So many girls who post on this board keep on pointing out that they are "independent" providers (including us -
we say we are independent all the time)

Do you think there's a difference between agency and independent providers?

Here's an example: What to do you think.............. If the same girl (let's call her "Hot provider"), who's an
independent provider starts working for an agency... Do you think that:......

a) Her rates will go up.

b) Her rates will go down.

c) Her rates will remain the same.

Any thoughts?

Agencies get a bad rap in some areas (I think notably So Cal) because we have come to associate them with rip offs.  I have generally steered toward independents because I have a perception that they have greater discretion over how they spend their time (don't have to call into the mother ship...) and greater incentive to please a client (cultivating regulars and the fact that they get the whole amount of the fee). On the other hand, there have been times I've had to do without because I couldn't connect on short notice with a reputable independent.  Those were the times when it would have been nice to know an agency I could have called.

Usually, agency girls go independent.  I haven't noticed the other way around.  But for the sake of your quiz, I would expect the price to me to be the same.  But I would be more concerned about qualitative factors, not the rate.

DVB

I try to avoid agencies.  I think it's highly probable that you're not going to end up the the girl you see in the ad, they'll just send out whoever's available.  I've also had agencies assure me that no driver is involved and sure as shit the girl shows up with a driver.  Not that these things don't happen with independents but it seems more prevalent with the agencies.  I don't think the $$$ is really a factor, it seems pretty comparable to me.

...and in the resulting stiff-legged, semi-catatonic stupor, stumble to the bathroom and flush $300 down the toilet, thus minimizing both the danger to my person and the damage to my wallet.

Her rates would have to go up. More mouths to feed. Payment for "protection" and client referrals (HA! agencies adverties the same place indy girls do), agency overhead, bail reserve.

An independent girl can work the same or less and make more. The challenge is staying smart.

In the US I always see independent women, I think here independent gilrs, specially the ones with several reviews, are much more reliable. When traveling to Europe I always call an agency. I have been using the service of 2-3 agencies in Europe which are outstanding. The agency is bit more expensive but I have been rarely disappointed. It happened 2-3 times that I was not happy, no problem, they send me another girl without any problem because I was a client for a long time.