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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT TO OTHER AGENCIES? Non-mainstream, and a specialized service built around pro-active searches for affluent OR highly successful professionals. Being in the top 15%-20% of society means available singles matching your high standards and requirements are in a smaller pool of individuals.
2. HOW DOES YOUR AGENCY WORK? The agency provides a tailor-made ' search and selection service'. Each client receives individual attention. All searches, selection and vetting are carried out by me, Jill Rhodes-Harvey.
3. WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE, AND HOW OLD ARE MOST OF YOUR CLIENTS? Type: As stated, Successful, high-profile, affluent, attractive professional people, either in traditional professions, investment bankers, doctors, lawyers, the military, entrepreneurs, television and the media, or business people. Age ranges 30-70 plus. NO barrier on age.
4. WHERE DO YOU PLACE SEARCHES? Major quality publications and any high-class publication suiting a clients requirements..and any other form of head hunting ( networking etc ) I consider necessary.
4A: Searches cannot be time based due to publications being either monthly or weekly, advertising space being available, your search criteria and requirements, age and when responses are received. This is a highly personalized service, so on average it's between 4-6 months for a first introduction, there is a lot of work to produce high-caliber introductions.
5. HOW DO YOU SELECT POTENTIAL MATCHES? Potential introductions are selected by your criteria. IT IS GIVEN - All will be attractive, not overweight, well mannered, well presented, articulate, intelligent, financially secure, have similar interests and background, lifestyle, and seeking the same relationship goal.
6. HOW DO I ENGAGE YOUR SERVICES? Just call me on 0845 226 3189, so we can have a chat in the first instance, this helps to determine if you feel the service would be right for you. If you feel it is, then we pencil a time in the diary to meet. If I feel there could be difficulties with your search, then I will tell you honestly, and explain the reasons.
7. CONSULTATIONS are the last stage of the process, they are not a fact finding mission, to collate facts and figures for research. SORRY, but as I provide ALL consultations, MEET, VET, INTERVIEW myself, and NOT send a dating advisor ( someone who brings a questionaire, or a young girl trained parrot fashion with little experience) to meet you. I have to ensure CONSULTATIONS are for those who have already read the brochure, researched, collated, and ideally chatted with me on the phone so I can answer any questions you may have, whatever you want ask. The service is NOT mainstream, therefore important you are aware of how the service works first, and understand FEES are on average around £5,500. You need to be emotionally ready, not still seeing an ex, as I need to focus on those ready to find their potential partner.
7 (i) The in-depth summary ( approx 3-4 A4 Pages ) is NOT given FREE as this takes around 2-3 hours to prepare as nothing is written down at consultation. The FEE FOR THE SUMMARY is £75, which is deducted from the fee schedule if you go ahead. CHARGING prevents those not serious about the service opting for a full summary out of interest. A FREE basic summary is always provided.
7 (ii) If you want a consultation as a fact finding mission ONLY, rather than doing it OVER the PHONE first, you will be charged for the consultation @£40.00 ph. I'm sorry I need to prevent 4-5 hour meetings just to ask about fees or how the service works as this can be done over the phone.
8. ARE THERE ANY REASONS you can tell me about, which may cause difficulties? Yes, but this is not down to the agency. So please ask I'm happy to discuss with you. 9. WHERE DO YOU MEET CLIENTS? I meet potential clients in Bicester, just off the M40, junction 9 about 50 minutes by car from London, or by train if you prefer, to Bicester North.
10. WHAT ARE THE FEE STRUCTURES? Search fees vary due to the specifications of each individual client, age, and what you're seeking in a potential partner. And where I would be pooling people from. PLEASE REQUEST A BROCHURE for FULL details of fees.
11. HOW DO YOU SELECT MY INTRODUCTIONS? By careful matching against your personal search criteria, to reach at least 80/85% of what your seeking, so you know when you meet, you already have the foundations for a relationship if the chemistry is there. I cannot gauge sex appeal, chemistry or a sense of humour, this is a very personal thing. 13. DO I GET TO SEE PHOTOGRAPHS? I prefer not, as some people are very high-profile and confidentiality is paramount. It has also been proven that introductions without a photo have more success, as people have no pre-fixed idea, and just go with personal chemistry, and how they feel on the date. All introductions will be VERY well presented, attractive, clean, well groomed, smell nice, have nice teeth, nails. High standards are considered highly important.
12. WHAT IF I WANT TO DECLINE THE INTRODUCTION? You can of course decline an introduction, but please remember this is not online dating, and the type of people I'm bringing forward , are NOT going to be unkempt, unattractive or overweight individuals. I'm also searching in a smaller pool. Everyone who responds to your personal search, and I've communicated with, and decided to meet, will have been PERSONALLY MET, VETTED by ME. If I advise you to meet them, it is ONLY 2hours, you have paid for these
responses, therefore advisable to meet them, as chemistry can only be determined by meeting.
13. HOW DO I MEET MY INTRODUCTION? I make all the arrangements, by being a go-between the two parties. This keeps the females personal details secure, and offers confidentiality. NO addresses are ever given. I can also provide a ' phone masking number ' for your mobile, so that after the date, if you decided not meet again, the masked number can be deleted and you cannot be contacted. It's FREE.
