Check your e-mail program's junk folder and junk settings. You may need to add info@outdoorduo.co.uk as a 'friend'.
2. How can I stay anonymous?
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   If you use our internal e-mail system the end user will never get your contact details, and you can block them if they won't "go away" when asked.
   
   When you are ready you could give them your actual e-mail, MSN identity or mobile number, but from then on we have no control over how they contact you.
   
   A mobile number is more anonymous than a landline, and is therefore a better choice to a landline.
3. How do I change my username, password or other details?
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   Sign in and visit your "My Profile" page. From here click the "Edit my email" or "Edit my details" links. These will drop you into the appropriate parts of the registration process.
   
   Click [Next >>] to save changes. You don't need to complete all four steps if you are just editing a section.
4. How do I edit the "I Like" star ratings?
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   Log into your Profile, and click the stars directly.
   
   To "zero" a line of stars click the star with a red line through it.
   
5. How do I upload a photo - I seem to have problems?!
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   Your photo is probably too large. Try re-sizing it in a graphics program.
   
   If you don't have a graphics program download paint.net from www.getpaint.net, open the photo (File - Open) then:
   1. choose Image - Resize. Set the width to 200 pixels for a profile pic, or 420px for a photo section pic.
   2. click OK
   3. choose Effects - Photo - Sharpen if its a bit blurry
   4. save the file with a DIFFERENT name so as to not ruin the original file using File - Save As ...
   
   Now go to "My Profile" on the site and click the "Edit my picture" link, or "Add a Picture" in the pictures section.
6. Should I post a photo?
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   YES!
   
   Profiles with photos get 60% more messages than those without.
   
   If you are worried then get a friend to select a good photo from your collection for you, or invest in a professional portrait. If spending a little will make you feel more comfortable posting then do it - a future love is an asset worth investing in.
   
   Don't post an old or fake photo. You will have to meet any potential mates eventually, so don't waste either their time or your time. Be upfront and honest. The things you don't like about yourself are not the same as the things others won't like about you.
7. How do I delete my profile?
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   To delete your account and/or stop payments simply log into your profile, and click the "Delete My Profile" link below the profile picture.
   
   If you have subscribed make sure you click the "Unsubscribe" button and cancel your repeating payment; this opens a new tab/window. Once you have cancelled the payment return to the previous window to complete the deletion.
   
   We appreciate any feedback, especially if you have met someone.
   
   When done click the [Delete] button to finally delete your account. If you just wanted to stop payments but keep your account then don't click [Delete].

Advertising FAQS

1. Can I restart an advert?
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   If an advert has reached its end date you can restart it by logging into your "Purchaser's Account" and clicking the Adverts link, then the Pay link next to the advert.
   
   To avoid "advert blindness" it is also worth editing your advert at this stage.
2. What is the Page View Guarantee?
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   We guarantee that you will receive 100,000 page views per month as an absolute minimum. If within the number months you purchased your ad doesn't get at least 100,000 pageviews it will continue to run until it has.
3. What method of payments do you accept?
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   We use PayPal, the worlds largest internet payment system. They accept just about every credit card, and can also set up direct debit charges to your bank account.
   
   You will need to set up a PayPal account (if you don't already have one), but once this is done you can use it with thousands of websites - including eBay - around the world. You can even send money to a friend or relative with a PayPal account somewhere else in the world.
   
   For more information:
   http://www.PayPal.com
4. Who is PayPal? Why do you use them?
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   PayPal is a site that lets you send money via the internet in a safe way. It is used by Ebay and thousands of websites as their payment "gateway".
   
   We use PayPal for a number of reasons:
   

   • It is big and well known and many people already have a PayPal account.
   • It means we never handle credit card details, so you know we cannot charge extra amounts to your credit card or steal your details.

   
   With PayPal your payments to us are secure and under your control.
   
   For more information you can visit PayPal on the link below.
   
   For more information:
   http://www.PayPal.com
5. Why can't I see my advert?
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   We rotate the adverts to ensure even exposure of all ads and help prevent "advert blindness". Your advert may not appear on every page view. Try refreshing ([F5]) the page a few times to see if it comes up.

