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==Criticism==
==Criticism==


Blogs, review sites and online forums repeatedly report complaints about the company. The investigator in TheHookupGuy and MeetWomenOnline concluded: "We were more than disappointed in this scam dating website. A better word for it would be mortified!" <ref>meet-women-online.co.uk/site-reviews</ref>. A blog was created for the exclusive purpose of such complaints, [antibe2scam.blogspot.co.uk/|Anti Be2 Scam]. [http://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/www.be2.co.uk Sitejabber] published 41 reviews (as of 12 May 2015), mostly scathing, detailing aggressively misleading marketing practices, hidden charges, unwanted subscription into recurring expensive payment, charges applied to dormant accounts, obstructions to termination of contract and profile, and so forth. Other sites, such as [http://www.datingscams.co.uk/dating-site-scam-reviews-starting-with-b/be2-co-uk/review/ Datingscams.co.uk], report similar findings.
The pricing of Premium Memberships are regular causes for complaint.<ref>http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/11/be2-raises-e15-million/</ref>


The automatic renewal of Premium Memberships has also been criticized. The membership is, in fact, a subscription, which is automatically renewed, unless the membership is cancelled in due time. However, this is considered illegal by the Danish Consumer Council and complaints were received where premium account-cancelation was, in fact, impossible. <ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/oct/10/be2-online-dating</ref>
In particular, The pricing of Premium Memberships are regular causes for complaint <ref>http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/11/be2-raises-e15-million/</ref>. The membership is, in fact, a subscription, which is automatically renewed, unless the membership is cancelled in due time. However, complaints were received where premium account-cancelation was, in fact, impossible. <ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/oct/10/be2-online-dating</ref>


Although the online address makes the company appear to be registered in the UK (be2.co.uk), it is actually based in Luxembourg.
Although the online address makes the company appear to be registered in the UK (be2.co.uk), it is actually based in Luxembourg. Its practices are considered illegal by the Danish Consumer Council.
In Denmark, the journalist Troels Jørgensen from TV station DR has rated BE2's matching system as flawed. Wildly different profiles were matched to exactly the same potential partners in a test performed for consumer rights programme Kontant. '''Also, membership is extended without consent which is illegal according to The Danish Consumer Council.'''
The journalist Troels Jørgensen from TV station DR has rated BE2's matching system as flawed. Wildly different profiles were matched to exactly the same potential partners in a test performed for consumer rights programme Kontant. '''Also, membership is extended without consent''' which is illegal according to The Danish Consumer Council.
<ref>http://fpn.dk/rettigheder/markedsforing/article2317580.ece</ref> This is also illegal in Sweden according to The Swedish Consumer Council.<ref>http://goteborg.se/wps/portal/press-media/pressmeddelanden/pressmeddelande/pressmeddelanden/44eb2d06-ecaa-4908-962e-a2fd917bb6cb/!ut/p/b1/hZBJkqpAAETP4gHoGpiXIKiIlkAxCBsCHJBJ6JIG4fTtP0DHz11GvMXLBAmIeaRiVcKSAM4geWZjWWRD2T2z5l9PpBTr0FV0pMFT6JjQOtgCph6PT64AInCuLvPbuBwL08wfGa32Zkwn2yeaztZykQ5GubWPhjMeAppMXMxGGPTs-_tEyIzEnVDJdaRc52p6PJKw13l2tyxrDOEmfFeNaSsJ22_zoegbpOhZJgfj-h4zr4dlmnHHo0s5MS1fYXeLKH_LHWFyfWObfqxA_BGHf0SD_9sVfwD5T0DCwAdnKKS0mntrqRevWtw3DeBMK3OCEBG_XgKSm_BF1ogYxEYBhLT-eRPDcz4fHfzh4FxDL9A1zaFzycAeJGXefk2X9gt-8QgLIlIRxILKQ1UAYRWLxBCsyTS91I-5xp7NjmcL2-XNgGFocX2IN_eF7-qr89xmdL68FJSN8nu_nLTCfc3oQHBzaW_Fll0l06JGk2lenHAJsgqr1e1cy-5t2CBfKWtBFoMkHMZ-e1WCwbMT6bWP73rwMFxie2wtwbqYy9yopTnDPzSyOHx6zyjvUMRhN4JlSJrDTd4Ypwqnds9HE01Gb2O4jVg_j3HHsdQLaUoVqrL-4hyZIKrTagXIrmtvoE3YzGVcPmmr1S9D26hz/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/</ref> All the questions raised by the Danish journalist in the programme have since been addressed by the company. be2 made several changes to its service in Denmark in response to the programme. {{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
<ref>http://fpn.dk/rettigheder/markedsforing/article2317580.ece</ref> This is also illegal in Sweden according to The Swedish Consumer Council.<ref>http://goteborg.se/wps/portal/press-media/pressmeddelanden/pressmeddelande/pressmeddelanden/44eb2d06-ecaa-4908-962e-a2fd917bb6cb/!ut/p/b1/hZBJkqpAAETP4gHoGpiXIKiIlkAxCBsCHJBJ6JIG4fTtP0DHz11GvMXLBAmIeaRiVcKSAM4geWZjWWRD2T2z5l9PpBTr0FV0pMFT6JjQOtgCph6PT64AInCuLvPbuBwL08wfGa32Zkwn2yeaztZykQ5GubWPhjMeAppMXMxGGPTs-_tEyIzEnVDJdaRc52p6PJKw13l2tyxrDOEmfFeNaSsJ22_zoegbpOhZJgfj-h4zr4dlmnHHo0s5MS1fYXeLKH_LHWFyfWObfqxA_BGHf0SD_9sVfwD5T0DCwAdnKKS0mntrqRevWtw3DeBMK3OCEBG_XgKSm_BF1ogYxEYBhLT-eRPDcz4fHfzh4FxDL9A1zaFzycAeJGXefk2X9gt-8QgLIlIRxILKQ1UAYRWLxBCsyTS91I-5xp7NjmcL2-XNgGFocX2IN_eF7-qr89xmdL68FJSN8nu_nLTCfc3oQHBzaW_Fll0l06JGk2lenHAJsgqr1e1cy-5t2CBfKWtBFoMkHMZ-e1WCwbMT6bWP73rwMFxie2wtwbqYy9yopTnDPzSyOHx6zyjvUMRhN4JlSJrDTd4Ypwqnds9HE01Gb2O4jVg_j3HHsdQLaUoVqrL-4hyZIKrTagXIrmtvoE3YzGVcPmmr1S9D26hz/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/</ref> All the questions raised by the Danish journalist in the programme have since been addressed by the company. be2 made several changes to its service in Denmark in response to the programme. {{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}


