We have tried to make studentUK as simple to use and accessible as possible. If you have any tips or suggestions that you feel might make the site even easier, email us at editor@studentUK.com.

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Technical problems Nicknames, usernames & passwords: what's what Forgotten your login details? I want to change my profile/photo How sUK mail works I'm being bothered by another member I want to enter a competition, but I'm not a member I want to give another member my mobile number/email address, etc. Should I? I want to meet up with another member. Should I? I've seen something on the site that I don't like Subscribing to and unsubscribing from sUK emails Why have you sent me an email on behalf of another company? Why can't the site remember my username and password? I was logged on and now it wants me to log on again. Why?

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

studentUK has built this site to the highest standards. It is designed to be easy to use and also to be as free of glitches as possible. However, sometimes we do get the occasional problem. If for some reason you are finding the site hard to use; you have a specific technical problem; or the site is very slow, please do the following:

• Shut down and restart your computer in case it has crashed, or is just feeling unwell
  
• Check other internet sites such as Yahoo! or BBCi to make sure that it's not your internet connection causing the problem

If your problem persists, drop us an email at editor@studentUK.com telling us in as much detail what the problem is. It would be really helpful if you could also let us know which internet browser (for example, Netscape 6.0) and operating system (for example, Windows XP) you're using and where on the site the problem happened.

NICKNAMES, USERNAMES & PASSWORDS

Your nickname is the name that will appear on your profile, and that other members will know you by.

Your username is the name that you log in with. It's secret, so make it different to your nickname and choose something hard to guess.

Choose a password that can't be easily guessed. Your dog's name is probably a bit of a sitter.

The reason we have separate nicknames and usernames is to give you extra security. If your nickname was the same as your username, other people would already have half your login details.

FORGOTTEN YOUR LOGIN DETAILS?

If you forget your username and password, follow the instructions on the login screen or email us at members@studentUK.com

I WANT TO CHANGE MY PROFILE/ PHOTO

At studentUK we believe that you should be in control of your profile at all times, so whenever you're logged in you can change or update any of your details except your username, which is unique. You can also change your photo.

Simply click on the "edit my profile" link on the right hand side of the page, anywhere in the site.

HELP WITH MAIL

sUK mail is designed to be as easy to use as possible. Here are some general tips and pointers that might help you out.

• sUK mail is a private system. This means that unlike hotmail and other email accounts, you can only send and receive messages from other sUK users
  
• We do this for three reasons: 1) it keeps your private details safe and anonymous 2) it stops people sending you lots of junk mail 3) it's a lot faster to send and receive messages - it's more like instant messenger
  
• Members have to add other members to their sUKkers list before they can mail them. This is so that you can block people you don't want to talk to - easy
  
• We recommend that when someone sends you mail, you accept them. If you don't want to hear from them later, you can always block them and that means that you'll never hear from them again!

I'M BEING BOTHERED BY ANOTHER MEMBER

Sad but true. There are always a couple of people whose behaviour is a bit out of order. If you're on the receiving end:

• Block them from your sUK mail account. That way all their messages to you will disappear into thin air
  
• If they're being rude or nasty to you on chat or message boards, try to ignore them rather than rising to the bait!
  
• Never give out your real email address, phone number or home address online. This is a golden rule
  
• If they're being a real pain, let us know by emailing us at members@studentUK.com. If necessary, we'll put them on probation or kick them off the site

I WANT TO ENTER A COMPETITION BUT I'M NOT A MEMBER

Sorry, but you have to be a member (a registered user) to enter competitions. Membership has its privileges!

I WANT TO GIVE ANOTHER MEMBER MY MOBILE NUMBER/EMAIL ADDRESS/ADDRESS. SHOULD I?

This is a golden rule. Don't.

We strongly recommend that you keep secret all private information that could be used to trace you or contact you outside sUK. If you do disclose this information, you do so at your own risk.

Remember: it's very easy online for people to pretend to be someone they are not.

I WANT TO MEET UP WITH ANOTHER MEMBER. SHOULD I?

Again, you this at your own risk. If you do decide to meet someone you've met on sUK then follow our really good tips on preserving your safety:

• Don’t give out your personal details to other members online. This particularly applies to your home address. You wouldn’t do it in a bar. Why do it at studentUK?

• Meet in a public place, like a bar or a coffee shop. It’s easier to make your excuses and leave if you feel the need.
  
• Similarly, it’s best not to invite people to your home or accept an invitation to theirs until you feel you know them well enough to do so.
  
• Tell someone where you are going and who you are meeting. It’s also a good idea to let them know what time to expect you home.
  
• If in doubt, take some back-up. A little moral support from a good friend never hurt anyone.
  
• Take your mobile phone. Ensure it’s fully-charged and it’s never a bad idea to have the number of a reliable cab company handy, whatever the situation.
  
• Since you have your phone with you, you might want to ask someone to give you a call at a pre-arranged time, just to make sure that everything is going smoothly (and to give you an excuse to get away if it isn't).
  
• Don’t accept a lift or offer a lift home to someone until you feel you know them well enough to do so.
  
• Plan your exit strategy. It’s always worth having a ready and convincing alibi if you feel you need to make a quick getaway.

I'VE SEEN SOMETHING ON THE SITE THAT I DON'T LIKE

We do our best to keep any offensive content off the site. However, we can't control what members post on the site because every member is responsible for what they publish. All members are bound by our terms and conditions. If you break them, we'll throw the book at you.

If you see something that you don't like let us know and we will take the appropriate action.

Drop us a mail at editor@studentUK.com and we'll deal with it.

SUBSCRIBING TO AND UNSUSBSCRIBING FROM sUK EMAILS

If you want to change the emails we send you, simply click on the edit my profile link on the right hand side of the page at any point.

WHY HAVE YOU SENT ME AN EMAIL ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER COMPANY?

When you signed up, we asked you whether you would like to receive emails from our partners and selected third parties. You will receive these emails only if that box was checked.

We try to make sure that every single one of these emails has a great offer in it or is otherwise interesting (competitions, giveaways, special deals).

However, if this bothers you or you don't like the offers, you can change this in your profile at any time. It's right at the end. But remember that you might miss out on a great offer in the future!

Also, check out our privacy policy if you have any worries. Alternatively, you can get to it by clicking privacy at the bottom of any page

WHY CAN'T THE SITE REMEMBER MY USERNAME AND PASSWORD?

We decided that it would be a bad idea because it could compromise your security, especially if you're using a shared computer. For example in a university/college computer centre, the next person to use the computer could get into your profile if you were logged in automatically (by a "cookie"). This is obviously bad.

We also recommend that you log out of the site each time you use it.

I WAS LOGGED ON AND NOW IT WANTS ME TO LOG ON AGAIN. WHY?

If you're logged on, but don't use the site for a bit, you will be automatically logged out and asked to log in again. This is another safety feature designed to prevent other people abusing your profile.

If you nip out for a cuppa, forget to log out and someone else starts using the machine they would be able to do anything you could!