I found this board about a month ago and have followed it with much curiosity, but up until this moment have not actually indulged.  After much research and selection (I am very picky), I have decided to take the plunge.  However,  I am extremely aprehensive regarding the screening process.  While I can certainly understand the providers need for safety and avoiding LE, I am a little uncomfortable with some of the info that most providers request.  The main aspect of this is the work information.  I work in a very conservative corporate culture, and if for some reason this spilled out into my workplace it could be devastating.  I understand that there are always risks associated with this and I am at this point trying to assess and manage that risk.  Any hobbiests out there who have ever had a bad experience with this, be it an angry or unstable provider or a shady service that tried to make trouble for them at their workplace?  Or LE obtaining information after a bust and contacting individuals?  This may be a little paranoid but I would appreciate any input you guys have.  Thanks
C

First off, if you're not comfortable giving the info, then don't!

You can always ask if there is another way to "verify" that you are who you say you are.

If that fails, find someone that doesn't ask for the info that you are afraid to give.

If you aren't a VIP member, then buy a membership and search for someone that meets your criteria, I'm sure you'll be able to find someone that won't be too intrusive and at the same time will be a safe and worthwhile experience for you.

Good luck.

ask for references, first. My preference of choice for references:1. a respected, well-known provider in my state. 2. Or, an out of state, reviewed, provider with a website is my 2nd choice.  Or the last alternative: employment information, in which I am able to contact you directly,  with the utmost discretion. 90% of the gentlemen that I have seen, had already been with an escort, so the 3rd option, almost never come into play Good luck

Mel

I know for a fact that management looks at people's phone bills. I remember a fellow hobbist had his bill scrutinized. He was excessive in terms of the number of providers contacting him at work. The admin assistant would intercept his calls and take notes. The admin assistant spread dirt about him. If your SO calls you alot at work, the admin assistant gets familar with your SO voice. They could possibly tell your so that you are getting alot females calling you at work. So be careful.

If you are going to get into the hobby bigtime in being with a lot of providers, consider signing up for rooomservice2000, or date-check. These verifications services will require alot of information including your home address, work address, and work number. The nice thing is that you only have to do it once.

Sometimes providers still demand your work number. In the climit of the LE crackdowns and safety issues you have to understand the providers view point. You might want to ask about there personal information policy. Be careful and make sure that you read the reviews, because if a provider is not reviewed they might be LE.

One way of avoiding the verification process, after having seen some providers, is to join a site called Date-Check.  They have a system I particularly like.

A Date-Check enrolled provider who has seen you simply tells Date-Check that she has seen you and you are verified.  Any time you see a Date-Check enrolled provider, all you do is give her your member number, she looks you up on the site, and sees which providers have verified you.  Instant references, no problems, no personal information.

This is a new site, open only since last November.  It has grown steadily nationwide.  I joined in February and have used it now 4 or 5 times with no problems at all, and no personal information.  On top of it all, it's very inexpensive to join.

If you do get serious about this hobby, I recommend you check it out.

Good Luck.

F.

From my understanding www.roomservice2000.com and www.thehobbyist.com offer that asme capability also.

Because you've never seen anyone, obviously a provider reference would not be an option, so employment verification may be the only answer depending on what kind of provider you're wanting to see.  As others here have alredy said, if you don't have a membership, GET ONE!!!  Then read reviews and make sure that the provider is reputable.  Also, run a search for any postings that she's made for the last year and read them.  By doing that, you should be able to see what kind of person she is.  A reputable provider will verify your employment information very discreetly, such as asking for you at the main switchboard or saying that she's calling from another company.  Most likely, no one will ever be the wiser.  When you're verified and you've seen the provider, ask her for the information back or make sure that she destroys it.  Most reputable providers don't keep that kind of information unless they're given a reason to post it on a ladies only board because you threatened her safety.  

Jaclyn

P.S., Go Vols!!!

I never give out ANY information that can be traced back to me.  I once gave a "reputable" provider my cell phone number during screening, she claimed she never kept records. We saw each other a few times and had fantastic times, and I thought we were really clicking.  We would exchange saucy emails from time to time.  Then she reacted badly to one email, took offense and called me up on my cell phone to yell at me. It was on a Sunday at home in the afternoon. My wife picked up the cell phone and handed it to me without answering (phew!).  I saw the call was from a blocked number so I did not answer either.  But the voice mail she left me told me what she felt.  It was all a misunderstanding about the email and we eventually straightened it out.

But, I was not happy at her lack of discretion and the fact she kept records when she said she had not.

I keep wanting to go back and see her - she was so good - but now each time my brain tells me to back off. Why would I pay to get yelled at about something minor - I can get that for free from my wife LOL!

So you never can tell.  You have no control over where the provider writes down the info, where and how long she keeps it.  Promises of discretion are meaningless if they are sloppy with the paperwork.

RS2000 still asks for all that info that one may not feel comfortable with giving to a provider.  Most providers say that after they have met the client all data is deleted.  RS2000 actually keeps that stuff on file.  That's why I didn't join RS2000.  I have no knowledge of thehobbyist.com.

Date-Check doesn't even ask the questions because the providers themselves have done the verification and are just indicating that they have seen the client and that he is a legitimate client.

If you search these boards for "screening", how much info you could find... it just boggles the mind!!!!

