You know, we could debate ad-infinitum about being stood up and get nowhere yet ruffle enough feathers to cause ill-will on both sides (provider-client).

When two people are engaging in a somewhat "covert" interaction, there is always the risk of this happening, it is just the nature of the biz, so to speak.

I can't tell you how many hotel rooms I've booked in the past, where the client no-showed and no-called.

Rather than be angry and post until I was blue in the face, I channeled my frustrations into figure out a way that would lower the risk of this happening.  So, I set up a Paypal business account and request that all first time clientele I see as outcall leave a 25% deposit on the engagement.  I also instituted a 24 hour cancellation policy, wherein if the client cancels within this timeframe, there is no penalty, however short of a huge catastrophic emergency, cancellation after the fact requires that the client pay 50% of the engagement fee which I then invoice them via paypal.  

It is a strategy to invoke accountability and it works.  If I am organized and present myself professionally, I am less likely to be infringed upon and I have collected money from those who do not show.

Insofar as the client is concerned regarding provider no shows, well backchanneling with oneanother seems to work just fine.  May I suggest that if there is a provider you desire to engage, that you check her reviews, and email some of the people she has seen, also if a provider is no showing on a regular basis and this is passed along privately well, then that should be a hint right there!  I do not believe it is common practice for the majority of providers to no show, and speaking personally, the few times I have had to reschedule due to my conflicts, they were for bonafide reasons and sometimes it is impossible to reach a client (in my case) because he did not leave his cell number and or did not check his email before leaving. COnversely, the majority of clients are responsible, respectful lovely gentlemen.  It only takes one or two on either side to spoil a good thing!

It will never be a perfect science, but just like in any other business it happens -- thankfully it is not the majority rule.

We'll all get over it, and as long as "this" remains an underground communication it will happen again.  It's just the nature of the beast.