WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT TO OTHER AGENCIES?
I don't provide "dates" as this presents a wide range of problems if an agency concentrates of providing dates. Typically a date, is about meeting new and different people to have fun with, and most times WITHOUT a relationship objective. RHI concentrates on relationship minded people only, ensuring as much as possible clients meet with people who have a realtionship goal.
Not all men (or women) that join a dating agency have firm relationship objectives for a life-partner or marriage, which is fine, and online dating is great for this.
But if you are looking for a serious relationship, you need to LOOK at how the service is presenting itself. Does it emphasize Dates, social networking, making new friends, meeting other academics and professionals through events, if YES, and you are over 35 you will need an agency that focuses on long-term relationships, and not a more relaxed route. I cannot stress this enough. " Casual daters who have no relationship objective " is only going to waste YOUR time and money,so be sure to read an agency's website brief carefully.
· WHAT TYPE OF SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
RHI operates a 100% BESPOKE proactive service with High-end single social events included. Tailored personal searches, where potential partners will be from the top 20% of the UK single market only. Based on all singles being AB1's, unless YOU state differently.
· WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE ENGAGE YOUR AGENCY AND ARE THERE ANY AGE RESTRICTIONS?
Over the last decade I have had several very high profile clients, which have included: Architects, barristers, dentists, doctors, several investment bankers, consultant surgeons, airline pilots, civil engineers, lawyers, judges, two foreign and UK diplomats, economists, psychologists, high-ranking military officers, many TV and media people, the art world, fashion designers, CEO's, presidents of large corporate ventures, industrialists to successful entrepreneurs, and titled gentry..AGES: people engage RHI on average between 30-65, but of course I accept those more mature up to 80, and younger, but no younger than 27.
· WHY ARE YOUR FEES MORE THAN A DATING AGENCY?
Because the service is based around 100% advertising to gain potential partners to a specific criteria. And NOT a names on a ready made list of people who may have been circulated to lots of people over the course of time. This in NOT an DATING service, and NOT being sold as one, it's a "Haute Couture" exclusive service with ONE-TO-ONE personal attention with one person. Searches cost between £400 and £1000 per month ( £1000 is the TOP level amount for searches NOT the rule, it depends on the level of service required or chosen to- and whether international searches.)
· HOW DO YOU OBTAIN CLIENTS, I'VE NOT SEEN THE AGENCY ADVERTISED OFTEN?
Being very well established with a high success rate, a lot of clients are by personal recommendation so 'agency advertising' is not required very often. The agency is found through the major search engines where most busy professionals tend to LOOK for an introduction agency, especially if abroad, as I have international clients too.
· DO YOU ACCEPT EVERYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO USE YOUR AGENCY?
NO is the simple answer, I do not depend on numbers to operate my service so I'm able to WORK with people who I feel I can OFFER the BEST opportunities to, I will NOT accept a client just to gain a FEE,as I want to provide the BEST service for those I feel I can help. I'm honest, direct and IF I don't feel I can offer what a client seeks, I explain why and NOT progress further, especially if people have unrealistic goals to what is possible for their age, background or sometimes overall partner criteria.
· IS THERE A SET CRITERIA FOR USING YOUR SERVICES?
YES, you need to be SINGLE, well presented, nicely spoken, attractive, well mannered, professional looking for a long-term relatiionship. There is NO salary bracket required to ENGAGE agency. The service attracts those usually within the 70K-120K PLUS bracket. There are NO salary restrictions though, this is merely a GUIDLINE so you know the kind of people who use the service. You DO need to be genuine, well presented, seriously minded about meeting equally relationship minded people to form a long-term relationship.
· DO YOU OFFER MEN or WOMEN A FREE SERVICE/INTRODUCTIONS? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
JUNE 2011 a well established agency was advertising for men for their female clients - in fact they told them " NO FEE was involved for meeting their female clients" And the only criteria needed, theyneeded to be free and available in and around London. RHI agency does NOT do this. I do NOT collect NAMES of MEN or WOMEN who call the agency for this purpose to provide my clients with their introductions. My clients receive a truly 100% bespoke search service. I do however network, and on occassions network with international matchmakers if a client would like to meet someone with an international background.
· WHAT IS THE THE PASSIVE RETAINER SERVICE, WILL I RECEIVE INTRODUCTIONS IN THE SAME WAY AS CLIENTS?
NO, this is an OPTION NOT a proactive service. This enables someone to be retained by the agency where a profile is designed for you, then presented to a client ONLY and IF YOU meet what the client is seeking in a partner. You are NOT automatically presented to clients, when you are, it is to demonstrate to the client that you're not expecting free introductions at their expense. Clients appreciate this, especially when very successful as they prefer to meet people who are NOT looking for free introductions or high-net worth individuals without some input. NO introductions are guaranteed with this option.