That said, let me say this... I hear this kind of thing a lot from new gentlemen and I always tell them to rearrange their perspectives a bit. The problem here is that you are expecting some dirty skank who cannot speak proper english and SOUNDS like a "ho" to call your office and be all... "Hey, does this guy John Doe really work for you??? He wants to buy a date!" No, no, no. It's more along the lines of, "Hi, may I please speak with John Doe? This is Nancy from Citibank returning his call."

The first part of the equation rests upon you, to research the lady in question and make sure that she HAS a legitimate reputation that she's worked for and values. Lots of gents are thinking we'll blackmail you or try to "ruin" you at work or whatever... well sweetie, really, there's very little that you could possibly have, that would be worth more to me than my reputation, which is essentially a source of potentially unlimited income for me. (This is above and beyond the fact that I find such practices to be morally repugnant.)  Reading, say, my reviews, you'd need to understand that approximately 60% of those gents were verified via their work info, and not one got fired over it.  In fact often times a gent will send me his work info, but not the reference... where I'd much RATHER have the reference. I have to ask for it!

The second part, rests on the lady to fulfill your image of her as a... well, a lady! At least outwardly, at least until the screening is done, and you get your paws on me which is when I can be the dirty nasty horny... oops, I got off track there.

Really, you have very little to worry about as long as you are careful. Insofar as saving info goes... honey, I'd have to hire a secretary. I know many gents think we do, but REALLY... good lord, there aren't enough hours in the day to keep that amount of information filed and organized. I mean it!

Anyways... make the decisions you are comfy with. I don't blame you for being nervous, but really I think that SAFETY is first and foremost in our minds. Part of that involves making sure that anyone walking through our door knows that they CAN be held accountable for their actions... meaning if you think you can come in, beat me up or kill me, and walk away with no harm done to you... you're dead wrong.

On the brighter side if you choose a well reviewed, reputable lady, you'll hopefully only have to go through it ONCE!!!!

Good luck,
Nicole

I no longer give out a work phone ... even though I have a private phone and office ... my messages can be taped and sometimes co workers will answer ... In your case I have always found the best way to get around the screening process is to e mail the fine lady you want to spend time with start up a dialog with her and then answer some of the questions there .. also call her .. if she doesn't feel comfortable then move on ... this is a two way street ... hobby safe, hobby well, hobby all you can be.....

I don't think so,  even though I appreciate the availability of RS2000 or Date-Check or providers reference.  I had more than one experience in which the hobbyists were great for many times but they ripped me off the last time they saw me.  After that they either moved from where they lived or changed their jobs.   That kind of rip-off could be devastating.  So in-depth screening doesn't prevent all types of horror.  

My question is:  In case of tragedy happens, can we hold Date-Check or RS2000 or other providers (No matter how reputable she is)  accountable?  Obviously not.  That's why I personally still need hobbyist current info.  I understand it can't be one size/approach fits all.  But I won't rely solely on provider reference ( In case she was coerced into a LE sting),  TER handle ( anyone can sign up anonymously, including LE or robbers),  or job verification ( people change their jobs frequently these days.)  Please be diligent in verification and extremely discreet.  But Never ask for financial info such as income tax (That's ridiculous!)  More than once, I had guys volunteered their job info, only to find they no longer worked there for months.  

I am sorry to say but I have to say it:  If you don't screen and screen good,  It's only a matter of time that you get ripped off or busted, or both.  

For the hobbyists, as long as you behave like a gentleman, there is no need to worry about providers harrassing you at work or home.  In case that happens to you, you know there is TER and this board for help.  Providers' bad behavior of any kind is career suicide, so to speak.

Thanks to all who have responded, and it was good to get your perspective as well Nicole.  I certainly mean no disrespect to anyone such as yourself who would attempt to run a reputable business.  But the prospect of being blackmailed or having ones professional reputation damaged can devastate the career/income of someone, a concept that Im sure any provider would understand since you all depend so heavily on reputations as well.  Perhaps for my first encounter I will try a multi hour meeting with someone who has good reviews who would be willing to meet with me in public prior to to being alone together.  Again thanks to everyone who responded with input to my post.

C

if you dont mind me asking.  Is it a combination of all of the above or do you reqire more info.  I know the agency that I work with now requires the work info but also I am required to ask for id when they arrive and call and verify the id info with my agency.  Do you do something like that?  The reason I ask is because in a few weeks I plan to go independent and I want to see how everyone else screens so I can work up my own proccess.

I don't ask for driver's license or business card. These can be fabricated easily.  But other forms of ID (work ID, etc) are helpful.  I also believe that screening should be thorough before your date.  Once you are trapped in one room with danger, it's already too late.  I do use a combination and use various boards to verify.  Doctors, lawyers and entertainment people all have credit sites to check. Phone interview is extremely important.  Sorry I can't share everything on this board.  Each time is different.

From what I know roomservice2000 holds both providers and clients accountable. If providers complain alot about a provider the provider could get flagged by roomservice2000 as a problem provider. If a client does something like not pay, not pay enough, or what ever they get flagged also.

Another way to avoid this is to go to a spa.  They are plentiful where I live and don't require any verification at all, not to mention all the best looking women being there.  

If you don't like going to spa's then just go until you find a provider you click with and arrange to meet her outcall.  After you've seen her at the spa she knows you are not LE and generally has a good idea if you are crazy or not.  I have found most are glad to meet outcall or even incall elsewhere as the spa takes a huge chunk of their donation.

If not have the provider you want to see call the provider at the spa for verification.  Just be polite and ask the spa provider if it is ok first.

My 0.02.