I want everyone to ponder a situation for a moment, and remember, this is all hypothetical.

A guy goes up to another guy and says, "Hey, for 300.00, I'll fix your car."  The other guy thinks this looks like a great deal, gives him the 300.00.  The other guy immediately turns around and starts to leave.  The guy says "Hey, I thought you were going to fix my car?!?!"  The other guy says, "Yeah, but I never said when," smiles and leaves.  What would you do if this happened to you (assuming you are the intelligence level of the story guy).

And don't say "I'd never be in that situation because I do my homework" answer.  We have all been taken at some point in time.

What is appropriate when a provider is ripping you off?  Interesting question if I might say so.

Rubber

bad luck and walk away with a lesson learned. I've never been in that situation (really). Chances are that if a girl has the balls to run out the door with your money then she has some insurance waiting outside to make sure she gets away with it or is counting heavily on a guy not wanting to go public with the fact that he's paying for it. Then there is the time tested shreik of  RAPE!!! which would stop most guys dead in their tracks. Sure you can chase her down and face an assault charge and end up being sombody's bitch for a while and find out what it's like to be on the wrong end of a BBBJTC. There's really not a whole lot you can do when a girl is running with your dough. Sorry Rubber, I know this isn't what you wanted to hear but I do my homework and I've been disappointed but never been ripped off.

NM

This is one of life's hard lessons.  I have had a similar experience and all I could do was make a mental note to never pay for services again until after they were performed.  When you run into this kind of individual you do not have many options.  You can't go to the courts due to the nature of the business at hand.  You can't physically hurt them because you will be the one who goes to jail or gets anihilated by their boyfriend.  All you can do is yell and scream and call them names but then again that will just let them know that they got to you.  The best thing is to give them a bad rep.  Word of mouth and reviews on the TER are very powerful ways to hurt them financially, which is all that matters to them anyway.

I have been ripped off before.  The first time was in Phoenix.  I had a provider come to my room.  She picked up the money and bolted out the door, literally running into the street.  I guess she figured I was some sort of sucker.  I lit out after her, pulling up my pants as I went.  She stops in the middle of the street, points at me, and screams that I was raping her.  I turned back around, ran to my room, grabbed my keys, and got out before the mob caught me.

I, a young professional, could have ruined for life with an arrest record and possible rape conviction, and probably lost my job and good reputation, all for a couple of hundred bucks.  It may be tough, but let the bitch walk.  If she wants it that bad it was meant to be.  

Your scenario about the car doesn't work.  You could call the police, BBB, Chamber of Commerce, or a lawyer.  You have a contract with anyone who you pay, even if implied, but you cannot have a contract with a provider since a contract is only binding if it contracts a legal act.  If this happened in Nevada's Chicken Ranch you would have legal recourse, but not on Hotel Circle.  Your best recourse is a TER review and thread on the discussion board.

I would be tempted to follow him home and do $ 300 damage to his car to even things up.

if he took my cash, there are several avenues to consider.  stomp on him, but that is very neanderthal, but woth while.  you could also let the legal system do its thing, though it takes time and more cash.  the idea of finding his car and having your way with it also sounds inviting, if he comes out then you can have your way with him to and get your cash back.

as for a provider, the better part of valor always is the better course.  TER is the best revenge you can have in that scenario.

Before I discovered TER, I called a girl whose add I found
in Swinger magazine.  She ended up being a dance only girl
even though she promised fs on the phone. She actually
tried to upsell to $$$$$ for bj and $$$$$$$ for fs.
I was not a happy camper and sent her packing.
After she left, I was very tempted to follow her, but
luckly decided against it.
I did setup bogus meetings with her agency for the next
two weeks.  I had to stop when I ran out of different
voices and accents to fake .  Just the image of her running
all around town chasing bogus dates was almost worth the
$160 lesson.

I'm not sure where you get your vehicles fixed, but where I get mine fixed, I never pay up front for it.

Lesson learned. Forget it. It looks like that night it is time to go home and fix your car yourself (with your own hand). Not worth causing a scene.

Thanks all.

The story was made up just to see what kind of reactions would be out there.  Personally, I would beat the shit of of the person who took my dough, no matter what.  But with females, you just have to let them go unfortunately.

The story was lame, I know.  I just couldn't think of another scenario where you pay lots of cash up front (besides stocks, movies, etc.) and run the potential of getting ripped off.  It is very supprising though how many new reviews show up with the known rip-offs.  Very strange.

Rubber

When the information is so readily available on TER. That's the beauty of NE, too, is that the ladies on there are legitimate Providers - no rip offs!
With all the info, help from your fellow Hobbyists, and plenty to choose from..why does it keep happening?

Puzzled,
Sedona