This page displays answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Ivory Towers. Click here to return to the list of questions.
1. The Ivory Towers Service
1a. How does an Internet matchmaking service differ from the traditional dating and introduction agencies?
Traditional introduction and dating agencies often conduct personal interviews at which they ask questions similar to those on our registration form. Agency staff generally steer clients towards potential matches after these interviews, and typically the agency offers a limited set of profiles over a certain period. Some mail-based services simply send lists of profiles in the post.
Ivory Towers works entirely through the Internet. As a registered member you are able to contact fellow users directly, so you have the opportunity to look at all the options. You have more of a decision-making role, more choice and more initiative.
1b. Who can join Ivory Towers?
Any alumni, postgraduate (or current student) from a University on the following list, provided they are resident in the UK or Ireland. You may be asked to produce evidence of attendance or graduation.
1c. The University I attended is not listed here. Can I still join?
If you went to an overseas University or to a UK or Irish University not on our list and would like to join Ivory Towers, please email us and we will be happy to consider your application. Fill in the relevant part of the form under Other universities and put the name of your University. If there is any problem, we may ask you for more information and we reserve the right in certain circumstances to refuse the application.
1d. Can people living outside the UK and Ireland join Ivory Towers?
This site is open to alumni, postgraduates and students who live in the UK or Ireland and are 18 and over. We are unable to offer a reasonable service to people living in other countries. We are, however, open to UK and Irish residents who are temporarily living abroad and visit the UK regularly. Applicants of this kind will need to supply a UK or Irish address and postcode which may need to be verified.
2. Your Profile
2a. Do I have to answer all the questions in the questionnaire?
In a word, NO! If you have used other (perhaps US) matchmaking sites, you may have had to grapple with dozens of personal questions which take hours to answer but don't necessarily produce the finest results. We start with some mandatory multiple choice questions, but after that you decide what you want to say about yourself. Essay questions generally seem to make the most impact, so you should take time to fill these in.
The more questions you answer, the more precise the matching can be. Bear in mind you needn't answer all the questions at once. You may find you want to take more time over some of the questions. The best thing is to fill in the mandatory questions first. That way your membership is established and you can return to the other questions when you have had more time to think. It's also a good idea to review your profile from time to time.
All the statistics say, that you are something like six times more likely to get a response if you post a photograph with your details. A good photograph provides a big boost. But of course, it's your choice, and the great thing about this Website is that you will be able to learn about people in other ways, through their profiles, through their emails. Sometimes you will be able to learn more than you would at a social gathering.
2c. Can I change my personal profile?
You can amend your details at any time. To do this you will simply need your user name and password. Just follow the instructions on the edit profile pages of this Website. You are sole arbiter of what details appear.
It's a good idea to review your profile regularly to make sure it says what you want it to say.
3. Membership
3a. Does membership cost anything?
New members will receive a 3 day free trial. During this trial period you can use all of the site's features, including those normally reserved for full members.
After the trial membership period is up if you wish to continue using the site, there is a subscription charge. For more details click here.
3b. Can I suspend my membership?
Some people get put off from taking out a longer membership in case they need to take time out, even though it's much cheaper to join for a longer period.
If you have subscribed for 6 six months or more, you can suspend your membership for a minimum of one month up to three months at a time up to a maximum of six months. Your profile will be archived and you will be able to resurrect it on demand. Please note that members must remain reinstated for one month before they are eligible to suspend membership for the second time.
The suspension feature is only avaliable for people who have at least three weeks left on their membership and is used in circumstances when people go abroad or are getting to know somebody they have met.
Please remember that having more than one membership is not allowed on Ivory Towers. This also extends to any suspension period. In other words you are not permitted to take out a trial membership or another full membership while you are suspended. Ivory Towers will terminate both suspended and additional membership if this occurs.
Contact Us with your screen name, password and the date you would like the suspension to commence. If you are in correspondence with any members on the site please be sure to tell them before you disappear.
3c. Why do we ask members to subscribe in order to contact others on the site?
- Putting this site together has required a significant investment in technology required for effective matching across a large database.
- Keeping it running smoothly on a daily basis, maintaining and correcting the inevitable glitches takes people, time and money.
- Spreading the word, building up membership and choice for members, requires advertising and promotion. Membership is growing and we intend that to continue.
- We believe that service for which members pay for is more likely to encourage committed, responsible membership.
