As I have searched more and more Provider ads online I'm coming across more and more providers who can only be contacted by  email only.  I recently attempted to arrange a meeting with a provider using this method only to have my deposit accepted but the provider no showed the meeting.  I haven't heard from her since.  I'm relatively new at this and just wanted to know is it unusual for a provider to only be contacted via email or is this a good indication that the ad is most likely a scam or was it just my luck that I just happened to run in to a provider who had no real intention of showing up?

It's deposits:

Living with a provider, I get to see both sides.  I've seen Tiffany prepare for hours (hair, nails, make-up, clothes and so on), and then drive for another hour or two, just to be stood up.

On the other side, when I was new and quite inexperienced, I got soaked for a huge deposit.

By and large, the more popular and better reviewed ladies will not require a deposit.  Indeed, a deposit should send up a red flag.  Once again, the issue comes back to using reviews.  They're the best way to know what's going on.

As to your situation, I'm not sure if you can write a Ripoff review without actually having seen the provider.  Check with the TER staff about the policy.  You CAN, however, go to your local board and post an account.  As long as it's true, there's not much anyone can do.  You might even send a copy to your no-show.  If she offers a reasonable explanation and you and she come to an accomodation, you can always post a retraction.

-- Modified on 8/24/2004 5:31:01 AM

Never make a deposit to a provider unless you know her well and are comfortable making the deposit.  The other situation where you can safely make a deposit is for a well reviewed lady who has a track record of asking for deposits, showing up and giving a good time.

I cannot say that you got ripped off, but you should do what the other responder to your post suggested concerning posting on the local board for the city or region that the lady who stood you up work in.  If she had good reasons, she will probaly work out some type of agreement with you.  But if she ripped you off then you will help other hobbyists avoid suffering the same fate.

If my instincts are right (and they usually are), I think there may be something else going on here. Let me know.

This may just be me, but as a rule, I would never do an online transaction with any but the most established of companies.  Whatever the service or product.

There's just too much fraud possibility out there, and I've had 2 problems with my credit card in the past 6 years.  

And especially in this hobby, there isn't much of a regulatory commission, other than going to your credit card company.