Hi, I am pretty new at this, and have  been denied by few providers because I am a first timer.  I wonder if the screening test is safe for a new timer? and How is the screening test work? is it a website, e-mail, or phone.

Thank your for your help

The screening process involves divulging your work phone number if you have not yet seen one provider. The provider will then call that place of business and ask if you work there (using discretion of course) just to verify you do actually work there.

If you are self employed or just don't want to give out your work number it is harder but there are some providers out there who do not need this information to see you.

FYI - My first time in the hobby I did have to give the provider my work number, she verified my information and then we made arrangements for a meeting. Once you get this out of the way and you treat the lady with respect you can use her name as a reference for future meetings with other providers.

It all depends on the provider and what they are comfortable with.

First timer, yet using an alias.

so, is it a problem?

that seems to be happening alot recently.

Is if you are afraid to use your real handle here then what information are you unwilling to give to a gal to get screened???

There is a RICH set of discussion on this topic in the archives.  Some short tidbits of answers:

You are asking the ASP to put themself in a reasonably vulnerable position with you.  It would seem reasonable to expect that they might want some assurance that you aren't (at a minimum) LE or some wacko.  The screening process is one way they attempt to do this.  You get the opportunity to screen the ASPs via numerous review services, their options for finding out about you are limited.

The amount of information required varies from ASP to ASP.  The comfort level of the hobbyist with providing the various bits of information varies with the hobbyist and their circumstances.  

Generally as you get yourself more established as a hobbyist and can provide referrals from other ASPs the amount and nature of the personal information you have to provide diminishes.  

Referral services, such as Preferred411, do exist to make the referral process much easier.

But it makes me wonder who you really are, and how you can figure out one thing and not another.  Not really any of my business, but it'll stop me from being as helpful as I would otherwise be.

success in this hobby usually depends on sending out good vibes, wheher it be initial contact with a provider on the phone or via email, or how you conduct yourself when you meet the lady.  The same is true here.

On the other boards, aliases are usually used to 1) introduce a thought provoking topic or idea annonymously, 2) as a jokingly way to convey info, 3)a means to send a private message on a public board, or 4) used by people with a personal agenda, but don't want to be held accountable for it.

Asking a basic, and easily searched question causes one to wonder - "who is this guy, what is he upto?", or in other words sends out bad vibes.

You say you are a newbie, fine.  By using an alias, I know that you have bought VIP access, GREAT, the first and best step in successfull hobbying.  But by using that alias, you have denied yourself on of the other great benefits of VIP status.  I sometimes PM posters on the newbie board with more detailed answers.  I can't PM an alias.

thank you for all your advices, and did not know it was a big deal.  I appreciate the advices on rules of using Alias.

Out of curiosity, what does it mean and how does it work to use an alias.  Does that mean you are using a different name than the regular username with TER?

I can tell you why I use one...when I first registered, long before I decided to pursue hobbying, I used my "common" user name...and then someone noticed that reviews and message boards could be crawled by Google and put out there for the world to see.

Now that I am starting to participate, I am going to have to get my username changed, a process which I have just begun today, so I can post without worrying about getting caught on here...just another reason why someone might consider using an alias...

Actually, it really IS a problem. Do some research or disclose more about yourself!

-- Modified on 2/15/2007 5:44:31 PM

don't cut it, particularly when you claim you are looking for help.  It is a deal breaker in my book.
sgandolfs

With TER VIP status, either by payment or recent reviews, you can create any number aliases, so long as they aren't used by sombody else, to post on the boards.  You can tell when an alias is used, there is no envelope ny the senders name.