You are not alone – what to do if you receive debt collection demands from a dating site

When dating online, you can easily become ensnared in an involuntary long date with the wrong website which, in addition to being threatening, is impossible to break up with.

“We often get enquiries from unfortunate users who have fallen prey to foreign dating sites. They are charged for amounts they have never accepted, and are unable to contact the site and put a stop to the bills and involuntary membership. But our figures also show that not all users seek help. And the dating sites take advantage of that,” says Lars Arent, Director of ECC Denmark.

That’s why it’s important that we focus on the challenges and perhaps also reassure consumers: Others are in the same situation, and they can always get help.

Don’t be intimidated

The companies behind such dating sites are often aggressive. They send bills and reminders with fees, but are otherwise impossible to contact. Other users receive invoices from debt collectors, issuing demands on behalf of the dating sites. But don’t be intimidated. We know of no previous legal proceedings that these companies have brought against Danish consumers.

None of the companies we have encountered in online dating cases are permitted to conduct debt collection activities in Denmark, so you should not fear being sued. But it’s always a good idea to consult us so we can review your case.

You can see the list of debt collection agencies that are permitted to collect debts from Danish citizens here.

Document any contact made

If you receive a bill you do not agree with, inform the company behind the website and any debt collection agency in writing that you do not agree with the demand. Be sure to save your email so you can document the complaint.

“It must not be difficult to cancel a membership or a website subscription. So the company is not allowed to send you reminders when you have cancelled the agreement using the available cancellation methods,” says Lars Arent.

“When you have rejected such a demand once, you don’t have to do anything else, even if you receive multiple reminders about the same demand. In our experience, if you follow this advice, the unpleasant collection demands will cease at some point.”