I am interested in having a provider fly to my city and stay at my place for a day. She is very well known and has many excellent reviews going back a long time.  She would require an advance payment of course and I have no problem with that. a provider would have to be crazy to fly to another city based on a strangers word in an email. I am wondering how I can protect my investment. Since she has a reputation to protect it would not make sense for her to take the fee and then not show up. But things can happen and that is why anyone with any business or street sense requires a contract regarding fees in exchange of services. Obviously the services in this case can not be stated. I am thinking of having an agreement where the advance fee is for services as a photographic model. Any ideas on this?

John

-- Modified on 2/12/2011 8:49:57 AM

If you don't have a level of trust that she'll show up in this case then it's probably not the right provider for you to fly out to see you.

The scenario you describe I wouldn't recommend either. Flying someone in you've never spent time with for an entire is risky. How do you know you're going to get along with her?

-- Modified on 2/11/2011 11:50:35 PM

Or travel to see the lady you are talking about here.  Sorry but I have zero faith in something like what you are talking about going off without a hitch and, reputation aside, once a gal has your "deposit" you are not going to get it back...

Crazy Diamond summed up my opinion as well.

A "special agreement" means absolutely nothing when it comes to getting burned by a provider.

you have no chemistry and the full day becomes boring?  You can't just pound away for 24 hrs. straight.

Stick with local ladies or ladies you can travel to see until you get your feet wet

If you have never met this lady before, you are taking several big risks.  First, she can easily stiff you, and your posting of her ripping you off would not be well taken here or damage her reputation, especially if she is well known and reviewed, and you are a newbie.   If you have the discretionary $ at your disposal to fly her in to see you for a full day, but have concerns about protecting your investment, why not instead travel to see her, and remove the risks that making an advance deposit entail?  

The other big risk is that you would be meeting this lady for the first time, and you and her may not click.  A full day is a long time if either of you is uncomfortable, which is why it is recommended that you meet with the lady for several shorter engagements before committing to a long date such as what you are considering.  

Just my three pennies.  Good luck!

... in fact, it's the only way I ever travel.  Simple fact of the matter is that you must be willing to gamble - either on the fact that she may not show up, or if she shows up - you may not 'click'.  If you can't afford the gamble, don't do it.  If you can afford it, just research the heck out of the girl and go with your gut instinct as to her integrity.

Choose wisely!

As someone who has been burned by a well-reviewed provider before in your exact same situation, it is a mistake to send any provider anything in advance of services rendered for no other reason than you cannot enforce your agreement.  There is no court that will hear your case and there is no Better Business Bureau.  Besides, it's cheaper to visit her yourself.  Providers are notorious for not selecting the cheapest plane fare and transport options when they're on the client's dime (kinda like me when my travels are covered by my company's expense account).  Once something does not go according to plan, the whole situation becomes messy and stressful.  It does not matter who's at fault either.  If either person cancels, you aren't getting your money back.  If you are lucky and she decides to return your deposit (less her expenses already incurred), getting your money back will probably require tons of emails back and forth plus revealing info you probably won't want to give out.  And the whole process will probably leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth.  

If you are ok with the realization that you will likely never see any of your deposit back should things fall through for any reason, then go for it.  But do not have any legal document drawn up.  Why create a paper trail?  You either trust her or you don't.  However, I, for one, would pay to see the look on your lawyer's face when you try to get him to enforce a contract between you and a provider who is known by a stage name like Sierra Frost.

...I'm not signing any contracts. For that, you'd need my legal name and address and I'd have to run it by a lawyer to make sure I was protected too and ... that's just not happening.

Echoing what others have said, sending a lady a deposit of any sort (for travel, as a downpayment, to get the hotel, etc.) leaves you with the risk of never seeing that money again. It's a gamble. There is no protection for your investment outside of her concern for protecting her reputation. Is that enough to reassure you? Only you can decide.

You cant expect a provider to step foot on an airplane without some assurance. Ocassionally you will get burned. Such is the game.

You are technically correct in that she's no more likely to want the risk than he is.  There are other options though.  If he travels, he can opt to wait to be in her area.  If not, he can see if she tours.  If that's also a no, there are other fish in the sea.  I can afford to play, but I have no desire to toss money into the wind.  There is one lady that I'd trust to show up enough to send her the money.  The rest would need to make other arrangements or there would be no deal.  I'm not saying that their lives would end without me, but my money isn't going to hope for the best.

calling a woman a fish....what a gentleman!

-- Modified on 2/17/2011 6:11:43 AM