I am a noob, hence the post here.

I was going to go through A RS2000 verification, so I asked for a Membership Application. I got a cashiers check for the fee. I was surprised by the amount of information that they want.

Would you feel comfortable giving your major CC# and billing address out to RS2K?

I did this, as I too needed (or felt that I needed) to get "verified" as a newbie - Had no problems, got what was needed in a timely fashion, and it is a necessity for some providers.... and a help for others when you have no references.

Hope this helps.....

...at the end of the day, this is an "unregulated" industry (wink, wink).  Imagine what you would do if your identity got stolen, your mail box starts filling up with unwanted stuff because your name got sold to some off the wall mailing list or you had to take action because you got screwed out of some money, etc.  Ask yourself how you would feel about using any of the normal resolution resources (i.e. the courts) to settle your beef with any entity conected with this hobby.  Would you get "found out" by loved ones? your boss?

My screening criterion is "if I don't care who knows this information, then it's OK to send it out to these folks"  

I would welcome others' thougts on this question

Have been a RS2000 member for over a year now.  The CC# and billing address are removed from your profile after getting approved by them.  Invaluable tool if you want to meet some of the providers in the Chicagoland area.  Quite a few exclusively accept RS2000 membership as a  verification.  And no I don't work for them, just a satisfied member....

I agree that I wouldn't do it either. Haven't you heard of data banks being stolen from companies who are stringently regulated and ,of course, this industry isn't. The other reasons about resolution are so true-not much recourse, if any. I do notice that everytime someone questions RS2000's policy on this issue, there are quick responses advocating for them. Who knows who is really doing the responses? Just my opinion and I chose not to join and have not had much of a problem getting appts. with anybody I wanted to see. I provide my own info to anybody who wants it.

you say bad things about us providers but be choosy you call us remember!!! Don't judge us all by the providers who do wrong  by you...we are not one and the same like i said... be choosy!!!!