- If you are a student, pensioner or on a limited income, we will consider special rates on an individual basis. Please email us using our direct contact form to enquire.
4. Logging On
4a. Why haven't I received my screen name and password?
For security reasons, we send these to the email address you put on your registration form. If there is any mistake in this address, (and this happens surprisingly often) new members will not receive their passwords. Email us with your correct email address, name and screen name, if you remember it, and your surname, and we will send you the details. Once logged in, remember to edit your contact details in the members area.
4b. I have tried to log in with my screen name and password. Why can’t I get access to the site? Check the following:
- Make sure you have put your screen name and password in lower case and without any spaces. Passwords contain three letters and three numbers. Occasionally people can get confused with the letter l and the number 1.
- If you share a computer or in some cases a network with another member, they may not have logged out and the system will expect his or her screen name and password. Make sure they have logged out.
- If you are having trouble logging in open a new browser and type the web address in from scratch. Do not use a saved page (a favourite).
- Check you have a reasonably up-to-date version of your browser. You need to be at least on Internet Explorer 5 or Netscape 6. If you are not, you can download free upgrades from www.microsoft.com or www.netscape.com. Other popular free browsers are available from Mozilla or Opera.
- If you access the internet via AOL, you may well encounter some difficulties. Once you are online, minimise the AOL window and open up another browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape. Then you should be fine.
5. Privacy & Security
5a. How is my privacy protected?
Please read this Website's Privacy Policy which will explain the steps we take to protect your privacy.
5b. How am I protected from people who may try to misuse this Website?
Whenever we meet anybody without knowing much about them, at a party, through friends or work, we always need to be a little careful about the questions we ask and the information we reveal about ourselves.
Ivory Towers and you must do this together too. We have carefully constructed rules which all users must agree to before they can use the Website. Please see the Website Terms and Conditions. If a user breaks the rules, uses unacceptable language or behaves offensively they can be excluded permanently from using the Website and their details will be deleted.
If they attempt to behave in a criminal way, they could also be identified and prosecuted.
Remember you can help us with this. If you ever have cause for complaint about another member, please email us via our direct contact form. Or fax us on 0207 713 1902. Note down carefully any evidence which will help us deal appropriately with the situation.
Members will send emails to each other via the Website. You do not have to give your personal email address (let alone details of where you live) to anybody unless you choose to. That is your choice and your responsibility.
5c. Can I block unwanted mail?
Yes. If you decide you do not wish to receive further internal email from another user, you can put them on your "block" list. The directions can be accessed either from the mail itself or from the general inbox page. You can unblock a sender if you wish, and they will receive polite notification that mail has been blocked.
If you receive email which you consider to be unwelcome, or even offensive or instrusive, please do contact us.
5d. How secure is it to pass over my credit card details over the Internet?
In the last couple of years, major advances in credit card protection on the Internet have been made. Personal details such as your credit card number are transmitted through our secure server. This provides many security features, including:
Authentication: this assures your browser that your data is being sent to the correct computer server and that the server is secure.
Encryption This encodes the data so that it cannot be read by anyone other than the secure server. A hacker would need to try every possible combination, running into several billion combinations.
Of course, if you still are not satisfied, you can choose to send your payment by cheque.
6. About Us
6a. Who are Ivory Towers?
Ivory Towers is a company and is a subsidiary of Widernet Communications Ltd, a UK company. We are registered under the Data Protection Act 1998 (Z4898414) and our registered address is Ivory Towers, Widernet Communications Ltd, 2 Dyers Buildings, London EC1N 2JT
6b. How can I spread the word about Ivory Towers?
It's really helpful when people spread the word! There are various ways in which you can do this:
- Send an email to a friend or group who might be interested. Click here.
- Post a flyer. We have flyers which we would be delighted for you to pin up or hand out in the suitable places. Send us an email with your postal address stating how many you need.
- Give us some suggestions. If you have ideas or contacts who can help, do get in touch.
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Ivory Towers is an online internet dating service in the UK and Ireland which enables single and unattached graduates to meet other likeminded singles and form new relationships. We are an agency creating opportunities for dating, friendship, romance, relationships and matchmaking and the site includes some dating advice. As one of the premier online internet web dating sites and introduction agencies for singles in the UK, you can depend on a personal service of the highest standard. Members can create personal ads in the form of detailed profiles, including photographs and voice introductions.