Q: Why lunch dates?

A: Meeting over lunch is the best way to discover whether you’re going to get on with someone. It’s relaxed, informal and you’re meeting on neutral ground.

That’s important because meeting new people can be terrifying and the whole procedure of choosing a meal is a great way of breaking the ice and getting you both talking.

Lunch also has another advantage over a dinner date. It’s safe. You won’t be left wondering how to get through a whole evening with someone who makes you feel uncomfortable and there won’t be any invitations for coffee or awkward goodnights.

Its hour long duration is also long enough for you to “explore” a person’s character in sufficient depth and decide if you wish to meet him/her for a second date. As we always say – “Short, sweet and simple”.

Q: Why should I use LUNCH Actually?

A: Because it’s the easiest, most convenient way to find someone with whom you’ll really connect. We understand that due to the fast and hectic working pace, many professionals do not have time to meet people outside their existing social circle.

Through our comprehensive pre-screening processes, we weed out those whose interests and lifestyles are not compatible with yours. There is no rejection to deal with, and you can dictate the pace of the process.

Q: What are the advantages of using LUNCH Actually?

A: On many other dating platforms, there is often no middle man to properly check for exaggeration or falsification of personal details. Even seeing a photograph of a potential is no longer truly “safe” as there is no ensuring whether or not the photograph is genuine or even knowing how long time ago it was taken.

At LUNCH Actually, we meet and interview every member in person. We check each person’s identification so that all our clients are protected against such frauds. Hence with accurate details and genuine romance seekers, we are able to make quality matches for our clients and ensure a safe dating environment.

At LUNCH Actually you also have the opportunity to discuss your dates with a consultant and therefore “fine tune” your dating criteria. The more people you meet at Lunch Actually, the more feedback you give your consultant, the better we get to know you and the type of person you are seeking.

Ultimately, the chances of you “clicking” with someone are far improved at LUNCH Actually.

Q: How does LUNCH Actually work?

A: The Lunch Actually process is really simple!

• Call us or enquire through our website, and we will help you schedule a no-obligations appointment.
• Once you employ our service, we will comb our database for a suitable date.
• We coordinate and arrange your date. All you have to do is to turn up at the restaurant and enjoy your date!
• After the date, we will contact you to find out how the date went.
• Using your feedback, we will refine your dating criteria and start to find you your next date.

Precise and personal matchmaking is one of the best features that dating services offer. It allows you to find those people who most closely match your criteria, while at the same time making sure that you also fit theirs, so as to maximize your chances of clicking together.

Q: Is LUNCH Actually really safe and confidential? Will strangers see my personal information and photo?

A: Most definitely! We take confidentiality very seriously. LUNCH Actually makes all the arrangements for you to meet someone in a public restaurant without revealing your last name or telephone number! After your date, it is your mutual decision to exchange last names and contact details.

Since no photos are exchanged, you also do not have to worry about your photo floating out there without your permission.

Even the restaurant booking is made under our consultants’ names and not your names, to ensure that your privacy is protected!

Q: What types of people join LUNCH Actually? Are your members my sort of people?

A: Our members are very much like you. Busy, active and down-to-earth single professionals who are seeking long-term relationships.

Many of our clients are those would never use other less discreet type of dating platforms as they are in good professions, managerial or professionals jobs and prefer to preserve their privacy and confidentiality.

Members include lawyers, health care professionals, and professionals in information technology, finance, sales, education and many other busy successful people.

Q: What if I am too busy for lunch?

A: Some members prefer to meet for an afternoon tea or after-work drink. Some members meet for brunch on the weekend. Ultimately, we work according to your schedule, and you dictate the time of your dates! It’s very low key and lots of fun.

Q: How is LUNCH Actually’s service different from just going on a blind date arranged by one of my friends?

A: Our service is very different from the blind dates your friends arrange for you because we hand pick your dates from the hundreds of singles in our membership base.

Your well-intentioned friends, on the other hand, tend to introduce you to people who are simply single and available and they spend very little time thinking about whether or not it is a good match other than the fact that you are both single and looking to meet someone.

Q: Do you take every person who contacts you as a client? I’ve heard you’re very selective – what does this mean?

A: We are indeed a selective agency. Our service is very popular. We receive calls and emails from potential members everyday! However, when we take on a client, we like to make sure that we will be able to provide them with the type of people that they are interested in meeting.

Therefore, we do in fact turn down prospective clients if we think that we are unable to meet their expectations in terms of the people whom they would like to meet.

The advantage of this strategy for our members is compelling: they are part of a large pool of compatible people.

Q: What makes you such experts?

A: Good question. The founder of LUNCH Actually Violet Lim has been certified by the Matchmaking Institute in New York, an institute started by one of the most established modern-day matchmakers in US, Lisa Clampitt. All our consultants are trained in this proven system of matchmaking.

Our consultants using their experience and intuition are a fantastic resource to have – they have first-hand knowledge of other members based on interviews and face-face conversations.

At LUNCH Actually, every member is interviewed in depth before joining – and the people who do the interviewing are involved in the matching process. This isn’t the case with many other agencies. Some agencies use sales people to impress you and leave the important work to others.

We are also truly passionate about our work and have done extensive research and studies in order to create and refine our system. We are seeking to create the ultimate dating experience for all our clients.

