Have you ever used your CC to pay for a provider and how safe is it? More for the over night vacation type?

I have but that was many years ago and they were agencies. Check out this thread I started last year.
http://www.theeroticreview.com/discussion_boards/viewmsg.asp?BoardID=12&SortBy=DateCreated%20desc&Search=Credit%20Cards&SearchType=1&Author=WillHammerYou&DayFrom=365&DayTo=0&MessageID=229433&frmSearch=1

Seems to me like there are many compelling reasons to keep this a cash-only business.

the Wally World Green Dot debit card works well if you need a cc. Recharge fees apply but you could go up to 1K on a temp card which requires no registration. You'll have to provide some info if you transfer to the permanent card but it's worked well so far...no statements in the mail. They seem to only want their fees. lol

using a card would have been great....why leave a paper trail?  If you want to use your card, get a PIN, and get cash thru an ATM.  Yea the rate is high, but I don't think you will be paying for that date over 5 years.....will you?

even white man could follow

Cash only only, no credit cards.
Typically for larger amounts I will draw cash over several days from one of my accounts (no user fees)
For larger amounts I make a check out to cash and get a cashiers check or a money order.
There is some amount of withdrawal which triggers a note from your bank to the feds.  I would not exceed that amount.

On one occassion I was asked to wire transfer money, a definite no no.

I once watched my ATF run around with about $7k in cash she was going to use to pay the girls who were going to a Master bash.  They seem to be used to running around with a lot of cash in possession so I wouldn't worry about the providers safety, I would be concerned with my own.
Having been through a divorce, it is amazing what can be found out just by a simple private detective let alone a governmental agency so as others have said above......cash

Having worked in a casino, the 'magic number' that triggers the Feds is 10k in cash  in or out of your account.   Now you might consider trying to dodge this by using several accounts on different days and such..... but that is called "Structuring", and is what tipped off the Feds via the Bank for the infamous former NY Gov Eliot Spitzer.

A contrarian point of view.

To me the key is what are you concerned about? If there is a spouse then yeah cash only. But if there is no spouse or SO involved? For the most part the government doesn't follow sums that are less than X (mostly 10K but banks at their discretion can make it less). If a wire transfer is to a legitimate source and under 10K it does not raise eyebrows. Spitzer got nailed because he tried to change information after the fact AND the accounts he transfered to came under their own investigation when HSBC (I think?) realized due diligence had not been done.

CC? same as above; if there is no reason to care about a paper trail then why not use the convenience?

Even if you are single using CC is crazy.

First, remember this hobby is not legal and cash is difficult to trace but a CC is a direct link between you and the provider. Say 3 weeks after you saw your provider she gets arrested and all she has is a few thousand $$- unless she has your personal data on a computer (shudder) you are pretty much home free.

But let's say you used a CC - that data lives on.  The police discover HER vendor account name used with the CC company and then have the CC company run the name of ANYONE who made payments to that vendor account...you are screwed (so to speak).  Oh and here the is the best part.  If it is with a CC then the Feds could possibly get involved if the opportunity for them is big enough becuase I believe the use of banking systems to commit a crime is a Federal offense.

My advice DON'T LEAVE A PAPER TRAIL