Frequently Asked Questions
GulfSocialSite has made every effort to make the site user friendly and easy to navigate. From time to time, our members will have questions on how to use specific features of the site. Provided below is a list of the most frequently asked questions. Please scroll through the entire list to find the answer to your question. If you cannot find it here, please write to us through the "CONTACT US" link located at the bottom of every page.
How do I register?
What is the membership approval process?
Why was my profile not approved?
I am having problems with my login. What should I do?
How do I use the Member Control Panel?
How do I edit my profile?
What happens when I edit my profile?
How do I change my password?
Can I change my username?
Forgot username/password?
How do I upload/edit photos?
What are photo policies/specifications?
What is my thumbnail photo?
What is a private photo?
How does the private photo work?
How do I input or change my private photo password?
How do I request a private photo password?
How do I view a member's additional photos?
Can I temporarily hide my profile?
How do I unhide my profile?
How do I take my profile offline?
How do I block/unblock another member?
How do I add/remove a member to/from my favorites list?
How do I send email messages?
How do I view my email messages?
How do I reply to email messages?
How do I send winks?
How do I report SPAM or inappropriate contact?
Using the Instant Messenger system
I am having Instant Messenger problems
Using the Chat Lounge
How do I cancel my paid membership?
How do I delete my profile?
Registering as a member of GulfSocialSite is an easy process which most members complete in less than 3 minutes. You can access member registration from the /gulfdate.com/ homepage by clicking the SIGN UP NOW button in the middle of the home page.
What is the membership approval process?
Once registration is complete, your profile will be reviewed by our editorial team, and you will be notified of approval generally within 1-2 hours. Most profiles are approved within 1 hour of registration. Your profile will not be visible to other members until it is approved. In the meantime, you can still login and use the site's basic features with the username and password that you originally used to register with. For best results, make sure that your browser cookies are ON and that you are using browsers Internet Explorer version 6 or the latest version of Firefox.
Why was my profile not approved?
We only accept high quality profiles of decent and respectable members who are seriously looking for serious relationships, marriage and friendship. We do not tolerate inappropriate, abusive, sexually oriented, or pornographic profile content. If your profile was not approved, it is likely for one or all of the following reasons:
Your profile information is incomplete and does not meet our minimum standards. Please complete all required fields in English.
You added contact information to your profile text such as email address or telephone number.
Your profile contains unacceptable language such as sexual, pornographic or inappropriate text or pictures.
You
have uploaded unacceptable photos to your profile.
We are unable to verify the email address you provided.
I am having problems with my login. What should I do?
Login problems are almost always due to cookie settings in you browser being too restrictive. If you are experiencing login problems, please reset your browser cookies. Please follow the following steps from your browser Internet Explorer:
1. Go to "Tools"
2. Select "Internet Options"
3. Select "Privacy"
4. Set vertical dial on the left of the window all the way down so it will read above the dial "Accept All Cookies"
5. Click Apply
6. Click Ok.
Always make sure that this is the setting when you are using our site. If you are still having difficulties, then do the following from the privacy setting,
1. Click 'Advanced'
2. Override automatic cookie handling
3. First column 'First Party Cookies' click Accept button
4. Second column: Third Party Cookies, click Accept
5. Check box to 'Always Allow Session Cookies.'
If you are still experiencing difficulties, we recommend that you check you Fiirewall settings on Internet Explorer. You may also want to download a more recent version of your IE browser, or perhaps switch to a different browser. Internet Explorer users may consider downloading the latest version of Firefox. If you continue to have problems, contact us through the CONTACT US link located at the bottom of every page of the site. Please describe the exact error message that you are receiving and tell us what browser you are using.
How do I use the Member Control Panel?
The Member Control Panel is your master panel from where you can go anywhere on the site and where important information about your membership and profile status are provided. The Member Control Panel is divided into six sections:
My Photos: This section shows your photo that currently appears in search results and profile pages. You can add or delete photos from the link provided in this section.
My Contacts: This section contains notifications of the latest email messages and the latest winks that you have received. It also tells you how many times your profile was viewed. From this section you can go to your mail inbox and view your new messages or go to the My Contacts Center and view your new winks and who is viewing you. You can view your blocked list, favorites list, and see who requested your private photo password.
