Answers Q1: I don't remember my password. What do I do? A1: Press the "Forget Your Password" link on the home page. Then you'll be asked to provide your login (e-mail address). Your password will then be e-mailed to you.   Q2: I'm using the correct information, but can not log in! What is the problem? A2: The latest versions of Internet Explorer have raised the security level for using cookies. This site requires the use of cookies. You need to set your browser to accept cookies in order to use this website. If using Internet Explorer, go to Tools--Internet Options--Privacy and set the slider to Medium-High.   Q3: Why am I not receiving my all of my reminders? A3: It is possible that your mail provider is mistaking our emails for spam. Please add the following email address to your address book or list of contacts: dottie@bigdates.com.   Q4: I don't have a credit card. Are there other payment options? A4: Yes. Your membership fees can also be paid by check, cash, money order or PayPal. Please click here for information on other payment options.   Q5: What is the catch with your FREE membership? A5: No catch at all. Your first 3 months of BigDates membership is absolutely free. No credit card required to join. After 3 months you will be given the option of keeping your BigDates account for just $9.95 a year. That's less than 50 cents a month!   Q6: My email address has changed.  How can I update it? A6: To update your email address, please login to your account and visit the Member's Corner.  Click the link titled My Account, and update your email address in the Email field.  Once you have made the necessary changes, please click OK.   Q7: I entered the wrong name while registering.  How can I correct this? A7: To update your account information, please please login to your account and visit the Member's Corner.  Click the link titled My Account, and update your information in the Personal Info field.  Once you have made the necessary changes, please click OK.   Q8: How do I get my free Pocket Card? A8: To be eligible for your free Pocket Card you must have at least 18 big dates (including holidays) listed. (see #1 on how to add big dates) Begin your Pocket Card request by either clicking "click here" in the Pocket Card banner box on the "My Big Dates" page or select "{mc_pocket_card}" found under the "Member's Corner" tab. Follow the instructions from there.   Q9: Why am I being charged for my "free" Pocket Card? A9: The Pocket Cards are in such high demand, we could no longer absorb the costs associated with the postage and handling. The Pocket Card itself remains free and we are making every effort to continue that. We have had to introduce a nominal fee to cover the cost of postage and handling fees.   Q10: I haven't received my free Pocket Card in the mail yet. When should I expect it? A10: You can check the status of your Pocket Card order by selecting "Order History" located in "My Information" under the "Member's Corner" tab. Check the "Shipped date" to know when to expect your card in the mail (all Pocket Cards are mailed via US Postal Service). Please allow 4 weeks from order date.   Q11: Can I order more Pocket Cards for my friends and family? A11: Sure! You can order multiples of your Pocket Card by indicating the appropriate quantity when you reach the mailing address confirmation page (additional cards can be purchased for $2 each). Or you can help them get their own personalized Pocket Card by using our "Share your Big Dates Program" found under the "Member's Corner" tab to give them a quick start on their big dates.   Q12: Do I get charged for having my big dates on your site? A12: Our service is completely free for the first 3 months. No credit card number required at registration. During that time there is no charge for your big dates, e-mail and cell phone reminders and no charges for our suggestion services (cards and gifts). The only charges you will incur are for purchased items (cards, gifts, gift services), Pocket Card postage & handling, or additional Pocket Cards. After 3 months you are given the option to keep your account for just $9.95 a year.   Q13: I don't know the year of the occasion for many of my big dates. Is that a problem? A13: No. Go ahead and add the big date being sure to indicate the age range in the "Don't Know Year" field. This will help us suggest to you age appropriate cards and gifts. However we won't be able to personalize the "Years" field on your Pocket Card nor "My Big Dates" page. The more you tell us about this special person the better suggestions we can make.   Q14: Why can't I enter events like dr. appointment, birthday party, car service, etc.? A14: You can! Although BigDates was designed specifically for reoccurring occasions like holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. we have added the functionality for you to add additional events and daily appointments. This can be done using the "Add Other Big Dates" button and then the "Create Custom Big Dates" button. Again, because our main focus is on reoccurring occasions we are not including a time feature for appointments so you should put that in the event description field, ie: Dentist Apt 9am   Q15: How do I add my own big dates? A15: There are 4 easy ways! From the page titled "My Big Dates" simply click any of the following buttons to add big dates; "Birthday Requester", "Add Birthdays", "Add other Big Dates" or "Holidays".   Q16: I want a Holiday that you don't have listed, can I add my own? A16: Yes, you can create your own custom holiday by first clicking the "Holiday" button on the "My Big Dates" page and then the "Create Custom Holiday" button and complete the necessary information.   Q17: When trying to register for BigDates.com I keep getting an error message saying, "the email address that you have entered belongs to another customer. Please re-enter your email address". What's happening? A17: You are probably already registered. Try to login in the "Member Login" area of the home page and NOT the "New Members" area with your account id (email address) and password.   Q18: Why are my free greeting card credits not being applied to my orders? A18: In most instances, your greeting card credit will be automatically applied once a card has been selected and added to your shopping cart, however in some cases you may need to click a link titled "Apply Credit." This link is located just to the right of the "Remove Item." link.   