You are missing the point!  Besides LE, TER reviews help you avoid the very many scams...  upsellers, under performers, rush jobs, cash & dash, "I forgot the condom", & too many more to list.  
You are starting in the wrong place.  Shop TER recent reviews for your area.  Then the links to ad sites will show up.  Yes, you'll need VIP...  let me assure you that the cost of VIP is far less than even one spoiled date.
You need some experience before venturing out into the TOFTT neighborhood.  To begin you should stick to well reviewed TER providers.  (Do not rely on reviews posted on escort malls as they are less reliable, in my experience.)
skb

no review somewhere, no visit from me.  Generally, CL and BP are not the best places to start looking.  Yes, there are some hidden gems on those sites, but there are plenty to choose from here.

Get a VIP membership and stick to well-reviewed providers.  You might consider joining a verification site like DateCheck, RoomService2000, or Preferred411 to help with screening.

Swim

find reviews & select your area.  Also check your regional board...  follow the links in a lady's post.  This will give you plenty of shopping to do.
Take it slow.  Read everything on tis board until you can answer all the questions yourself.  Never hobby with rent or grocery money.  Only use discretionary money.  I have to match my play time to my cash flow...  but I treasure the play more that way.
skb

on CL, BP and similar sites with no TER review. If I'm interested, should I go for it?


What's less likely to be LE?
What's are some general rule of thumbs to find a good provider w/o TER?

It is your safest and best bet.

My only qualm with that is once I do that, I know I'm going to become a compulsive shopper because I want to "make the best out of my memberships". I'm a newbie and I want to get my first session done with a quality girl. I want to take it one day at a time.

and I'm already a VIP I think. $20 for this month.

TER is an amazing resource! You'd be a fool not to use it. But if your going to ignore all that, See someone who will take the time to talk to you over the phone. If they're rushing you through a phone conversation its a strong indication of how your session may go. Isabel #99353

If you remember this often used phrase, you'll do just fine in the hobby. Escorts with quality reviews, by experienced reviewers is the way for you to go in the beginning

I glance at the CL ads as a form of amusement only. The odds are very low that you will find a legitimate provider there. WAY too many scams, and the occasional LE. Forget it.

BP is a LITTLE better, but still far too risky without TER reviews. I see women continue to post on BP that were revealed to be rip offs on TER. I guess those particular women are preying on the men who haven't seen those reviews.

Finally, if she appears TGTBT, 99% of the time she is. If the photo looks like it came straight from a magazine, it probably was. Look at the picture. Does it look like something you could take yourself with a typical digital camera? That's proof of nothing, but a professional looking shot makes me wary.

lol being a compulsive shopper isn't the worst thing you could be. ^_^...... browse until you feel like she's "the one" to start with.

"What's less likely to be LE?"

 What do you mean by that?

"What's are some general rule of thumbs to find a good provider w/o TER?"

 No real rules of thumb for girls without reviews.

Go through the posts on this board and the legal board. Learn what YOU can and cannot do, what you can and cannot say without breaking the law. Learn what a provider can and cannot say without breaking the law.

Get yourself setup with a verification service so the ladies can trust you.

Google phone numbers and names. LE stings are usually on string of posts in one location. A woman who has consistent ads in many locations over time is usually not LE. She may not be any good, she may be a rob, but she is probably not LE.

Incalls are more LE's style due to logistics. Multihour dinner dates are not LE's style due to resource investment vs. one single client arrest.

Those are a few considerations.

Put asside LE (and granted that's a BIG 'put aside").

Which is "best value"?

2 well reviewed TER providers at $250 & $300, both very satisfying evenings, just as expected.  $500.

OR

4 CL/BP sessions, $150 each, one excellent, two "OK, better than doing it myself, but wouldn't see her again", and one "that was scary".

Different value systems for different folks.

All depends on what you want.