· SO HOW DO YOU PROVIDE INTRODUCTIONS FOR MEN AND WOMEN?
By designing PERSONAL SEARCHES using KEY elements to attract those MATCHING the qualities and attributes desired by your client. This BRINGS FORWARD men or women who are INTERESTED in a particular client they have responded to. INtroductions have to TRAVEL to MEET with the agency wherever they reside, this eliminates ANYONE who is not genuine. Clients are assured they will NOT be introduced to anyone who has just called the agency asking for FREE introductions.
· ARE THERE ANY REASONS SEARCH FEES WOULD BE HIGHER THAN AVERAGE FOR ME? YES, is the honest answer, but this is NOT down to the agency, but down to how MEN and WOMEN choose partners and prioritize certain attributes. BEFORE engaging the agency this would always be discussed in full with a written summary provided with any issues highlighted that would affect search fees.
· HOW SOON WILL I MEET SOMEONE?
Introductions are produced by advertising, they are NOT off the peg, ready and waiting people. Therefore depending on your criteria, your age, on average between 3-6 months, rare occassions longer, IF the client has any specifics that are more challenging to produce it will of course take longer.
IF you want a quick succession of numbers/dates: JOIN A DATING AGENCY- As it is impossible to have HIGH-CALIBER exceptional people as easily obtainable as it for mass-market dating. One has to be realistic, the more you have achieved, the more you are going to require at least an equal in everyway. Clients have to understand that finding high-caliber suitors is very possible but the process is VASTLY different to the " The two legs, arms, breathing, dates" that one is offered with dating agencies where they concentrate on providing numbers opposed to people matching lifestyle, aspirations, background, education and relationship goal. This is a smaller pool of people" and for that, one has to be prepared and aknowledge it's more intricate than finding an average date. SEE: Alex Fontaine article, Daily Mail 7th Februay ( online too) as this clarifies my point!
*Publications I use are either monthly or weekly, advertising space has to be booked, wait for the RIGHT responses, thencommunicate, meet, vet and produce a profile before an introduction is made. There is a lot of work involved, far more than people think! Women over 35 always need more searches than men, this is NOT down to the agency but how men choose partners, therefore this has to be reflected in the service and fees.
· HOW DO YOU SELECT POTENTIAL PARTNERS?
IT IS A GIVEN, All will be attractive, not overweight, well mannered, well presented, articulate, intelligent, financially secure, have similar background, lifestyle, and seeking the same relationship goal. I cannot gauge sex appeal, chemistry or a sense of humour, this is subjective.
· DOES NATIONALITY OR RELIGION MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Yes it can due to cultural differences, how fluent with English you are, and whether a potential partner would consider your background too different to theirs. This would be discussed at consultation.
· WHAT IF I CHANGE MY MIND AFTER ENGAGING YOU, WILL YOU REFUND MY MONEY?
Yes, if you change your mind within 5 days to ONE MONTH of engaging the agency you will be entitled to a FULL REFUND, LESS any costs already incurred. FULL DETAILS are in the Terms and Conditions always provided with the FREE or FULL Summary at consultation. Agency hourly rate is £50 ph. Please remember whenyou engage the agency you are hiring it for a specific time, which is utimately affects how many people I can work for over the next 6-9 months, and pre-booking advertising, which cannot be refunded as it is outsourced.
· CAN I HAVE A FACE TO FACE CONSULTATION JUST TO CHAT ABOUT THE SERVICE?
Yes you can, but PLEASE NOTE: a face to face consultation is for the purpose of collating information about YOU and your search, not to ASK QUESTIONS that can be EASILY answered through reading FAQ's email or PHONE. I have to be structured with face to face meetings otherwiese I would NOT be able to provide the one-to-one attention I do. But IF you want to skip a prelimarary chat on the phone, a face to face meeting will BE CHARGED £200. INITIAL NO-OBLIGATION PHONE CHATS are great to help YOU decide if the service would be what you're looking for, and of course prevents us both meeting only to establish in 10 minutes it's NOT what you're looking for. FULL details in the brochure.
· HOW DO YOUR COSTS COMPARE WITH OTHER SEARCH SERVICES?
Berkeley International fees start from £7,500 plus an initial one-off registration fee. County Register-£9,000 for 18 months service, but you are still matched via a data-base/profile system, this is NOT a 100% bespoke search service. Seventy Thirty from £10,000 to £58,000 for their bespoke service. Gray and Farrar from £10,000. All the agencies mentioned are still membership services, they are NOT exclusively bespoke so do think about what you really want from a service. Most agencies even at this level DON'T include more than £500 of advertising throughout your entire service period, where as RHI's is at least 50% of your fee..
· DO YOU PROVIDE ANY GUIDANCE FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP FOR RECENTLY?
YES, definitley it is all part of the service. I do all I can help my clients with whatever guidance I feel they need.
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