Introduction Agencies For Professionals Only

WARNING! - SELECT  ONLY A GOOD PROFESSIONAL DATING AGENCY - THERE ARE SOME VERY POOR  ONES  - EVEN SOME THAT  ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.  Click on "links" above for information on how to avoid the scammers!

From the complaints we have received  we know  who are the good introduction agencies and those that are little better than a scam. Our best advice is to call a couple of agencies and ask them to recommend other agencies you should consider joining  -  see what they say.

To fast track to the top  introduction agency in the U.K. for YOUNGER PROFESSIONALS ladies age 24 / 43 and men to 58  click on www.execclub.net with money back guarantees you cannot join a better agency even at 10x the price.  You can then compare the guarantee they offer against another agency you are thinking of joining.

For a  professional introduction agency for clients aged over 40, offering professional  introductions and weekly social events for singles held in London see www.club-over40s.co.uk

Many  dating  agencies  specialise in  providing an introduction service for professionals only. Unfortunately they are always  expensive  due to the high marketing costs to attract and screen high quality members (rejecting  those you would not want to meet!  - but his mother cannot understand why?). The newer the introduction agency the more expensive the fees will need to be,  as they will not have gained a sufficient reputation to rely on members recommendations. Professional dating agencies that have a successful track record of 10 years or more can usually rely on 30% to 60% of their new members coming from the  recommendations of  previous members, this keeps  their  membership fees  lower.

 So armed with this information you can see why the most expensive professional  or bespoke introduction agency is unlikely to provide a superior service as you have to ask the question how many, and what type of people would need to pay such large  fees. Professional dating agencies usually call themselves Introduction agencies, professional matchmakers or  Headhunters. They usually  advertise in the upmarket press to obtain clients. All quality introduction agencies will require you to attend an interview usually at their offices or in your home (often because they don't have their own  office).  Some agencies appear to have a fancy office by hiring a board room by the hour but you should spot this by the impersonal nature of the surroundings. Some agencies make a charge for the interview others do not. 

NEVER JOIN THE FIRST personal introduction agency you contact, always compare at least two or three professional dating agencies and make sure you read the contract well . BEFORE JOINING.  ASK to read a contract before attending an interview, as you can then see what they promise, or otherwise,  Some agencies will tell you they have "loads of sutable people keen to meet you"  only to find in your case you meet just one person after six months and upon reading your contract find the you have agreed to a service where the agency are obliged to only provide a handful of dates in your entire memberhip. promises just two dates and for thousands of pounds.

One agency charging £12K guaranteed to introduce you to just ONE person in 6 months that's it! they've fulfilled their contract, another dating agency guarantees just two introductions throughout your membership  ( neither are ABIA approved - The trade association for reputable agencies). If a dating agency makes rosy promises  at your interview ( "2000 members" , "loads of young attractive ladies", not a problem being an overweight smoker with 10 children under 6" ask them to write  such promises on your contact.  (To compare an agency against the highest standards visit www.execclub2.co.uk and read the contract. See how close other introduction  agency can meet these guarantees). 

With very  few exceptions, most  professional introduction agencies are  based  around London as it is difficult to obtain sufficient clients of a high enough  calibre to sustain a local business. Generally if a school teacher could be the highest level of professional partner you would need, then a local introduction agency could well provide an adequate service. If however you require to meet professionals at the "top end" of the scale then you will have little alternative but to join a professional introduction agency in London even if you live in Leeds and be prepared to travel to meet people.

This information is provided by The Executive Club of St James's http://www.execclub.net/  ( the only agency in the UK with money back performance guarantees) to help the public choose the correct agency for their needs and avoid wasting money on poor ones.

Specialist Professional Introduction Agencies you may consider joining are ( this is a list not an endorsement as some we would definitely avoid):

                                      Agency name / date estb. / typical cost of membership

ABIA PROTECTED AGENCIES

• The Executive Club of St James's /1985 / £365, £650, £1175, £1375, £1575, £3375,
•  £7500  www.thematchmaker.co.uk
• Club Over 40's Professionals, /1986 / FREE, £125, £150, £650, £850. www.executiveparties.co.uk
• Caroline Crowther /1994 / £100. £350, £650, £850, £2500
• www.carolinecrowther.com
• Attractive Partners /2002 / £595, £695
• www.attractivepartners.co.uk
• Drawing Down the Moon / 1984 / £250, £1000, £1650, £3500, £7000
• The County Register /  1994 /£1760, 3500, £7000
• Sara Eden / 1988 / £950, £1295, £2995, £6995
• Seventy Thirty / 2005 / £10,000, £30,000 and  £60,000
• Berkeley International /  1998 / from £7000
• Gray & Farrar /  2005 / £8800
• Only Lunch /  1996 / £1195  (ceased trading Feb 2009)  ABIA GUARANTEED SERVICE APPLIED
• Fiona Smythe /  2003 / £117, £590, £1500 (ceased trading Jan 2009) ABIA GUARANTEED SERVICE APPLIED
• RSVP /1993 / £400, £900, £1600/ £2000

NON ABIA APPROVED AGENCIES YOU MAY CONSIDER

• Affinity /  £400, £790, £950
• Court & Social  ( telephone line unobtainable April 2009) NON ABIA PROTECTED
• Rhodes-Harvey /  2005 / £ ???????? **
• Seaforth Match /  £6990 (telephone line "unobtainable" Feb 2009) NON ABIA PROTECTED
• Grosvenor Associates /  2007 / ??????

** For more information about the trade organisation see http://www.professionaldatingagencies.co.uk/

** they work a different way, they do not have a membership base but place adverts in the upmarket media.

BEST DATING TIPS. ALWAYS contact at least two agencies before making a decision to join one. Ask for copy a of a contract BEFORE attending an interview and read it. Does it guarantee a minimum number of introductions and what happens if they fail, you could have just two introductions a year and your membership extended for ever!

Some agencies will charge you over £1000 if you cancel the next day, and make all members sign a legal declaration forbidding them to make negative comments to anyone even to your sister! Read it well. There are good agencies and unfortunately some rather dubious agencies.

A good professional introduction agency will greatly enhance your chances of finding a partner. This information is provided by The Executive Club of St James's ( http://www.execclub.net/) to assist the public to choose a suitable agency for themselves. Being included on the listing above is not an endorsement of any of the agencies indeed some we would never recommend. For details of social events held in London for Professionals, see http://www.executiveparties.co.uk/

Updated  20th  January     2010