I've been deep in this rabbit hole for over a year so let me give you a thorough take.
Response time in the first 24 hours of a match makes a measurable difference to how conversations go.
Things that have actually helped me:
- Use a secondary email you don't mind getting spam
- Virtual cards are a lifesaver for anything with auto-renewal
- Screenshot billing agreements before clicking through
- Check the cancellation process before subscribing
Currently using Datelink as my main go-to and it's been solid. No major issues, decent activity, enough settings to feel in control.
Hopefully that saves you some frustration. This stuff can be overwhelming at first.