I guess my experience is different--probably I'm lucky--but I've had little trouble getting dates. Of course, once you get one referral, it helps a lot; but I've called women out of the blue without references and gotten appointments. Maybe I sound too dorky to be a cop--LOL. I understand your reluctance to give out info, but I'm sure there are some "newbie friendly" women out there.

I have been around here for about the same time and have seen many changes in the screening process.

When I started, most independent ladies did their own screening and appointments, now more and more are using assistants.  I see the benefits to them for the ladies but that personal element is lost when you are going through someone else.

Some ladies use Whitelisting while others despise it.

While many traveling ladies recommend sites like P411 and Date Check but I have never been sold on the benefits or the need for those sites.  

Then there is the traditional reference from another lady.  Some ladies are great about giving them out. Others are not as good at giving them out.  References are not one sided, they help everyone out enjoy this hobby.  

I am not aware of anything either but all I have been hearing from several guys is that they are having the hardest time trying to set something up and not many are succeeding.  

I would like to know what is up as well.

So let me address some of these points so that you completely understand officer, er I mean, "TheViewMaster", how wrong you are.  

First, I was away from the "game" for about eight years and when I came back I had no referrals and just a handful of reviews I posted from my first stint in the hobby.  Even with that, I had absolutely no problem getting dates.  The first few times I had to provide my employment information but after that, and a few white list referrals, it is pretty easy now to set things up.

For the sake of argument that you are not LE, let me address some of your points:

"What exactly has happened in Los Angeles to make everyone so extra cautious with screening?": LE has gotten more aggressive and started policing sites such as this which makes everyone, especially the wonderful ladies we see, particularly cautious.

"Exchanging last names, workplace telephone numbers, names of workplaces, driver's license numbers etc. was always considered a strict "no-no"--it's the kind of info that can be leveraged against you by an unscrupulous person (hobbyist or provider) and even trusted providers, who have no intention of misusing personal data can get busted, thus creating the possibility of your info falling into the hands of "The Man"": This is so non-sensical to me as to make me doubt that you have reviewed over 40 ladies.  First, the only party providing the last name is the hobbyist for obvious reasons.  This is a forum where we hobbyists can come to pick and choose who we want to see with relative certainty that we are not being entrapped by LE (assuming you are careful and only see multiple reviewed ladies), thus the only protection the ladies have against LE is verification of identities.  Second, why would you object to providing work information if you are who you say you are? Every provider I have EVER met has used this information extremely discreetly and as far as I can remember I have never been asked to provide my DL number so again not sure you are who you say you are.  Third, as far as "leveraging" the information, how far do you think that would go?  With a forum such as TER, a provider could get away with this once, maybe twice, before she would be red flagged all over this board and her business would dry up completely so unless she blackmails a billioniare AND gets something out of it, it wouldn't make much sense for her to do that would it?  And even if she is "busted", most providers I know have deleted the personal info once verification is complete or, even if they haven't, the simple fact that they have the information doesn't prove anything that LE could make stick in a court of law so your "fear" seems completely unfounded.

If you are having so much trouble scheduling an appointment I suggest you quit the force and go get another job OR if you are not LE, in your communications with a provider I suggest you start providing your employment information and start understanding that you need to take the security and safety of these ladies as seriously as they do.  

...I had a feeling that this post might cause a bit a of a stir---but not because I posted anonymously!

Yes, I understand those of you concerned that I might be LE--point well taken.  I was hoping to find out if LE or something else WAS the problem--and it sounds like it is. We'll leave it at that. Not asking for any info other than what, if anything, had changed the scene out there. I was worried that even bringing up the subject would make me the object of extra scrutiny (reviews or not). Obviously, poor judgement on my part.

As far as verifying me, I imagine one obstacle in my path is I have no employer. I work strictly freelance, so nowadays there is no workplace info to give out--but in town like LA, there of plenty of folks who work in this way.  I started hobbying around 1992, back when real "backpages" were the primary source of finding a provider, so my experiences--the good ones, and the really BAD ones--are probably coloring my experience now.

Many thanks to those who offered suggestions & explanations, I appreciate it.

Some of the local newspapers covered it.  Easy Google search will give u the details.  There are also other reasons for increased screening these days and that is the fault of some a-hole hobbyists who like to cause trouble.

This is one reason I prefer the k-world.  They are very strict with screening.  And once u get through, u can see anyone u like any time u like.  No waiting for some flaky girl to respond to a reference request.  (You ever notice some ladies are very quick to respond to appointment requests, but not so quick with reference requests?  Yeah, that gets real old real fast.)

By the way - if u are LE then I am Santa Claus.  No cop is going to waste his time posting a message here.  LE already has plenty of info and they can make a bust any time they feel like it.  The only variable is whether they decide to make it a priority or not.

I 've been hobbying and posting occasional reviews for a long time. IMO it's definitely become more difficult, and it seems over the years more providers are demanding personal info than ever before. In fact, several years ago I had to change my TER profile due to my personal info being passed around on the back end. Very unsettling lack of discretion! Over the past few months I've had 2 providers not even return my emails after providing them with my limited personal info and good references. Good luck and keep tryin'!