When going on a trip, how common is it for providers to accept a reference not from their area? Presumably, they would not know the person giving the reference. And if the reference provider does not have their phone number made public on an ad or website, would you just provide their web address or email? Would that be sufficient for the other to make contact?

I would accept an out-of-town reference and would prefer an email address, but a phone number would work.

I've never hobbied out of town,  but I have seen a travelling lady who came in to town, and obviously she used my local references which were "out of town" to her,  so my guess is it is done all the time.

I would think that as long as your reference has a legitimate website and is TER reviewed, an out to town lady would be perfectly fine with it.

I've never had a problem with this. Providers understand that guys travel on business and their references may not be local. My favorite ladies prefer the reference to be from a gal with her own site. TER reviews are nice but some very good ladies are UTR and not reviewed on TER.

I too accept out of town references, firstly if the gal has a good review history.  In many ways, this might be equivalent to a guys' consideration in number/type of reviews.  It is simple to cross reference phone numbers, sites, names, and locations through TER.  

Also, as I get to know gals across the country...I can always check in with XXX from Pheonix to see if she's heard of a gal.

You shouldn't have too much trouble!

Almost none of the gentlemen I see have local references. Most of them are from ladies who are from out of town. It's accepted if you can provide her website, email and # and I only accept references from providers who have at least one page of reviews.

~Alyssa

I have had a slightly different experience.  When I first started hobbying, I only did it on business trips.  The problem is that when I started hobbying locally, the only experience I had was with providers in London and I had difficulty getting local providers to accept a reference from London.  I had no trouble, however, with references from other parts of the US.  

Does anyone have any insight as to why London references weren't acceptable?  All of my London references were agencies and I was happy to provide agency name, e-mail address, phone number, web site and the name of the lady that I met through the agency.

I don't give a provider's phone number to anyone unless the number appears on their web site or in their TER profile.  DISCRETION.

A couple of things come to mind. The lady might not have accepted agency references or she might not have known much about how agencies/laws were in London, and thus was not comfortable accepting them.

I'm an American living in the UK for the past 2.5 years.

The legal situation of the hobby is VERY different, and the screening process is not common.  I'm not sure if most agencies here would know what a reference request is.

Thank you for the helpful responses.