14. IS THERE A CODE OF BEHAVIOR FOR AN INTRODUCTION? Yes, on your first and second date, you are considered to be an ambassador for yourself and the agency, and required to act in such a manner that the agency can be proud of. The agency always checks as far as possible that the male is genuine, and that he is fully aware this is not an escort service, but a genuine service for finding life partners, therefore a code is vital.
15. WHAT DETAILS DO YOU PROVIDE TO A POTENTIAL DATE? Age, date of birth, where you were born, education, university, physical stats, occupation, marital status, children etc and a summary of you as a person which will be created to ' interest ' the reader built around your details of your profile interview. It will also communicate what your seeking in a partner, but not too much, so if you meet there is PLENTY to ask and communicate on.
16. WHAT IF I'M BELOW AVERAGE HEIGHT OR OVER WEIGHT? Searches may produce slower responses and/or less responses, as the pool of people to come forward is likely to be smaller. However, results are still very good, and certainly better than a data-base introduction agency, as MOST agencies in London won't accept females over 44 or size 12.
17. HOW MANY INTRODUCTIONS CAN I EXPECT? Due to the nature of the service that I'm searching in a smaller pool of individuals ( 15-20% of the UK population) I cannot determine before searches are placed how many people will respond, that is impossible - Crystal balls are not part of the service. But, INTRODUCTIONS are UNLIMITED, I aim for as MANY as possible - NO limits.
18. DO I NEED TO TELL YOU IF I SMOKE OR I'M SEPARATED BUT NOT DIVORCED YET? Yes, it is accepted that the agency and client will discuss search criteria, objectives, previous relationships and any details that may affect the service, agency, or introductions once engaged. 19. WILL AGE MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE? Yes, it can, but it is not conclusive, just a realistic view that as we get older there seems to be less available suitable partners, but that is where an agency uses their experience to find those potential partners.
20. HOW SUCCESSFUL IS YOUR SERVICE? VERY....just over 65% success rate, this has just increased, as most of my clients are still dating after several months. Most on only two introductions, some only one introduction. See client testimonials.
21. WILL THE SERVICE DEFINITELY WORK FOR ME? No I cannot guarantee this. I can GUARANTEE to open up new opportunities for you to meet a much wider, more in-tuned selection of people within 80% of your criteria, who will be like minded people. I cannot guarantee falling in love or chemistry.
22. IS YOUR SERVICE SECURE? VERY..I meet every new client, every potential introduction, and I insist on home addresses , documentation, and carry out secure background checks. You do need to take your own precautions after that - meet in a public place - do not get in to a car on a first/second date UNLESS you feel you want to - Do not give your home address - Do not go back to someones home unless you know them well.
23. HOW CONFIDENTIAL IS YOUR AGENCY? Very. I have high-profile clients from all professions including the media, so confidentiality is essential. I will never use the agency name on calls, messages on answer phones, I will just say it's Jill or Jill-Rhodes-Harvey.
24. DO YOU GIVE DISCOUNT? NO purely because this is not a service which can be discounted, due to the amount of advertising needed to bring introductions forward. However, if I receive discounts from advertising mediums, I WILL ALWAYS pass this on to a client!
25. WHAT IF I AM NOT HAPPY? ARE YOU A MEMBER OF AN AGENCY ASSOCIATION? YES-You are covered by AIIA - Association of Independent Introduction Agencies.
26. DOES NATIONALITY OR RELIGION MAKE A DIFFERENCE? Yes it can. It will be dependent on how fluent with English you are, and whether a potential partner would consider your background too different to theirs. Please chat with me.
27. WHAT IF I CHANGE MY MIND AFTER ENGAGING YOU, WILL YOU REFUND MY MONEY? Yes there is a cool off period. If you change your mind within 5 days of engaging the agency you will be entitled to a FULL REFUND, LESS any costs already incurred, including and not exhaustive of the initial consultation, travel costs/travel time to consultation + administration charge of £75.00 to cancel services. Any work that has taken place already will be charged for, especially if searches have been placed.
28. HOW DO YOUR COSTS COMPARE WITH OTHER SEARCH SERVICES? VERY WELL, Berkeley Sweetingham fees start from £7000 plus an initial one-off registration fee, NO monthly service charge. County Register-£9,000 for18 months service. Please note some of these agencies only include £500 advertising for personal searches. The majority of your introductions are 'searched for via' their data-base of members, and not by advertising. Providing an agency makes you aware of how they provide introductions, this is perfectly acceptable, I'm merely providing the information that most people ask. * I am NOT providing information about other introduction agencies that are not already in the public domain.
29. HOW DO I PAY YOU? Option One - A one-off payment, which is VAT and monthly service charge FREE. Option two -Pay 50% of the total fee schedule cost when you engage the agency - The remainder either 4 or 8 weeks later. A service charge of £50 is payable for option two.
30. WHY DON'T YOU USE AN OFFICE? Two reasons: ONE, I do NOT waste your money/fees on elaborate addresses which attract a huge rental lease. A prestigious address and brass plaque bares NO indication as to the service you will receive, but it will be included in their fees. TWO: I am NOT a recruitment agency I deal with PEOPLE and their relationships and want to get to know you at an informal venue where you can be met without a business suit, briefcase or standard questionnaires. A lot of introduction agencies push their business side, coming across a cold and impersonal. Many agencies I've looked at have a ' Clinical, business edge' and IF you didn't know they were an introduction agency, you could be on a website for recruiting individuals for a job.
Jill Rhodes Harvey
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