Just had to.  
Sorry.

Good advice.  
I'm sure others will expand on the topic.

two-way street.  Providers who are well-reviewed want deposits, but these same ladies are usually not willing to waive the deposit for prolific reviewers, whereas ladies who are just getting started will because they have figured out it's the reviews that drive the customers to the provider, so a provider that has 100 reviews is entitled to ask for a deposit, but a reviewer with 100 reviews is not entitled to ask for a deposit waiver.  Not really a level playing field, don't you agree?  

You could really simplify this threAD to ‘Stop sending deposits.’ Everything after‘deposits’ in the post is a waste of words.

Just say no thanks and move on. After a few losses due to deposits, I for one have moved on. I read the reasoning which is worded nicely yet laugh and move on. I put down a deposit for an automobile and a house. NOT hobbying.

And most ladies in good standing  don't  ask for deposits if the clients are in good standing  themselves.  
So the idea of deposit should be contingent on people with  little or no footprints in the hobby and their reputation.

This is becoming more wide spread and common. About 50% of the booking inquiries I’ve made in the last 6 months have required a deposit. I simply cease all communication once it’s mentioned as I don’t even bother contacting providers who advertise that they require one, problem is that now some are sneaking it in during the screening process, just to see if I will send one anyway. If hobbyists banded together and all agreed to stop sending them then providers would have no choice and would stop asking for them or they would  go out of business.

I never send a single dime of deposit to anyone whether reviewed, reputable OR established.  It's against the principles that I  hold near and dear to my heart..