Revision as of 17:23, 12 May 2015

be2
Company typeLLC
Founded2004
Headquarters
Armenia Edit this on Wikidata
Ownerbe2 LLC
Websitebe2.com

Be2 [1] Internationally, be2 is represented in 37 countries.[2]

History

be2 was originally founded as a German matchmaking service in 2004 by online entrepreneur Robert Wuttke. The German Service went live on April 1, 2004.[3] The same year, the Spanish and Italian service were added. Since its foundation, be2 has expanded rapidly, mainly through a strategy of internationalisation.[4]

Facts

be2 has almost 30 million registered members worldwide.[5] Today, more than 20,000 new members join be2 daily.[6] However, it remains unclear how many of these members are active and how many have a Premium membership. According to company data,[7] the male-to-female ratio is balanced, with a slight surplus of women (57%). be2 conducts surveys among its members and publishes the results.[8]

Membership

be2 is based on a scientific model of analysis that uses psychological, anthropological and sociological criteria to assess the compatibility of two personalities for finding not just any partner, but the one that is right for you. [9] The registration, personality test and the basic matchmaking service are free of charge. In order to write messages and see other members’ profile photos, members need to purchase a Premium Membership. be2 protects personal data of its users via internal mail system, which makes it possible to communicate with members without personal information being exposed in any way. [10]

However, according to research, this system is flawed(see Criticism-bottom paragraph).

Criticism

Blogs, review sites and online forums repeatedly report complaints about the company. The investigator in TheHookupGuy and MeetWomenOnline concluded: "We were more than disappointed in this scam dating website. A better word for it would be mortified!" [11]. A blog was created for the exclusive purpose of such complaints, [antibe2scam.blogspot.co.uk/|Anti Be2 Scam]. Sitejabber published 41 reviews (as of 12 May 2015), mostly scathing, detailing aggressively misleading marketing practices, hidden charges, unwanted subscription into recurring expensive payment, charges applied to dormant accounts, obstructions to termination of contract and profile, and so forth. Other sites, such as Datingscams.co.uk, report similar findings.

