...lately I've had a lot of issues with guys unwilling to disclose their full names to me, and that's all well and good.  I don't see them.  Now, those of you who are unwilling to disclose information such as a full name, what information are you willing to give (this is particularly for guys who don't use verification services, and for those of you who didn't always use them, to think back about what you did before you did use them).  I always tell potential clients that if they aren't p411 or rs2k members, then there are ways around with full names, phone numbers, email addresses, social media profiles, employers, etc. I think that's a fair compromise, especially since the other option of letting someone into my incall anonymously, is a lot more dangerous.

That's what I was told by a client.

-- Modified on 2/17/2014 5:41:10 AM

When registering for a P411 account you have to give them your personal information so the site can verify you are who you say you are.  Not sure what exactly they do with that information (background check, etc.), but once they verify you, then the information gets destroyed (supposedly).  When giving a provider your P411 information for screening, all they see is your P411 account profile and your OKs.  Providers do not have access to the personal information that you submitted.  Some providers will still ask for that information and it's then up to the hobbyist to decide if they want to divulge it or move on.

I'm 99.9% sure that with two Okays (it might be more, I don't remember), you can be approved without giving personal info.

When I registered with P411 three years ago, I had to submit a photocopy of my driver's license (and possibly have 2 providers vouch for me, I can't recall).  It seems the rules may have changed since then.  From their website:

CTP fancies himself the Sheriff of this board and gets a little carried away sometimes.

I'm not sure about years past (I haven't been around long enough), but apparently references can be enough to get your foot in the door now. If they required everything (both personal info as well as Okays from P411 ladies), I'd be more apt to accept it as verification. However, after the Denver incident, it's just too risky.

Erin, what's nice about p411 is that unless the provider asks for our ID, we don't have to give up our first and last name to her.  The reason I'm hesitant to give my first and last name to providers is not because I have nefarious intentions.  As I said earlier, there are a lot of BSC providers out there who will out guys for ridiculous purposes or engage in blackmail.  

The difference, Grace, is that with p411, the provider doesn't know the dude's first and last name before whether or not she chooses to check his ID.  I don't think this is such an insignificant difference. I've only had one provider from p411 check my ID, and I was happy to cooperate with that, because the gal was from a highly respected agency with a good reputation.

I suppose perhaps, that the providers that I know personally and the ones that I am friends with have always run their businesses in the utmost of professional manners. I don't have the time or energy to engage in blackmail activities (and believe me, there are people out there that have blackmail and financial domination fetishes, and i refuse them regularly).  Not to mention, I'm pretty sure that engaging in those activities completely delegitimizes me, the hobby, and the job I do to the utmost.  I'm not interested in any of those things.  

There may or may not be several BSC providers, but they do exist, and they make life miserable for their victims.  I'm all for providers screening clients, but I also believe that clients should be screened in a way that preserves their privacy as much as possible.  Although P411 is not perfect, I think they preserve our privacy MUCH more than RS2K.  

most providers ask the full legal name anyway so what is the problem?

yep but the provider might still ask for the name

you need to provide your DL

The reason I love these sites it that I can see who has vouched for the gent!

Visa and Mastercard have set October 2015 for the cutoff date for them picking up the costs of fraud. Whoever doesn't support chip and pin by October 2015 will be forced to pick up the fraud cost whether they are the merchants or the banks issuing the credit cards. Do you really think the banks or merchants will accept responsibility for fraudulent charges? No way in hell and if they try to push the fraud back on the consumer, the media will eat them alive.


-- Modified on 2/18/2014 9:46:45 PM

it's that there are a few BSC providers who have done great harm to clients who didn't deserve it. A less than stellar review is one trigger for BSC providers to go after us. The distrust when meeting new people exists on both sides, you distrust us, and we distrust you. Screening is a compromise that provides some semblance of safety for both of us but it only works when both of us are comfortable with the screening method.

Apparently they have become more lax in search of additional revenue. Another hobbyist has been trying to convince me to join P411 based on this assumption. I didn't believe it at first either, I was under the impression some sort of real info was required but he insists it can be done based solely on provider references. For me, a plus, for you, a minus. For that reason, I'm holding off joining - why should I pay for a service that providers feel isn't sufficient? Will it help me or is it money thrown away?

-- Modified on 2/18/2014 9:44:39 PM

Only one of the 60+ providers I've seen have asked for my real info.

You've been around long enough to know which providers give trustworthy references and I'm sure you know exactly which providers to look for. And you're always free to contact them for further info.