So curious if I am the only on having this issue or am I doing something wrong? On several occasions I have  contacted providers ahead of time to set date. I update as the time gets closer. They stay in communication telling me we are on-good to go! Then the day of they seem to disappear! This has only happened with new providers I am trying to hook up with.

It's frustrating, but it's reality. Apparently it happens on both sides of the fence. Some guys flake out on providers too.

Are they real? Has anyone seen them?

If it's Aunt Flo visiting or something, they could at least call and let us know.  I hate the waiting and uncertainty.

Another monger she booked for an extended date.  This game is all about the $$$

well if she's having fun and her wallet is full...  

You are cursed. Call poltergeist or something dude!

Or she may have booked a multi hour or a sure thing - someone she knows. However, I can tell you from personal experience that many of the women here are single mothers. The drama and uncertainty that comes with children cannot be understated. Their schedules can change in a moments notice due to this.

...and make our time together sound like a burden on her life.

hugely less NCNS in my experience - zero actually....   I've been contacted as late as the day before to let me know that the provider I had chosen had decided to leave or was "taking the day off" almost always with an offer to see someone else or to make it up to me....

He probably liked your post

+1

It has something to do with screening, even though you initially get an acceptance. If such a thing were to happen to me, I would wonder if something happened to change her mind. Since she doesn't know you, maybe she takes a second look at your references as the date draws nigh, and gets an uneasy feeling about you. Just a guess.

it really pisses me off.  Both times years ago and BP girls before I started cross-checking TER.  I agree it's usually financial or something else, but the lack of courtesy and respect for my wasted time pisses me off to the extent that I would never think of booking her again.
I would imagine that providers feel exactly the same way on NCNS clients.

Lot less hassle especially when you establish a relation ship with an agency. I use three agencies regularly and does not have any of these problems.

...although I see others complain about it from time to time.

I know the "reputable agency" solution is one way to dodge this bullet--but letting an "entity" have personal info about me rather than one individual gives me the willies.

I only see indies, and I've never been stood up--I have a totally unverifiable hypothesis on why this is the case:  I know my Indy friends pretty well.  I am 100% certain that none of them has a boyfriend/"manager"/you-know-what lurking in the background.

I have a feeling that those girls who represent as indies but do actually have bf/managers in the picture are the ones who do the no-show thing.  It kind of makes sense, right?  Those guys are certainly inclined to be fast-buck artists, unconcerned with the long-term viability of the business.  If the bf says "your date at Hotel A is off, go to Hotel B instead", they're going to do as told.

Like I said, unverifiable.  But a decent guess, I think.