I am a newbie thinking about taking the plunge, and I have a set of circumstances that makes everything a little more difficult.
Have done quite a bit of research - but need advice - greatly appreciated:
1 - I am not a VIP, can't have charge card records, and no providers yet, so no reviews yet, and TER does not take pre-paid credit cards, heard money orders take months...
2- I am self employed (over 10 years), have been advised arranging 3rd party verification might be difficult...
Good news (I think) I have found and contacted a provider, willing to work with me. She liked the way I wrote and explained my situation. She has 6 reviews, 8s,9s,10s all categories - only goes back 2 months. She has a website with links to 1 provider with much more extensive and also favorable review history, goes back over a year. Link to 2nd provider 1 review, good rating, but only month old. All 3 have websites, with TER badges. The 3rd (1 review provider) apparently created the all 3 websites - they don't hide this, they all give credit (btw the sites are not very slick - probably a good thing?). I have been tracking a few months, all 3 have posted in discussion forums.
As I said I am not VIP so can't research hobbyists - but many of their handles / names seem to pop up frequently.
My gut tells me it is probably okay - but I'm a little paranoid. Maybe there is a better way to start?
Any feedback would be much appreciated.
If your paranoia is LE associated then take heart in that the coppers do not have the time to create nice websites adorned with TER badges and the like. Neither do they have the time nor inclination to submit a half dozen or more reviews in the creation of a sting decoy that will be quickly reported within the community, and therefore made ineffective the moment LE employs it.
The coppers get their busts from "real-time", free advertising venues like Craigslist. Low level misdemeanor crap like collaring a hobbyist is not worth constructing elaborate, costly, time consuming decoys/stings.
Yes. that was my concern (like everyone I suppose - right?). I know I need to get VIP to enhance my research capabilities and will work on that. In the meantime, thanks for your insight.
Unfortunately the presence of the TER badge is not a seal of approval, and alot of bad sites out there have the link (anyone can put an image on their site with a link to TER).
That said, RRO2610 is right, you should have little worry to worry about. Unless LE agencies are targeting other, more meaningful (in other words headline making crimes), they have little interest in establishing elaborate false identities.
Ok, I see the AZ in your name, and have seen you post on the Phoenix board. Any chance the gal you are looking at is listed on Phx411? If she is your questions have all been answered. YES, you should be good to go, but nothing is guaranteed!!!
-- Modified on 6/11/2007 12:49:33 PM
and getting paid for it.
There are so many fake / rip-off sites with TER badg on them
Well that is very unexpected - and very kind. I probably didn't title this thread real well… I know you can pull a logo from anywhere and put on a webpage - I just meant in conjunction with everything I described, was there maybe a likelihood that a provider was a safe bet (in being who they said they are) knowing nothing is 100% foolproof or guaranteed. Anyway, the responses and advice are very helpful, especially from RR02610, jazz32 – now I know a little more – thanks. And a big “thank you” to TER admin, in my exploration of the hobby, this has seemed to be a well run, professional resource. I will graciously use the “sneak peak” and get the membership by mail & MO going. Appreciate your help!
There are ripoff girls who proudly proclaim they have TER reviews. What is so funny is they have an easy, direct link on their site to their lousy, ripfoff TER reviews....makes it real easy to move onto greener grass.
If you carefully study the reviewers, read the boards, and are a VIP member...
Your mileage varies a LOT less.
my hobbying is MUCH better thanks to TER.
All the responces were good ones to guide you. If you want to be a VIP you can always send them a money order which is not traceable...
There is info for that in the VIP secion of the site. It is well worth the the monthly or quarterly fee...
Good Luck.