I have been throwing this around thinking of the best way to put this. I asked one of the moderators whom I trust and value greatly their insight. It was suggested I post in the Boston area as there is very valid helpful insight shared here often.
I am a provider. I am in a state/area of heavy LE involvement.
I was with an agency for two years and recently went independent. I did have a screening process which involved a personal assistant.
I read the earlier post and felt everyone offered valid points. I especially felt Milton was on target. Heres the concerns I am seriously seeking input on. ( milton i would have loved to email you but was unsure of how to go about that)

1- From the Men. they do not want to provide any info as the concern to have it fall in the wrong hands. Many will say they will not use a service yet just as many say providing that to the company and not the girl is often more preferred.
Guys- how would you prefer a lady to verify you?

2- From the Ladies- phone numers reverse directory look up addys work calls references from other providers. As milton pointed out not one of these really proves the guy is not LE. Which ultimately is what we are seeking to define. Its not about wackos. Personally not for me anyway. I do incall in a double suite. The door to the second set of rooms is cracked my bouncer is on the other side. Often reading. Should there be any issue he is imed available. The client never sees him or the other way around.
Your opinion on screening is very important I would love to hear some of your ideas. We all have the same basic process I believe but surely there must be someone with perhaps a little more background in investigations that could offer additional resources? Or a better process? Now that I have to do this myself I really do not want to jump in with cold feet or limited knowledge.

I'm not a provider but I have a similar question for the ladies who do their initial screening of clients via email. Does this process cut down of the number of time wasting phone calls that you get? You know...guys who just want to hear your voice, talk about your feet and so on.

Thanks for the input.

Yes please include this as well because this was a huge problem for me. Heavy breathers and hangs up add up on cell minutes.

I dont think its a good idea at all to have someone so close to you during an apt (security yours) I would not like it if I were seeing you..I have mine at the end of the hall..that way he can see if more than one person gets off the elevator..I know unfortunately from expierence that if it were a bust..they would have LE at both ends of the hall then send the decoy to your room if your guy is in a room then he cant see whats going on outside any better than you can...there is no 100% way...none..references is really the only way..and they need to be provided by a provider that you are able to find..not some obsure name pulled out of a hat...clients act a certain way... le also acts a certain way...no matter how much training they have..they never enter a room throw an envelope on a table then proceed to sit and start taking off  there shoes.. if only it wre always that easy..I personally have a page on my site asking for alot of info..not my idea..and I never get all that info..nor do I feel comfortable calling someone's work..nor would I..so I may not be helping much but you just have to have a happy medium..some providers swear by strict references ..I see their info pages and to me its like a book..I would be scared off were I seeking an apt with them. I have had a few clients here in Vegas that fly in to see my only because they are afraid to see providers in there area because they hold high positions in there area and if anything ever happened and it got out they were seeing providers they would lose everything(thats what they say) mabye they live in Mormon Utah..or they are an elected official.....I try to ask a client what info they feel comfortable providing ..explaining that I need to feel safe..and for me..that seems to work.. I have also found out recently about some other ways to check people I have not used these services..but I was told they really work I dont feel comfortable exsposing these ways in this forum if you would like to know about them you could email me..I will give you the info..then you can either use them or not..your choice..they involve checking prospective clients for different permits and things that would be neccesary were they in LE..hope this helped

I dont think its a good idea at all to have someone so close to you during an apt (security yours) I would not like it if I were seeing you..I have mine at the end of the hall..that way he can see if more than one person gets off the elevator..I know unfortunately from expierence that if it were a bust..they would have LE at both ends of the hall then send the decoy to your room if your guy is in a room then he cant see whats going on outside any better than you can...there is no 100% way...none..references is really the only way..and they need to be provided by a provider that you are able to find..not some obsure name pulled out of a hat...clients act a certain way... le also acts a certain way...no matter how much training they have..they never enter a room throw an envelope on a table then proceed to sit and start taking off  there shoes.. if only it wre always that easy..I personally have a page on my site asking for alot of info..not my idea..and I never get all that info..nor do I feel comfortable calling someone's work..nor would I..so I may not be helping much but you just have to have a happy medium..some providers swear by strict references ..I see their info pages and to me its like a book..I would be scared off were I seeking an apt with them. I have had a few clients here in Vegas that fly in to see my only because they are afraid to see providers in there area because they hold high positions in there area and if anything ever happened and it got out they were seeing providers they would lose everything(thats what they say) mabye they live in Mormon Utah..or they are an elected official.....I try to ask a client what info they feel comfortable providing ..explaining that I need to feel safe..and for me..that seems to work.. I have also found out recently about some other ways to check people I have not used these services..but I was told they really work I dont feel comfortable exsposing these ways in this forum if you would like to know about them you could email me..I will give you the info..then you can either use them or not..your choice..they involve checking prospective clients for different permits and things that would be neccesary were they in LE..hope this helped

I,m guessing megan is passionate about her response.
and it was an excellant and informative piece, so I'm glad I read it twice.
On another note, do any of you require photos when booking?  I cant say as I'm a fan of submitting my photo as a provider is requesting, but I think that is an Iron clad rule. Anyone else do that? A. I don't have webcam any more
        B. A little nervous about it.
Name address et al I'm okay with as I feel its important to know who you are dealing with...I can understand.  But seeing a pic beforehand

Unfortuantely security cant do anything about a bust at the end of the hall other than get outta there so he doesnt get brought up on aiding charges . My main concern is the 10 seconds it takes to wrap a thin piece of wire or telephone chord around my neck. In that process I can kick a lamp hit a wall or make a noise to alert him to come to my aid. I cant do that if he is down the hall.
Prime example Tiffany in florida.
I can understand how a guy isnt comfortable with the fact theres another man there. I fully respect that and for the last two years have always - before any scheduling began- made it known I have security on site. If its just too much of a concern for a possible Hobbyist. I let him think about it ask him to return when he is confident or wish him well in a situation that will be the most pleasant and comfortable for him. I have had to do that exactly four times altogether.

-- Modified on 11/22/2003 3:45:02 PM

Some cell phone plans offer free incoming calls, if your revenue would support it, an unlimited calling plan would make sense. Better to avoid cell phone use for business, though. Get a toll free number and have it ring to a second phone line at your home or office. (standard phone wiring for home of office can carry at least two lines, so you don't have to rewire, tell the phone company you want a fax line) Put that number into ads and have another toll free number you don't advertise and use it exclusively for check in/out. That one can ring to your voice home or business line. That way, the phone line you use for security purposes is not tied up by client calls. With toll free numbers you have a monthly log of all incoming calls even if they are blocked. If you do this, you can use your cell phone exclusively for personal use. No one calling your toll free number will know the number it rings to unless you do something stupid, like putting the number on the answering machine message. The phone company will give you directories for any city in your state for free, and you can get friends in adjacent states to get directories from those states. Use these to cross check whatever method you use for verification. (reverse lookup, etc.) Nowadays, it wouldn't be hard to use a laptop in your car with a wireless networking card and subscribe to AT&T Mobile, Boingo, or some such service. Use Internet listings to identify places (Hotels, coffee houses, restaurants) with public wireless Internet access and plan to use them between calls. That same laptop with GPS and street listing CD's could give you excellent directions. If you are an independent, you could pretty much run your business out of your car, with or without someone on the phone at home.

You can also arrange to have a toll free number ring to a cell, but you pay 5 cents a minute or so, on top of your usual cell charges. (I use that setup for business purposes, different business, though!) With two cell phones and a laptop, you are pretty much a self contained, mobile business. "Goin' Mobile..." Peter Townsend and the Who would be proud of you!