Over 60 Dating FAQs

Most people have a few questions before they'll put their name to anything, which is fair enough. These are the ones we're asked most often, answered straight.

• Does it cost anything to join?

  Joining costs nothing. A free account lets you put up a profile and look through the members near you, so you can see who's actually on it before you decide anything. Sending messages needs a paid premium membership, and you can take that out whenever you're ready rather than on day one.

• Why is there a charge at all?

  Because a person checks every profile before it goes live, and because there are over 50 people employed across the service, security specialists among them. Sites that charge nothing tend to end up with a scammer problem, and the charge is the single biggest reason we don't have one.

• Do I have to put up a photo?

  You don't have to. You'll get considerably more interest if you do, though, and that's the honest answer. It needn't be anything fancy either. A recent one in good light, on your own, smiling, is the whole of it. If you're not happy with any of the photos you have, ask one of the grandchildren. They've been taking pictures since they could hold a phone.

• Will anyone see my email address or mobile number?

  Never. Neither is displayed anywhere on the site. What other members see is your first name, your photograph, your county or town, and whatever you've written about yourself. The member area runs over an encrypted connection.

• How does the messaging work?

  All of it happens inside the site, so you never hand over an email address or a phone number just to talk to somebody. That matters more than it sounds: if you decide you'd rather not continue, you simply stop replying, and they've no other way of reaching you. You'll need a premium membership to send messages.

• Who else is on it?

  People over 60 the length and breadth of the country, from north Dublin to west Kerry. Some are widowed, some separated or divorced, some have been on their own a long while. Some are hoping to meet a partner, others would be happy with company for the odd dinner or a walk on a Sunday. All of that is perfectly normal here and nobody needs to explain themselves.

• What should I write in my profile?

  Where you're from, what you do with your time, and what you're hoping to find. Particular beats general every time. Naming the walk you do on a Sunday, or the county you grew up in, tells somebody far more about you than describing yourself as sociable and easy going ever will. And "what county are you from?" is about the most reliable opening question there is here, so give people the chance to ask it.

• What does premium membership add?

  Unlimited messaging, a list of who's been looking at your profile, the advanced search filters, and a view of who happens to be online at the same time as you.

• How do you keep scammers off the site?

  Every profile is checked before it appears, your contact details are never published, and there's a report link at the bottom of every profile. Reports are confidential and the person reported is never told about it. If money has already changed hands, ring your bank immediately and then report it at any Garda station. There's no online fraud reporting portal in Ireland, so it does have to be done in person, and the Gardai treat these reports in confidence.

• How do I tell whether somebody suits me?

  Narrow the search down by county, age and interests, then read the written part of the profiles properly instead of skimming the photographs. The writing tells you more. After that it comes down to a few conversations, so don't be trying to decide before you've spoken to anybody.

• Will it work on my phone?

  It will, on any phone or tablet with an internet connection, and on a computer the same. If you're not confident with the phone yet, Age Action run computer training aimed at older learners and they're well used to starting at the beginning. Most libraries have something on as well.

If there's something here we haven't covered, the support team will sort you out. The number is at the bottom of the page.

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