Is Local Slags legit? Who runs it, what it costs and what it checks

Fair question. The name is cheeky, the subject is sex, and the internet is full of sites that promise everything and deliver a subscription you can't cancel. So here's the straight version: what Local Slags is, who's behind it, what it costs and checks, and what we won't claim because we can't back it up.

Who runs it

Local Slags is run by Ambervine Inc, a Delaware company, 131 Continental Drive, Suite 305, Newark, DE 19713, USA. The name has been around for more than a decade. The members area, where you join, chat and pay, is at members.localslags.com; this website is the information side, with guides and the facts. More on the company and how these guides are written is on the About page, and the short version is on the facts page.

Why the name?

"Local Slags" is a bit of British cheek that people in the UK have recognised for years, so it stays as the brand. It isn't how the site talks about anyone. Members are adults choosing casual, no-strings dating on their own terms, and the guides treat them that way. If the name puts you off, fair enough; if it made you smile, you'll probably get on fine.

What's free and what isn't

Joining, making a profile, browsing and receiving interest from other members cost nothing. To read and reply to messages you need a paid membership. Optional extras, such as profile boosts and an ID badge, are sold separately.

The members area shows the exact price of each plan before you pay. Memberships renew automatically until you cancel in Settings > Billing. Check the price and billing details at checkout before you pay.

Memberships renew automatically until you cancel in Settings > Billing. If you only want a short run, set a reminder a day before the plan ends. The prices page explains billing in full.

What shows on your statement

Checkout shows the billing name that will appear on your card statement, so check it before you pay. It may not be the words "Local Slags". If you see a charge you don't recognise, compare it with that billing name, check whether you or someone with access to your card joined, then contact the members help centre.

What the site checks, and what it doesn't

Local Slags reviews photos and sets an age limit, but it doesn't check what people say about themselves.

• Photos: every profile photo is reviewed before it goes live, and nudity and lingerie aren't allowed.
• What people write: not checked. Age, name, location and job are the member's own word.
• ID: members can add an optional, paid ID badge, verified by LEM Verify with an ID document and a selfie. ID checks are required only in some cases, such as sign-ups through a VPN or accounts that have been flagged.
• Age: members must be 18 or over.

In short: the photo has passed a review, but the person behind it is still someone you're getting to know. Our guide to spotting a fake profile covers the checks that fill the gap.

The shared network

Local Slags profiles are shared with partner sites in the same network. Members of those sites can see your profile and message you, and you may hear from people who joined somewhere else. That's how the network works, and it's worth knowing before you choose your photos. The discretion guide has tips.

What we deliberately don't claim

You won't find member counts, "verified" promises, success stories or testimonials on this site. We can't stand behind them, so we don't print them. If another casual dating site tells you every profile is real and local and waiting for you, ask how they know.

The usual worries, answered

Most complaints about dating sites come down to a handful of things. Here's how each one works on Local Slags.

If a recurring payment keeps going after you've tried to cancel, you have options outside the site. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says you can ask your card issuer to cancel a recurring card payment, and that the issuer must stop it, even if you haven't contacted the business, as long as you ask by the end of the business day before the next payment. Cancelling the payment doesn't cancel the contract, so you're still responsible for anything owed under it. If you paid for something that wasn't provided, Citizens Advice explains how to ask your card provider for a chargeback, the process for reversing a card payment; it's best to contact the business first and to ask your card provider in writing.

Who it suits, and who it doesn't

It suits UK adults who want casual, no-strings dating, are comfortable deciding for themselves who to trust, and like a site that's upfront about what it does and doesn't check.

It doesn't suit anyone looking for a long-term relationship, anyone who wants every member identity-checked before they chat, or anyone under 18, who can't join.

How to check any casual dating site, this one included

Before you pay anywhere, find the answers to these:

1. Who's the company, and is its name and address on the site?
2. What's free, and what exactly does paying unlock?
3. Does it renew automatically, and how do you cancel?
4. What will your statement say?
5. What's checked: photos, identity, or nothing?
6. Are profiles shared with other sites?
7. Can you read the terms before you pay?

For Local Slags, the answers are all on this page. The full member terms are in the members help centre, and they're the contract, so give them a read before you buy.

If something isn't right

For account or billing problems, use the members help centre; log in help covers passwords, cancelling and deleting. If a member asks you for money, stop: Report Fraud's advice is never to send money to someone you've met online, however urgent their story. Our guide to how to report a dating scam explains who to contact, and the meeting safely checklist covers the rest.