Dealing with Other Users

1. Can I prevent a user contacting me?
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   Yes. Log into your account, then find and view the profile of the user you wish to block and click the "Block this user" link.
   
   Once the user is blocked they will appear on your "Blocked Users" list. You can un-block them by deleting them off the blocked list.
   
   If you are particularly troubled by a user then feel free to contact us.
2. Can I report offensive content?
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   You can report offensive content by clicking the sad face with the speach bubble beneath the content. If you wish to report a user please e-mail us with their profile name, and details of your concerns.
3. How can I search for both men and woman for walking partners, not just for love?
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   You can search for both men and women. Just select the "Either" option for both "I Am:" and "Seeking A:".
4. How can I use the forum effectively?
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   The forum is there for you to communicate with a broader audience, but
   please remember these few pointers to using the forum effectively.
   

   1. A forum is in "black and white". There are none of the tone of
      voice and body language clues of a conversation that add colour.
      Your post is likely to appear more positive or negative than
      intended. Use the emoticons, and be aware that words have many
      meanings; choose your words carefully.
      
   2. If you feel a post was overly accusatory or sharp in tone read it
      again before replying - did the author mean something else, or
      choose their words badly?
   3. Its easier to get your point across without confusion in a short
      post. Think along the lines of a conversation rather than a ten
      minute speech.
   4. Be civil. Personal differences should be handled through the mail
      system and not through posts displayed to everyone.
   5. Be quick to apologise and slow to respond in anger.
   6. Try not to rant.
   7. If you feel hurt by a comment or exchange then the other party is
      likely to be feeling equally hurt.
   8. We do have a Cyber Bullying policy in our Ts and Cs, lets avoid
      the need to invoke it.

   
   Have fun!
5. How do I contact other members?
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   To contact others log into your account before searching. You will then be able to click a "Contact Me" link on their profile (top right).
   
   You could also add them to your "Friends List" by clicking the "Add to my Friends List" link on their profile. You can then visit "My Profile" and click the "My Friends" link from which you can easily e-mail friends.
   
   You can, of course, reply to the e-mails they send you by clicking the reply icon on the e-mail list or when viewing the e-mail.

Online Dating FAQs

1. Does online dating work?
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   Using a specialist site like this one means that you are more likely to be able to meet someone who is both free and looking for a relationship, and interested in the same things as you.
   
   Thus it is easier to find a potential mate in the first place, and then have things in common with them in the second.
   
   If people in real life walked around with sandwich boards declaring "I am am single and looking for a love-match; someone interested in pig breeding and flower photography" then sites like this one wouldn't need to exist. Here all the users have just such a notice attached to their profile. Moreover, you can search this using our search tool to find potential partners of interest to you.
   
   Online dating is rapidly become a key way for many people to find their life-long partners.
2. Is online dating safe?
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   Online dating is as safe as any other form of dating. Indeed you could argue it is safer as there is no need to release details of who you are and where you are from until you feel comfortable with the person you are talking to.
   
   Our Online Safety page will give you a few tips to help in this regard.

Payment FAQs

1. How do I pay by Direct Debit?
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   We use an FSA regulated and approved company called GoCardless to manage our direct debits. With GoCardless:
   
   1. Your bank details are secure. We don't see them.
   2. You can cancel your payment through GoCardless or your bank.
   3. The normal direct debit guarantees still apply4. When you subscribe simply click the GoCardless direct debit link to set up a direct debit.
   
   If you are currently paying by credit card through PayPal don't forget to cancel the payment. See this FAQ for more help:
   How do I cancel or restart my monthly payments?
2. How long is the contract?
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   There is no contract. You can cancel your monthly payment at any time, and resume it again at any time. Our only restriction is that we do not refund monthly amounts already paid to us. Your risk is therefore just one monthly payment.
   
   To cancel your payments log into your PayPal acount and cancel it there. For more details see the FAQ "How do I cancel or restart my monthly payments?"
   
   To restart just click the subscribe button. Again see the FAQ "How do I cancel or restart my monthly payments?"
   
   For more information:
   http://www.PayPal.com
3. PayPal Aaaaargh!
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   Having problems with PayPal? Then call their free phone number:
   
   0800 3587929
   
4. Who is PayPal? Why do you use them?
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   PayPal is a site that lets you send money via the internet in a safe way. It is used by Ebay and thousands of websites as their payment "gateway".
   
