Breaking up is hard to do: Customers quittung online dating websites find payments taken from cards long after they wanted to leave

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Dating websites have been extremely popular during lockdown with many lonely hearts intent on looking to find love – despite the difficulties of physically meeting. 

But many who decide to quit the online dating game find it hard to escape the clutches of website providers, resulting in payments taken from their debit or credit cards long after they've wanted to leave. 

According to analysis by consumer website Resolver on behalf of The Mail on Sunday, financial complaints about dating websites increased sevenfold last year. The number jumped to 4,346, compared to 529 in 2019. 

Heartbreak: Many who decide to quit the online dating game find it hard to escape the clutches of website providers

Most gripes, says Resolver, centre on the websites' use of controversial continuous payment authorities. These allow them to automatically renew users' subscription fees – and often result in higher fees being taken. They can also be tricky to cancel. 

Resolver's Martyn James says: 'A dating website looks appealing when free, or cheap membership is offered, but charges can ramp up once you are on board. Usually, as soon as an initial deal ends, the contract will roll over and you'll continue to pay money every month. 

'With a continuous payment authority, the money is still picked from your pocket until you actually cancel – even if the service is no longer being used.' 

He adds: 'Unlike direct debits and standing orders, a continuous payment authority is not clearly marked on a bank statement as a regular withdrawal, so it is extremely easy not to notice.' 

One of the most popular dating websites is Match.com, which is initially free to join. But to contact potential sweethearts, it costs £29.99 a month – or £9.99 a month for a six-month contract. 

Like others, those signing up are given the option of paying by debit or credit card – or via PayPal. But they are all set up as continuous payment authorities.

Customers are put on to an autorenewal contract – meaning that unless they cancel, the website can plunder their bank account forever. As a new joiner, it is worth considering the higher month-by-month rate – because if you forget to cancel, you only have to pay for an extra month rather than slip back on to another contract. 

Match.com says: 'If you don't want to continue a service, you should cancel at least 48 hours before the renewal date. Just click on your profile picture at the top right of any Match page, click 'my account settings' and 'manage my subscription'.' 

Another popular dating website is eharmony. It is also initially free, though to access the full service you must pay £44.95 a month or £12.95 a month for a one-year contract. 

Its terms and conditions state: 'If you sign up for a premium membership on our website, after your initial subscription commitment period, it will automatically be extended unless you notify us that you wish to terminate before the end of your subscription term.' 

Those that miss this deadline – so their subscription has already been renewed – cannot then receive a refund, though the next 'auto-renewal' for the service is cancelled.

It is important to remember that if future card payments are cancelled with a bank, you are still liable for any fees to be paid if you are still paying as part of an agreed contract.