After 10 years I've never had a problem.  I certainly feel a lot better about giving the info to independent providers than I ever did giving it to an agency.  I doubt they would ever do anything on purpose, they have too much to lose if they get reported to LE.  Pissed off spouses and clients are not real good for business either.

Also - Never had a problem. I am very much in the same situation as the trouser mouse. Have not been as active as others, and have had a few that required references.

Leaving your personal number and true name is always a vulnerable and risky action. I have been hobbying for many many years and not an incident of information coming back. But I have been selective and careful in releasing information as well as selective in the women I've seen, I have on a number of occasion walked out of an appointment because it just didn't feel right.  They may have your name and number but not the necessary evidence for litigation, of course that pales in comparison to the utter embarrassment of having something private become public knowledge to someone you know or care about.

It really has been in the past 2 years that the reference issue has been so prevalent locally with the providers, before that Joe Blow and 1-800-any-number would suffice and you would have carte blanche for your appointment.

Gut feeling is sometimes all you have when you feel you can trust someone with something so close to home. I think a thorough screening by the hobbyist towards the providers is important. The TER is huge in that regard as we can review and exchange information to perhaps avoid a major embarrasment or head off any potential involvement with LE.

I've never had a problem, but I do think about it from time to time, nd have some background in the information security field.  

I never worry about a provider misusing my info;  Instead I worry about ways my info might be compromised by LE.  For instance, most providers use cell phones;  A subpoena of their bills will lead to my cell phone number.  Luckily, that info won't likely lead to legal trouble for me, but some LE organizations take just as much pride in outing you as they do in getting an arrest.

The other thing I've seen happen is the "squeeze play."  Provider gets busted, will probably get by with misdemeanor charges and survive, and your info is safe.  Ooops--found coke in her purse, so they decide to bring the BIG heat.  Provider caves in, forced to participate in an in-the-room sting of some clients in return for dropped felony charges.  Where does that leave if that provider is somebody you didn't treat very well?

The advice for avoiding LE is the same advice my ATF provider (you know who you are!) gave me about getting stood up by the latest perky-breasted flavor-of-the-week providers on Eros.  Get to know a couple of mature, established independents that you like, gevelop trust, treat them great, and it's probably smooth sailing.

Back in the early 90s I remember having to provide:
Call back number that could be verified with 411
Name that would match my Driver's License when girl arrived
Girl verifying that name matched license, telephone and address before she would step through the door.  Man the hoops I went through.  With the popularity of identity theft, I would never give that same level of info.  So it could be worse.

A pal of mine says "don't p*ss in your backyard" because it is easier for any of this info to come back and haunt you (even when you see a regular). It is just part of the risk.  So if you have something to hide (highly public position, wife looking for dirt, previous felonies, etc), you might just want to stick to those folks who have loose scrutiny policies.  Problem is that a lot of those girls who run fast and loose often get nabbed within 3 months and you might be nearby when it happens.  

my 2 cents.

About 4 years ago I was held over in Toledo, OH: called an escort agency from the phone book. When the provider came to my hotel room the first thing she did was whip out a contract. If I wanted her to stay, I had to sign. So I signed. It was something to the affect that I was contracting for lingerie modeling. I thought for sure I was going to get ripped off but she turned out to be a good provider. Are contracts like that valid ways for providers to protect themselves?