   We use PayPal for a number of reasons:
   

   • It is big and well known and many people already have a PayPal account.
   • It means we never handle credit card details, so you know we cannot charge extra amounts to your credit card or steal your details.
   • They have a simple subscription system that handles subscriptions for us. You can cancel a subscription at any time through their system.

   
   With PayPal your payments to us are secure and under your control.
   
   For more information you can visit PayPal on the link below.
   
   For more information:
   http://www.PayPal.com
5. What method of payments do you accept?
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   You can pay by Credit Card through PayPal or by Direct Debit (UK Only).
   
   Unfortunately due to problems with Mastercard we no longer accept Mastercard credit cards.
   
   For more information:
   http://www.PayPal.com
6. How do I cancel or restart my monthly PayPal payments?
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   You can cancel a payment at any time, and restart at a later date. How you cancel your payment depends on whether you are paying via PayPal or GoCardless
   
   Cancelling your Subscription with PayPal
   You cancel the monthly payments in your PayPal account. PayPal will then inform us that you have cancelled the payment. You will still have access to the service until the last date covered by your last payment, at which point access will be ended until you re-subscribe.
   
   Paypal has different methods to cancel depending on your account.
   Method 1:
   1. Log in to your PayPal account.
   2. Click the Profile button at the top of the page.
   3. Click "Profile and Settings"
   4. On the left click My Money
   5. Click Update in the
   My pre-approved payments box
   6. Select the payment from the list, and then click Cancel.
   
   Method 2:
   1. Log in to your PayPal account.
   2. Click the Profile button at the top of the page.
   3. Click "Settings"
   4. Click Payments
   5. Under "Manage Upcoming Payments", click "Pre-approved Payments".
   6. Select the payment from the list, and then click Cancel.
   7. Click Cancel Profile to confirm you request.
   
   Cancelling Recurring Payments with Gocardless BACs system
   
   1. Log into your OD profile
   2. Click Delete my profile below your profile picture. (Don't worry you don't need to delete your profile if you don't want to).
   3. Click the Cancel GoCardless button and follow instructions.
   4. When returned to the delete page you can either click the [Delete] button to finally delete your account, or just click another item off the menu to keep your account.
   
   Re-starting your Subscription
   To restart your payment wait until the [Subscribe] button re-appears on the site's menu once you have logged in.
   
   1. Go through the subscription process as you did the first time you subscribed.
   2. PayPal Only: When PayPal recognises you have an old subscription and asks you to renew it say "NO", and start a new subscription.
   
   
   For more information:
   http://paypal.com
7. My credit card needs renewing on PayPal - what do I do?
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   If you receive a warning from PayPal that your card is about to run out you need to enter the details of your new card.
   
   To add your new card:
   1. Log in to your PayPal account.
   2. Click the Profile button at the top right of the page. (Gray head in a gray box!).
   3. Click "Profile and Settings".
   4. On the left click My Money
   5. Click Update in the
   Debit and credit cards box
   6. Select the card from the list, and then click Update or similar.
   
   To pay by direct debit and avoid this problem do as above, but click the Add Bank Account in the
   Bank Accounts box.
   
   If you are having access problems because your card has already gone out of date then email us and we can re-enable your account until the next payment arrives.
8. How do I pay?
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   You can pay with PayPal, the largest internet payment processor in the world, or in Europe via BACs bank transfer through GoCardless.
   
   If you haven't subscribed and would like to you need to log into your profile, then click the [Subscribe] link on the left.
   
   If you haven't yet created a profile then click the "register" link above. Fill in your details, then click the [Subscribe] link on the left.
9. Is the service free?
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   Our service requires a small monthly payment. It is very low cost (£4.50 per month) as we don't want users to feel under pressure to "rush" into meetings and dates before the money runs out. The price is about the same as a cheap bottle of wine, and hopefully will have a better effect on your life! Click here for more details: Subscribe!
   
   Feedback from research shows that users find subscribers to "paid for" sites are more serious, have more commitment to the process, and are less likely to mess you around.
   
   It also helps reduce the likelihood of the inevitable spammers bombarding you with messages about bank accounts full of millions.