Q19: At what time will I recieve my reminders? A19: E-mail reminders are typically sent between the hours of 1:00 am and 3:00 am (PST). By sending your reminders early, they will be ready and waiting when you wake up and check your e-mail. Cell phone reminders are sent at 7:00 am (PST). By the end of this year we plan to allow our users to specify when they would like to receive their cell phone reminders.   Q20: How do I unsubscribe from BigDates.com? A20: Please log in to your BigDates.com account and visit "My Account." Click the link titled "Cancel My Membership." You can also use the unsubscribe link found in all of our emails.   Q21: I have tried many times to retrieve my password, but have not received a response. A21: It is possible that your mail provider is mistaking our emails for spam. Please check your spam folder, and also add the following email address to your address book or list of contacts: dottie@bigdates.com.   Q22: I received an email asking me to download an attachment or click a link to update my password. Is this a genuine notice? A22: BigDates will never send emails with attachments. Member's should always be able to login to their account and take care of any administrative tasks, without having to click any links on an email. Furthermore, we always include the member's first name on our important account related emails. If you do not see your name, you should be suspicious of the email. If you are still suspicious please contact us.   Q23: How do I personalize my Wallpaper Calendar with my own big dates? A23: You must first become a BigDates member and enter some big dates into your account. Then simply click the "Update My Calendar" button on your Calendar Wallpaper. You can do this anytime to update your Calendar Wallpaper with new big date information in your account. This requires an active Internet connection.   Q24: How do I turn off (close) the BigDates Wallpaper? A24: Simply use your mouse and right click on the small Dottie head in your system tray (bottom right corner of your computer screen) and select "Exit Wallpaper".   Q25: How do I remove (uninstall) the BigDates Wallpaper Calendar from my computer? A25: For versions 4.0 or higher: - Simply click on the Dottie head in the task bar and select the Uninstall option. For versions before 4.0: First, exit or close the BigDates Wallpaper application by doing the following: - Use your mouse and right click on the small Dottie head in your system tray (bottom right corner of your computer screen) and select ?Exit Wallpaper?. Second, uninstall the Wallpaper by doing the following: - From Windows, go to Start and select Settings and then Control Panel - Select Add/Remove Programs - Highlight BigDates Wallpaper - Press the Add/Remove button and follow the instructions   Q26: My Wallpaper Calendar is not updated with my important dates. The wallpaper buttons are not working. A26: First, you must have an Internet connection established for the buttons to work. Next, make sure that your "Display" properties "Settings" are set to 1024x768 and set the color to 24bit or 32bit. You can get there by selecting "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "Display". Also make sure that the Active Desktop is UNchecked in the Web tab. Now turn off and restart the wallpaper program by doing the following: - Move your mouse to the lower right hand corner (system tray) of your screen, right click on the small Dottie head - Select "Exit Wallpaper" - To restart, find the Dottie head icon on your desktop and double click on it   Q27: The Wallpaper Calendar covers part of my screen and the rest of the screen is black or fuzzy. A27: Make sure that your "Display" properties "Settings" are set to 1024x768 and set the color to 24bit or 32bit. You can get there by selecting "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "Display". Now turn off and restart the wallpaper program by doing the following: - Move your mouse to the lower right hand corner (system tray) of your screen, right click on the small Dottie head - Select "Exit Wallpaper" - To restart, find the Dottie head icon on your desktop and double click on it   Q28: I received the following error message when updating my BigDates.com Wallpaper Calendar: "Unable to connect to BigDates.com. Please try again later." A28: This error can occur if the login information stored on your Wallpaper Calendar is incorrect. To correct this information click on Dottie head in the lower right corner of your task bar and select Login Information. Verify that your email address is correct, and re-enter your password. Click OK once your changes are complete.   Q29: Why am I not able to click the buttons on my Wallpaper Calendar? A29: This is a Windows issue. All you have to do it bring another program to the forefront and then minimize it. If the problem persists, close down the Wallpaper program and retart it.   Q30: How do I turn off the ticker on the Wallpaper? A30: For Version 4.0 and higher: - Click on the Dottie head in your task bar - Select Turn Off banner   Q31: I received the following error message when updating my BigDates.com Wallpaper Calendar: "There is an error connecting to BigDates.com - unable to retrieve data" A31: This error will occur if your computer is protected by a firewall, and the Wallpaper Calendar does not have permission to access the internet. Please adjust your firewall to allow the Wallpaper Calendar to access the internet.   Q32: Is there any way to see other months, other than current month on the desktop wallpaper? A32: For version 4.0 and higher, yes! You'll notice the << >> characters next to the current month name on the wallpaper. Click on those characters to go forward and backward. For versions below 4.0, unfortunately, there is not a function on the wallpaper to let you view other months. One trick is to change the system clock to a different month. The wallpaper will refresh itself in about 5 seconds with the new month's information. Once you're done, make sure to return your clock back to the correct date.   Q33: I'm using Windows XP. Some of your windows like the message box look very funny? A33: There seems to be a problem with early versions of Windows XP in displaying fields with scroll bars. All you have to do is update your Windows XP with the latest patches from Microsoft.   Q34: How can I edit my Big Dates? A34: To edit your Big Dates, please follow these instructions: Login to your BigDates.com account Visit the area Locate the big date that you would like to edit and click link titled Profile Click on the information that you would like to edit