Q: What if I don’t like a particular date?

A: Though we are confident in the quality of our matches, if you don’t like a particular date, you can just cut your date short (after all, it is over lunch… all you have to do is to simply go back to work earlier), call your consultant and give specific, constructive feedback.

Inevitably dates will improve as you give more feedback and we are able to establish some benchmarks on the type of person you wish to date. It is a proven system of gradual success.

Q: What do LUNCH Actually consultants do?

A: Once you ask our consultants to make a selection on your behalf, the following processes involve a substantial amount of behind the scenes work. This includes going through our files of profiles, searching our database and talking with colleagues to find the right match.

Each consultant’s selection is genuinely hand-picked based on our detailed knowledge of members.

You can also arrange to for a progress review after five introductions. Our consultants will offer you an overview of your last five dates and constructive feedback on your dating techniques.

Q: Can I put my membership on hold? Why is ‘On Hold’ time important?

A: If you start dating someone, are going on vacation, or are just swamped at work during a busy period, you can put your membership on hold at no additional cost and the “clock” will stop ticking.

You can stay on hold for as little as one week to as long as six months per membership year. You can freeze your membership as frequent as you need to just by writing in or by emailing one of our coordinators.

Our experience led us to believe this is the most effective and fairest way to operate as most of our members value time on ‘Hold’. Some agencies promote a lower signing-on fee but continue to charge members for time when they are unable to use their service.

We want you to make the most of your membership.

Q: What is your success rate?

A: Many happy couples have already met through LUNCH Actually. “Word of Mouth” is our best advertising source – we couldn’t have successfully stayed in business for long without getting results.

Not all our members tell us when they’ve met someone. Maybe they don’t want to ‘tempt providence’ – so it’s sometimes only years later that we find out – often from a friend who they’ve recommended to us.

A good measure of our success is how our members rate our matches. 85% of the matches made by us have been rated as satisfactory to excellent by our members.

Q: So what do the dating services cost?

A: The price of the membership depends on your profile as well as your criteria of selection. We will match your criteria to our membership database to come up with a standard or customized package for you.

Please contact us to find out more about the various standard packages available.

Q: Why can’t your memberships cost less?

It isn’t possible to offer the services of an introduction service that is genuinely both selective and personal cheaply. Advertising and staff are large costs.

You need to employ skilled and experienced consultants and allow them to invest considerable amounts of time in dealing with members on an individual basis.

You also need to spend substantial amounts of advertising in the quality press and the internet to attract lots of new joiners to replace those that have been successfully matched.

Q: Why should I pay to join LUNCH Actually when I can meet people online for free?

A: The price difference may actually be beneficial, as it screens out people who are just “fooling around” on the Internet, including people already in relationships, who just want to “check out” who else might be available.

A vast majority of LUNCH Actually members are looking for a serious relationship. And over 90% of them are educated professionals. Many of our clients are those would never use online dating as they are in good professions, managerial or professionals jobs and prefer that their privacy and confidentiality is preserved.

Our service is also very personalized. We work as an intermediary between you and the people whom you will be going on the dates with. We also provide accurate and verified information about them. As we have met you personally, we will choose dates whom we think are appropriate for you.

With online dating, you have to personally verify that the person is who he/she says he/she is, and you have to ascertain whether or not it makes sense to meet him/her. In addition, online dating can be truly time-consuming. At LUNCH Actually, we spend time sifting through potential people for you, so you, as a busy professional can maximize your time.

Q: How do I join LUNCH Actually?

A: All you need to do is to fill up the information form and we will contact you at a time convenient to you. Hence it is important for you to include your phone number in the email you send us so we can talk to you personally.

We will then call you to schedule a face-to-face chat to give you a detailed evaluation of the type of people you will meet, how often you will meet them and the exact prices.

You will also be asked to fill up a detailed personality questionnaire. You can then make your decision to join based on our evaluation.

Q: What happens if I find that I am not comfortable with the process of lunch dating?

A: Joining a dating agency is very personal process and we understand that not everyone would be comfortable with the concept of lunch dating. Thus, Lunch Actually offers a ONE DATE TRIAL to all new members.

Within seven calendar days after the trial date, if you wish to cease your membership, Lunch Actually will give you a refund of your paid-up membership fees, less the registration and consultation fees which are non-refundable.

Q: What payment methods are available?

A: Lunch Actually accepts payment through cash, NETS, cheque and all major credit cards.
(Currencies in Singapore Dollars).

Q: I’m an existing client but haven’t found anyone yet. How can I renew my membership?

A: At Lunch Actually, we have members who have met many great dates in their first package but did not settle down with them. Instead, upon renewing, they found their special someone in the second package. We offer all clients a renewal packages which is lower in price as members do not have to pay the registration fee that was incurred only upon the first sign up.

Q: How can I be sure of Lunch Actually’s service standards?

A: Lunch Actually prides itself for its professional and highly personalized service. As a pioneer in the dating industry in Asia, Lunch Actually has invested heavily in its customer’s relationship systems and training for our staff to deliver high quality service to the people we serve. To further assure clients of our business integrity and ability to deliver quality service, we are also a SDUTrust and CASETRUST accredited company, should there be any disputes whereby the client desires a 3rd party mediator; they can approach SDUTrust or CASE for further resolution as well.