I am a little concerned when a providr uses an assistant to help book apointments. I am wondering if that is in fact an agency or just someone who helps them. I have run into 3 providers in the last few months who use the same assistant. They list themselves as independent but I am wondering if that is the case. Any feedback would be great.

Using an assistant doesn't mean you aren't independent. Yes some agency girls who went independent choose to continue to pay the agency to screen for them, but in general (and not in all cases) an agency girl doesn't do her own advertising or have her own contact info. Otherwise, there would be no reason really for her to be with the agency as the main thing they provide is a safety and convenience screen between the clients and the provider. If you see a lady doing her own advertising and with her own email address or phone number she probably is independent though she may also be affiliated with an agency and even take appointments from one in addition to her own independent appointments.

If the provider is independent, she may use an assistant to help her go through her emails, screen clients and help set up her appointments. In by no means does it mean she works for an agency. Hell with some you may never know that they use an assistant, she may not even know you exist until the day of the scheduled appointment when she is given all your pertinent info and calls or text the final details.

I don't see ladies who are too lazy to answer their own emails.  If they can't put a little effort into something that simple, what is the meeting going to be like?

Till you walk a day in any of their shoes you should probably hold off telling them how to live their lives.

I still think that anyone who depends on somebody else to do their work for them is lazy.  Especially with the ability to do just about anything from a 'smart' phone.  I run my own one person business and know that it's not that difficult to keep track of appointments and answer emails.   So in my own way, I do walk in their shoes.

There is a point you may not considering. Some of these girls are juggling more then you are. You mention your one man business and having no issue keeping track of thing. But Are you married? Have kids? I bet if so that your wife manages the kid stuff for you. Yet many of these providers are single moms. They have to manage the business and the home and have less time then you do to get that all done as much of their day will be taken up with work that by it's very nature doesn't allow them to attend to anything else. Many who may not have kids do have school. Take Alice and Krista for example.  

Sure, I can certainly understand that everyone is busy - but this is work.  I've had the pleasure of meeting quite a few ladies over the years who are single moms and manage to do this very well.  It's called time management!

You said something similar in your other reply, but you seem to be confused. The OP never said anything about not knowing themself, who they are, or who they are going to see. Having an assistant doesn't at all mean that the lady doesn't know who she is going to see. Especially if the assistant is only doing the vetting. You seem to have some prejudices in play from past experiences on this subject that are getting in the way.  

ok, whatever you say.  you obviously have more experience with this than I do.

I'm sure there are a few ladies who may be lazy, but I don't think that's the main reason they use assistants. It could be the lady doesn't know how to use the internet to advertise, or it they may even use an assistant to weed out all the time wasters.

assistant.