Platinum Membership: This section links you to the upgrade subscription page. The benefits of upgrading to Platinum membership are highlighted. To go to the upgrade subscription forms, click the Platinum Membership Upgrade link button.
Members Online: In this section you can see how many members are currently online on the site. You can find out how many members are currently online in any country by selecting a country from the drop down menu. To see who is online, click on the Members Online Now! link. The search results page that appears will show you all members of the opposite gender that are currently online. At the top of the search page, you are provided with 3 choices for how you want the search results sorted. You can show results by members most recently active (default), show members with photos first, or show newest members first.
Member Information: The member information section gives you information on your profile status (Approved, Pending Approval, Not Approved, Hidden, showing and Online/Offline). It also provides you with information on your membership level: (BASIC, PLATINUM) with expiration dates. In this section you can also see your last login time and date.
Member Links:Provides links to other sites and features of benefit to our members.
Managing Your Profile:GulfSocialSite provides you with a complete profile management system from the MEMBER MENU panels located on the left side of each page throughout the site. Go to the MANAGE PROFILE panel located on the left side of every page. From there, you can view your profile, edit your profile, and upload/edit photos.
Click the Edit My Profile link in the MANAGE PROFILE panel, which takes you to the Edit My Profile page.
From this page, you can change your password, email address, any of your personal information, personal description and text. Here you can also change the descriptive criteria and text for the person you are looking for. Any text changes you make to your profile will not be visible until they have been reviewed and approved by our editorial team, after which the new information will replace the existing information.
What happens when I edit my profile?
Site Administrator has to approve all changes and any edits made to a member profile before the new information can be published. When you edit your profile text, change password, change email address, add or delete pictures, the changes go into "pending review" status. This alerts site Administrator to review the changes. Once the changes are approved, then the new information replaces the old information. Your existing profile remains visible with the existing information until the new information is reviewed, approved, and then the new replaces the old.
Click the Edit My Profile link. Locate your password input field and password confirmation fields. Input your new password and confirm it. Save the changes.
PLATINUM members can change their usernames by writing to Administrator to request a one time username change. For all other members, once you have registered with a specific username, you cannot change it. This is to protect our members from spammers who try to evade our filters by continuously changing their username. Unless you are a PLATINUM member, if you want to change your username, you will have to register for a new profile.
To recover you username and/or password, go to the home page, /gulfdate.com/. Follow the "forgot username/forgot password" link in the gold center strip in middle of the page. You username and password will be emailed to you.
Click the Upload/Edit Photos link in the MANAGE PROFILE panel located on the left side of every page, which will take you to the Manage Your Photos page. Please carefully read site's photo policy guidelines.
The first panel on this page is titled "Thumbnail Photo". Skip this "Thumbnail Photo" panel for now.
Go to the second panel titled "Photo 1". Click the "Browse" Button inside this panel. This will take you to the files on your computer where your pictures are stored. Select the storage file in your computer and select the appropriate picture you want to upload. Double click the picture in your computer file. This will prepare it for uploading. Click 'Upload'. Your photo is now uploaded and ready for review and approval by our editors.
To load more than one photo, repeat the process described above for each one of the photo panels. You may load up to 5 photos in your profile.
What are photo polcies/specifications?
You may use .jpg, .gif and .png files for your pictures. There are no limits on picture proportions, because our system will automatically resize your pictures. Picture files that are very large may have difficulty uploading quickly. If you are having difficulty uploading a picture, please reduce the size of the picture file itself and upload again. We specifically require pictures of our members. We cannot approve pictures of actors, singers, models, children, nature scenes, flags, animals or inanimate objects. Loading nude, pornographic and otherwise offensive or inappropriate photos will result in the immediate deletion of your profile. Definition of any of the above is at the sole discretion of the site Administrator.
The thumbnail photo is a smaller copy of your photo #1. It is the photo that appears in your profile page and your search results.
