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As humans, we invest our money in houses, cars, vacations, and even personal trainers. Yet, we leave one of the most important things to chance: finding someone to share our lives with. Deep down, we all hope to meet the one and only at an unexpected moment. But let’s be honest: how many people actually meet the one and only by chance?
Why not invest your hard-earned money in your love life? Thousands of singles do so every month by subscribing to a dating site or app. And that’s not a bad thing at all. For a limited amount of around 20 euros per month, you get access to the juicy features that make online dating just that little bit more fun and easier.
But at the same time, there are people who faithfully pay their contribution every month and never have a date. A waste of money. Navigating through the maze of fictitious and unvalidated profiles is simply not for everyone. And when they get frustrated, they still decide to try a different approach: matchmaking .
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How much does relationship mediation cost?
If you recognize yourself in this situation, you are probably wondering what the cost of matchmaking is. People tell you that hiring a professional matchmaking agency is the best investment you can make, but what does it cost?
Because the rates of the different agencies vary greatly, an overview of the usual prices is very useful. Because everyone claims to be the ‘best’ with the ‘highest chance of success’. Of course, the match between you and the matchmaker must be there. But if you don’t know where to start, then the price is decisive.
Relationship mediation costs
| Dating agency | Rate | Contract duration | Extra cost |
| Future relationship | 190 to 1,450 euros | 2 or 12 months | |
| People & Relationships | 1,000 to 1,750 euros | 12 months | |
| Partnerselect | 64,95 euro | 1 month | |
| Date & Match | 695 of 1095 euro | 6 or 12 months | |
| Take2 | 635 euro | 7 months | + 69.95 per proposal |
| DTNG | 2.850 euro | 12 months | |
| FoundationDate | income dependent | 12 months | |
| Just2Match | 1,495 to 1,725 euros | 18 months | |
| Ilse Relationship Mediation | 1075 euro | 12 months | |
| CustomMatch | 575 euro | 6 months |
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The different rates
A table with all the rates is nice, but is it useful? The different rates only gain some form of value when you compare the services with each other. What do you get for the amount you transfer? Which services are provided? And how much time do they spend on your personal situation? Don’t focus blindly on the costs, but also look at what you get in return. Consider the following:
- Intake at home or by video/telephone call
- Personal advice tailored to your needs
- Profile sketch or personality report
- Personal guidance from the consultant
- Chance of succeeding
- How many partner proposals
- Intensity of mediation
- Possibility of coaching
- Contract duration
- National or regional
- Size of the office
The costs incurred by a consultant or dating agency are included in the rates they offer to clients. Quite logical, because they are all commercial companies. But it also means that the lower the costs, the cheaper the relationship mediation could be. Therefore, pay close attention to what exactly is offered and what you pay for it. And even more important: do not pay for what you do not need.
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What do you get with relationship mediation?
Dating agencies work with the motto ‘a serious relationship requires a serious approach’. This does not mean swiping on an app, but a personal service from a consultant who assists you in your search for a partner. That personal contact with the consultant is therefore crucial for the success of a dating agency. Because the consultant will search for suitable relationship candidates for you and for that reason wants to know exactly who you are, what your motivations are and how you see the future for yourself.
Only when the consultant knows who you are, what you are concerned with, and what you are looking for, can he or she start looking for a partner that suits you. The working method of dating agencies is generally about the same, whereby the following steps are followed:
1. Intake interview
Personal contact plays a fundamental role in matching candidates. The intake takes place at your home or via a video call.
2. The selection
Based on the interview, a suitable candidate will be searched in the membership database.
3. The partner proposal
The consultant selects the most suitable profiles from the membership database and presents them to you.
4. Date
Once you have made a choice from the available candidates, you go on a date with this person.
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Trade Association Singles Quality Mark (BVSK)
Anyone who pays hundreds of euros for mediation wants to be sure that this money ends up with the right party. How do you know that you are dealing with a bona fide agency? The reliable agencies in the Netherlands are members of the Trade Association Singles Quality Mark ( BVSK ). With the Singles Quality Mark, these agencies prove that they meet a number of strict requirements:
- The agency has been active in relationship mediation for at least 2 years.
- The office owner has sufficient life experience.
- The agency owner has demonstrated that relevant knowledge in the social field is present within the organization, particularly in the following areas: psychology, sociology, spiritual movements, law and business acumen.
- The agency guarantees the quality of the relationship mediation at all times.
- When the agency mediates, a long-term relationship is assumed (m/f, m/m, f/f).
All these dating agencies also work together if things aren’t going well with one of the agencies. Thanks to the Singles Quality Mark Guarantee Fund, another dating agency will take over the work of another, if this party is no longer able to perform the service to its full potential. And that’s very convenient if you are being helped in love by a small dating agency. In addition, you can appeal to the independent Dispute Committee if you are not satisfied.
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What you need to know
Ultimately, the choice between dating agencies is large and there is a party for every budget that can help you. There are consultants who work from home and there are large, professional dating agencies with a large network: the differences can be enormous. And that is reflected in the price.
Therefore, always ask for additional information about the working method so that you have an idea of the procedure, even before you sign an annual contract. Is a consultant coming to your home to discuss a few things “free of charge and without obligation”? Do not let yourself be persuaded by the consultant’s sales pitch , but only make the choice when the consultant has left.
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