I'm thinking of booking time with a provider who has pages of mostly positive reviews here.  The problem is, she requires a deposit for dates that are more than 2 hours.  I've always heard  never send  a deposit.  What would you do?

send her a money order

her reputation is on the line and you would have a copy of the money order and that it was cashed

With all those good reviews it is almost certain that she's not going to rip you off.

She probably got sick and tired of chasing away other clients only to have a no show ruin the whole day.

Once she gets to know you, she probably won't bother with the deposit.

Either book for less than two hours, or take a gamble.  

Your odds are good - a lady with pages of positive reviews is very unlikely to ruin her reputation and loose out on the monies for the balance of your appointment, simply to pocket your deposit.  Yes?

If you are set on 2+ hours, maybe PM a couple of the reviewers to see if they paid the deposit or if it is a new requirement.

an ever popular, recurring topic of conversation.

I once posted my personal views and experiences on the subject - rather than repeat them, I'll just put the link below.

In the intervening year plus, my views have not changed.

...while you may indeed be right on the money (pun intended), he should not send any deposit simply b/c someone says "send it".  Yes, I know he asked us what he should do, but still this has to be HIS decision.  If his little head is steering him directly towards this provider, then he should step back and take another good look at his money.  Can he live with getting ripped off?  At the very least, he should contact several of the reviewers via PM and find out if indeed they had to send in a deposit.  In general, find out more about this provider.  He will need TER membership status to do this research.  If he doesn't have a TER VIP, then that should be his first "deposit".  I personally would not send in the deposit, but that is only what I would do.  He should decide for himself.

...an item at a flea market with someone I have never met who gives me no more than a paper receipt.  If that person ripped me off, it would be more trouble to track them down and take them to court.  In this case your provider is well reviewed and therefore has her reputation to keep.  Go for it.

Wear sweatpants so getting dressed, leaving and re-entering the room between each session takes under a minute...

Well personaly think that since she alot of reviews is pretty safe. However I imagine you might be first time customer of hers and I imagine she made an appointment with you for several hours with you and decided to cancel not pay she would risk not having several hours pay so I can see she may have requested it.

to a well-known, well-reviewed lady, she cancelled on me and walked with the money. She's out of the biz now.

I would only send a deposit to someone I have seen and know personally.

-- Modified on 5/14/2006 3:13:34 PM

Just book an hour session.  That way, If we don't click, I'm only out a couple of bills compared to twice that much.

...probably as a consequence of the legal environment and the sort of edgy way of operating stateside.

In England I have never paid a deposit. In Europe I have only ever paid a deposit a few times and even then that was to a cast iron safe agency to pay for the girl's plane tickets.

From a provider perspective I do understand screening and all this deposit stuff, but frankly I've got by fine without ever paying a deposit in the States. And I've seen plenty of girls there. I don't see the point in jumping through ridiculous hoops just for the sake of a paid shag.