If you wish to change the thumbnail photo, you have to replace picture #1 with the new picture that you want to show up as the thumbnail. The system will automatically copy the new picture that you inserted into the #1 slot as the new thumbnail.
Note: If you delete your thumbnail photo, your profile will not have a photo visible in your profile page and your picture will not show in search results. To reinstate your thumbnail photo after you have deleted it, you must delete the existing photo #1, and upload it again. The thumbnail photo will then reappear.
The Private Photo feature is a revolutionary feature unique to GulfSocialSite. This feature allows you to post your photos on the sites, yet keep your photos hidden. Viewing your private photos will require a password. Only you can give out this password to people you want to have access to your private photos. A very important feature in our system is the ability to make your photos "private". You do this by clicking the "Private Photo" box in each picture panel. What this does is make your picture invisible to all other members. The only way a member can see it is to contact you and for you to approve their getting the password to your private photo, which the system automatically sends to them once you have approved their request to see your private photo.
How does the private photo work?
After you have uploaded your photos, just click the 'Private Photo' box next to each photo. Your approved photo will be posted, but cannot be seen by other members on the site without a password. Registering members MUST assign a private photo password during registration in the private photo password field of registration page #1 if they wish their photo to be private. Existing members can assign a private photo password or change existing password by going to the Edit My Profile link on the left of each page. In the Edit My Profile page, you will find the Private Photo Password feature. Input your password and click 'Save changes'.
How do I request a private photo password?
Go to the profile of the member you are interested in and click 'More Photos'. A new window will appear. Click on the numbers representing additional photos on top of the pop up window. A 'Request Photo Password' window will appear, prompting you to send in your request for the password.
How do I input or change my private photo password?
Registering members can assign a private photo password during registration in the 'Private Photo Password' field of registration page #1. Existing members can assign a password or change existing password by going to the Edit my Profile link on the left. On the Edit My Profile page, you will find the 'Private Photo Password' feature. Input or change your password and click 'Save changes'.
How do I view a member's additional photos?
Click on the 'More Photos' link right underneath the thumbnail photo in the member profile. This will open up an expanded view box where you can view all photos posted by that member by clicking on successive photo numbers.
Can I temporarily hide my profile?
You can hide your profile and make it invisible to search results. This is useful if you want to use the site while your profile is not visible to others or if you just want to hide your profile if you are not using the site.
Go to the Member Control Panel. In the Member Information section, click 'Hide Profile'. On the resulting page, click the 'Hide my Profile' button and your profile will be hidden. You can verify status by going back to member control panel. Profile status will read 'Hidden'. Note that you cannot send messages or winks while your profile status is hidden, but you can continue to receive messages.
To return your profile to 'Showing' status, click the 'Show Profile' link. On resulting page, click the 'Show my Profile' button. Your profile will now be showing. You can verify by going to the Member Control Panel. Your profile status will read 'Showing.'
How do I take my profile offline?
You can take your profile offline while you are using the site, even if your profile is showing and not hidden. This is a useful feature if you want to use the site but avoid receiving instant messages from other members. When you take your profile offline, other members will not know that you are online and will not instant message you. Go to the Member Control Panel. In the Member Information section click on the 'Take Offline' link. On the resulting page, click the 'Take Offline' button. To reinstate your profile to 'Online' status, click on the 'Make Online' link. On the resulting page, click the 'Make Online' button. Your profile will go back online. Please note that when you are offline, you will not be able to use Instant Messenger, but you can continue to use email.
How do I block/unblock another member?
There are two places from which to block another member from contacting you. The first is in the main Member Profile page. The block feature is located right below that member's picture. The second is in the search results page right underneath the member's profile summary. Simply click and that member will be prevented from sending you any winks or emails. To unblock a blocked member, go to My Contacts Center page. In the Blocked List, check the box of the member you wish to unblock and click the "unblock" button. The member you wish to unblock will be removed from your Blocked List. To block a member from IM, just click the BLOCK button in the IM chat window.
How do I add/remove a member to/from my favorites list?