In particular, The pricing of Premium Memberships are regular causes for complaint [12]. The membership is, in fact, a subscription, which is automatically renewed, unless the membership is cancelled in due time. However, complaints were received where premium account-cancelation was, in fact, impossible. [13]

Although the online address makes the company appear to be registered in the UK (be2.co.uk), it is actually based in Luxembourg. Its practices are considered illegal by the Danish Consumer Council.

The journalist Troels Jørgensen from TV station DR has rated BE2's matching system as flawed. Wildly different profiles were matched to exactly the same potential partners in a test performed for consumer rights programme Kontant. Also, membership is extended without consent which is illegal according to The Danish Consumer Council. [14] This is also illegal in Sweden according to The Swedish Consumer Council.[15] All the questions raised by the Danish journalist in the programme have since been addressed by the company. be2 made several changes to its service in Denmark in response to the programme. [citation needed]

International

Internationally, be2 is active in 37 countries on all continents, in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, France, Finland, Great Britain, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Croatia, Colombia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Venezuela, USA[16]

References

  1. ^ http://venturebeatprofiles.com/company/profile/be2?overlay=1
  2. ^ http://www.nma.co.uk/news/be2-uses-online-push-for-uk-launch/37766.article
  3. ^ http://www.ftd.de/karriere-management/management/:enable-warum-in-die-ferne-schweifen/294783.html IT-development for be2, Financial Times Deutschland
  4. ^ http://www.onlinepersonalswatch.com/news/2008/12/robert-wuttke-be2-ceo-and-founder-interview.html Online Personals Watch Interview
  5. ^ http://www.be2.com/ be2 Homepage
  6. ^ http://www.be2.com/be2/international.html
  7. ^ http://corporate.be2.com/ corporate page
  8. ^ http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/a-new-be2couk-survey-50-of-those-registered-on-dating-sites-are-ashamed-160497315.html be2.co.uk Survey: 50% of Those Registered on Dating Sites are Ashamed!
  9. ^ http://www.top10irishdatingsites.org/rating-be2-ie.html
  10. ^ http://www.be2.com.au/v2/static/why-be2-works
  11. ^ meet-women-online.co.uk/site-reviews
  12. ^ http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/11/be2-raises-e15-million/
  13. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/oct/10/be2-online-dating
  14. ^ http://fpn.dk/rettigheder/markedsforing/article2317580.ece
  15. ^ http://goteborg.se/wps/portal/press-media/pressmeddelanden/pressmeddelande/pressmeddelanden/44eb2d06-ecaa-4908-962e-a2fd917bb6cb/!ut/p/b1/hZBJkqpAAETP4gHoGpiXIKiIlkAxCBsCHJBJ6JIG4fTtP0DHz11GvMXLBAmIeaRiVcKSAM4geWZjWWRD2T2z5l9PpBTr0FV0pMFT6JjQOtgCph6PT64AInCuLvPbuBwL08wfGa32Zkwn2yeaztZykQ5GubWPhjMeAppMXMxGGPTs-_tEyIzEnVDJdaRc52p6PJKw13l2tyxrDOEmfFeNaSsJ22_zoegbpOhZJgfj-h4zr4dlmnHHo0s5MS1fYXeLKH_LHWFyfWObfqxA_BGHf0SD_9sVfwD5T0DCwAdnKKS0mntrqRevWtw3DeBMK3OCEBG_XgKSm_BF1ogYxEYBhLT-eRPDcz4fHfzh4FxDL9A1zaFzycAeJGXefk2X9gt-8QgLIlIRxILKQ1UAYRWLxBCsyTS91I-5xp7NjmcL2-XNgGFocX2IN_eF7-qr89xmdL68FJSN8nu_nLTCfc3oQHBzaW_Fll0l06JGk2lenHAJsgqr1e1cy-5t2CBfKWtBFoMkHMZ-e1WCwbMT6bWP73rwMFxie2wtwbqYy9yopTnDPzSyOHx6zyjvUMRhN4JlSJrDTd4Ypwqnds9HE01Gb2O4jVg_j3HHsdQLaUoVqrL-4hyZIKrTagXIrmtvoE3YzGVcPmmr1S9D26hz/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/
  16. ^ http://www.be2.com/be2/international.html
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