I set up an alias and I have a couple of questions.  Thanks to the more experienced who can provide me some insight.

If I post a review with my alias, can a provider find it by searching TER for the email address of my account?  Someone told me that a provider can find all the reviews you write by searching your email address.  Is that accurate?

If I write a review with my alias, does it count in my review tally to keep my VIP status here?

I guess I am thinking of writing good reviews under my username and less spectacular reviews under my alias.  Is this a good idea?  I don't want to inhibit any chance I may have to meet a new provider.

Thanks for the help.  Sorry if these questions have been asked before.

I am pretty sure that the provider can only find your TER handle, not your alias, by searching on your email address.  Otherwise the whole idea of an alias would be compromised.  FYI, anyone (might require VIP, not sure) can search on reviews posted by an alias using the Search by Reviewers feature.

I believe reviews under your alias count towards VIP days in the same way reviews under your handle count.  

I know of some reviewers who do as you suggested--post not-so-good reviews under their alias.  I don't do that, but it's often recommended as a way to minimize retribution from providers who don't react well to not-so-good reviews, and as you implied some providers don't like to see reviewers who give low scores.   There's some downside to doing that IMO, eg some members tend to discount reviews from a reviewer when all of them have high scores.  But I think the potential downsides are outweighed by the upsides.

No, that is incorrect.  If I were to search your email address, the only reviews I'll find are the ones under your main handle or screen-name.  

I'm certain there are providers who wouldn't want me to give you the following advice, but in all fairness, I do think you should be aware of (and consider!) this: if you contact a lady either here on TER under your "high-scoring handle"  or with the email address linked to that account and then write a review for her under your alias.... there's always the chance that she will recognize certain details in your review that will identify you.  

 And thus, she will know BOTH your main handle and alias..... which she might then share when giving a reference or even post on the provider resources.  What I'm saying is that "alias" isn't synonymous with anonymous.  

Do with that information what you will.  

will turn up posts and reviews on TER?

 
That seems like a bit of a security breech.

 
Any way to avoid that other than to have a separate email to register on TER with and another for other hobby purposes?

Providers with linked accounts can search both reviews and whitelists (here on TER) with an email address.  Part of my screening is to check his email address this way.  

I can't tell you how many times someone has given me his TER handle and/or PM'd me here and then when I search his email address I find his main handle.  Meaning, the one he gave me was either his ALIAS or he has multiple accounts.  

There can be any number of reasons why someone screens via his alias rather than his main handle: one gentleman stopped writing reviews under his main handle after his ATF got jealous, another because he learned some ladies won't see clients who also visit TS providers, yet another for the same as the OP's intended use of his alias, and my personal favorite: because he uses his main handle to post on the message boards and doesn't want other posters PMing him about his reviews!  LOL!

 
Edited to clarify a couple points!

-- Modified on 7/3/2017 12:14:09 PM

They're talking about a search by Email on TER, something only providers (with the Limited Provider VIP) can do.

END OF MESSAGE

For you the answer is nowhere. Only providers have this feature. When we click on search by reviewer we have to type in a handle or alias. A provider (with limited Provider VIP) also has the option of typing in an email address, and searching that way. Of course that only works if she has the email address he used to sign up for TER.  

Debra actually explaned it better.

-- Modified on 7/3/2017 11:16:01 AM

I just recently had a member PM me and ask if a provider could find out his alias by an email search. Now I know a lot about TER but I don't know everything, and since I don't have a provider account, I don't really know what a provider can or can't see (except what they tell me).

My reply to the person was that I didn't think TER would allow that as it would breach the alias anonymity. However I can't know for sure as I don't have a provider account. Your info here is helpful for when I get questions like that. Thanks.

At least, not displayed anywhere for ANY member (provider or client) to view!

Here's how it works:  someone contacts me and GIVES ME his email address.

As a provider with the Provider Limited VIP....   I click the Reviews tab, then hover over More Searches; on the drop-down menu I then select Search by Reviewer.  
For those with the Provider Limited VIP there isn't only a space to enter Reviewer's Username, there's ALSO an option to search via Email.

That is where I enter the person's email address.  If that address is linked to an account, the main username with its reviews and Whitelists will be displayed.  I will NOT however, learn that person's alias, if he has one.  ONLY the main username.