There are two places from which to add a member to your favorites list. The first is in the Member Profile page. The 'Add to Favorites' feature is located as an action link located below that member's picture. The second place is in the Search Results page right underneath the member's profile summary. Simply click 'Add to Favorites' and that member will be added to your favorites list. To remove a member from your Favorites list, go to My Contacts Center. In the Favorites List, check the box next to the username you wish to remove from the list and click 'Delete.'
You can send email message from the COMMUNICATIONS panel located on the left side of every page. Click the Send Email Message link. This will take you to the email setup page. Type in the recipient's username, your message and send. A confirmation page will appear asking you if you would like to send another email to the same member or if you would like to return to the previous page.
You can also send an email message to any member from inside that member's profile page. The 'Send Message' action link is located in the action link strip running across the center of the member profile page.
You can send an email message to any member whose profile appears in the search results page. The 'Send Message' action link is located in the action link strip running across the bottom of the member profile summary.
How do I view my email messages?
When you access your Member Control Panel, the 'My Contacts' section will let you know if you have received any new messages or winks. The 'New Message' link will take you to the incoming mail inbox to review your new messages.
You can also view your received messages by clicking 'My Inbox' in the COMMUNICATIONS panel located on the left of every page. This will take you to your message inbox where you can view, reply to, and delete your messages.
How do I reply to email messages?
From My Message Inbox page, click on the 'message preview' part of the email you received. The message in its entirety will appear at the bottom of the page. You can reply by clicking the 'reply' link on the incoming email body.
There are two places from which you can send winks to another member:
Send winks from member profile page: you can send a wink to any member from inside that member's profile page. The 'Send Wink' action link is located in the center of the member profile page. You can send a wink from here to that member.
Send wink from search results page. You can send a wink to any member whose profile appears in the search results page. The 'Send Wink' action link is located in the action link strip running across the center of the member profile summary. You can send a wink from here to that member.
How do I report SPAM or inappropriate contact?
GulfSocialSite exerts every effort to keep the site as free as possible form spam, scammers, and people that use inappropriate language. Our efforts are much more effective with your help. We encourage and urge our members to report inappropriate language, inappropriate or suspicious behavior, and any other concern regarding another member. You can report a specific member by clicking the Report this User to Administrator link located at the bottom of each member's profile.
Using the instant messenger system
Our Web Messenger instant messenger system is on the leading edge of the latest chat technology. It is reliable and easy to use. You can only communicate with members that are online at any given time. You can launch the IM module from two locations:
The first is from the Search Results page. Online members will be identified with an oval button that reads: Online, Chat Now. Click that button and the Instant Message module will appear. Start typing and click send.
The second place that IM can be launched is from the Member Profile page if that member is online. The online button indicator will be visible and clicking the button will launch the IM module. Type your instant message and send.
I am having instant messenger problems
Our type of site is very active and it is not unusual for a member to have several windows open at the same time. We know that it seems like an eternity, but you have to be patient until they can get to your window and open it. This may take up to 3-4 minutes. You will generally have faster access to the people in the first three online pages as those would most likely have logged on more recently and have fewer simultaneous chat sessions going on. Please make sure your pop up blocker is disabled and that your system is enabled for flash chat. Your IM success rate will be very limited on this site if you have not posted a picture. Profiles with pictures will receive at least ten times the attention as those profiles without pictures.
To access the Chat Lounge, simply click the Chat Lounge link in the COMMUNICATIONS panel. This will open the Chat Lounge where you can participate in group chat sessions. It is important for members to realize that due to the popularity and effectiveness of the Web Messenger chat system, the Chat Lounge activity is very light.
How do I cancel my paid membership?
All members are 100% responsible for cancelling their own subscriptions. To cancel your subscription purchased via credit card/debit card, log into your account and click on the membership link under the account settings section. On that page you are provided with clear and detailed instructions on how to cancel your subscription. We require 30 days' advance notice prior to cancellation. Your cancellation request must be received 30 days prior to the scheduled rebill date. We are sorry to see you go, but we are here to help make this step as simple and secure as possible!
To delete your profile, write to the site Administrator through the 'Contact Us' link located at the bottom of every page. Request that your profile be deleted. You must include your username and password. This is to protect you from unauthorized deletion of your profile.