So last night I sent an email with all the required info to a provider I wish to see.  Well, not all the info -- since she requires employment verification and I am not currently employed.  So explained that I am unemployed/self-employed -- the latter would be true except I don't have any clients yet.  

I did give her two references of very well-known providers, my TER name (I have posted about ten reviews), my real name and age. Her response was that she won't see anyone w/o employment verification.  

Is there anything I should do except move on and contact her back if I get a job somewhere?  If I work as a freelancer am I out of luck?  What do retired men do in these cases?  I've asked her this via email and not heard back yet, but I'm curious about this situation since it's never happened to me before.  I've been hobbying for about a year and seen a good number of providers, both indy and agency.

I am using an alias and not referring to the provider's name or area because I'm not trying to call her out.  This is a genuine question.

Thanks for th input.

She's a tight screener and well within her rights to ask for it all.  She's not doing anything wrong.  I would let her know you're self-employed and will move on until you either get a job with a company or join a verification service.  My stronger suggestion is to join a verification service.  Either date-check or preferred 411.  Date-check has a 3 mos free trial and if you have strong references, they can vouch for you there assuming they are members.  That will almost always take care of the self-employed issue.

Of course she's within her rights; I'm not complaining about that.  And she doesn't take verification services -- that was not one of her options.

No big deal, I'll see someone else or try again in the future when I have an employer.  I just thought it was interesting case that I hadn't encountered before.

FWIW -- I posted this to the general board and I guess the mod moved it to the newbie forum, which confuses me because I'm not a newbie and this situation could happen to someone who's been hobbying for years.

The answer instead of george washington or ronald reagan is :::

1.Apply for date-check ,pref411 or date-check...

Or

2. Don't do it .

I have never encountered this problem.  I tell them I'm retired.  I did provide a landline number to one lady (not to call but I'm sure she did a reverse directory on it.)  She's now a Fav 2+ years later.
A provider can run her business any way she chooses.  If she only wants to see purple guys, then that's her choice...  though it will undoubtably hurt her bottom line.  
You have politely asked her this, & if she does not offer an alternative then you just move on.
skb

that she wouldn't have some alternate means of verification. I think most ladies do, but for now, just move on to another lady.

hung up on the employment verification.  Once you see several ladies, treat them right and have a few reviews under your belt, you can try this lady again.  Each lady has the right to set her own screening criteria.

Just to be clear -- as I stated in my original post -- I have approx 10 reviews to my name.  I also heard back from her and she just stated that she won't see someone w/o a job that she can verify.  No retirees or freelancers.

I agree that each lady can see who she wants.  I just thought this criteria was a little odd.

Ciara --

Those verification services are not an alternative for this provider.  She wants to verify employment herself.

One question I have--how do providers verify employment? I really wouldn't want a provider contacting my workplace. What "excuse" do they normally use if they do talk to workplaces so as not to arouse suspicion?

I find the more uptight a provider is about her "rules", the less fun they are.

I find the more uptight a provider is about her "rules", the less fun they are.

Interestingly, the reason I want to so badly see this provider is her awesome reputation. Over 1/3 of her reviews rate her a 10, and only 1 review out of approx 30 is an 8 (the rest are 9s).  

I guess my mistake was not trying to see her sooner.

Normally, I believe providers just call your office's main line ask to speak to you.  That way they can tell if you work where you say you do.  They usually want a URL as well to verify it's a legit company.

SKB....I'm having a crappy day here in rainy Philly and wanted to send along a 'thanks' to you for a good chuckle.  Your 'purple guy' comment REALLY stuck my funnybone. Funny how the simplest things can really crack us up at the oddest of times.