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Many dating sites make no checks at all. Rules surrounding them appear to be non-existent. Anyone can start a dating agency - they don't have to be licensed or registered and once the agency has been set up there are no statutory checks on how it is run.

Unfortunately, joining a dating agency which charges a higher fee is no guarantee that you'll get better service or that security vetting of potential clients will be carried out. In fact many agencies have pointed out that unless they have access to police records, they can never be entirely certain about the backgrounds of their clients. It is impossible to rule out any risks when using a dating agency or going on a blind date, but there are some commonsense safety rules you can follow to increase your security.

• Only use dating agencies which carry out detailed personal or electronic interviews. Don't use an agency which relies on postal questionnaires.
  
• Make sure the agency will never give out your surname or address to other clients. Some agencies will only withhold your details if you specifically request it.
  
• Don't join an agency that is not prepared to give you details of its fees on the phone or in literature.
  
• Don't part with any membership fees before you have visited and had a chat with the agency. Ask for a reference if you wish. 
  
• Try the dating sites at the bottom of the page.