- Searched thoroughly, and can't find them in the DB?
- Your queries about them have gone un-posted, or been removed?
- Read a review then clicked ont he 'Providers Profile' only to get a message that it's not found?

Then there is a good chance that they have been either banned or de-listed.

Banning a provider happens when they get caught posting self-reviews, spamming the TER PM system, or flagrantly breaking any of the other rules we have here at TER.

De-listing happens when a provider decides that she no longer wants reviews on TER.  Who knows why, but there are times when  provider says she wants her reviews pulled.

Both of these result in the same thing - they cannot be queried in the database, and there is to be no mention of them on the boards.  No requests for info, no reviews, no nothing.  Also, if you try to create a new record and submit a review, it will be rejected - and you may or may not be told why.

Unfortunately, there is no list of banned/de-listed providers - even us moderators have to find out by digging...  so, keep sending in the queries, but if they keep not showing up and your post hasn't broken any of the rules, there's a good chance they have been banned or de-listed.

-- Modified on 11/16/2004 6:54:11 AM

-- Modified on 11/16/2004 6:55:07 AM

I suppose a list of banend and de-listed providers would be a bit much. Maybe keep them in the catalog but flag them with a blank record ... a simp;le message that says "there is no information regarding this provider in the database." That way the users don't drive themselves craazy looking for someone they think ought to be in the system.

Another question. If I see a provider who has asked to be de-listed and, not knowing, create a new record and review for her, will it be posted?

Why isn't it possible to have a notice that a provider or agency has been banned?  Isn't that information helpful itself?  And if someone is looking for a banned provider, why can't the older hands -- or the moderator -- let the poor soul know why he can't find anything?

I, as the moderator, have notified some people in regards to providers I know are banned or de-listed.  However, there are many I don't know about, so I can't let people know.

The flip side of the coin is that by putting up a list, or responding to every person's post, the banned/de-listed providers still get their name out and get free 'advertising' For example, if Suzy Creamcheese is banned, and the Moderator says so, a semi-savvy person could just start looking on other boards or do some sort of search - which would defeat the purpose of not mentinoing her at all...

on your flip side.. If she's banned, she's getting negative publicity, and who's likely to want to see her anyway?

As an adult system, we're able to make educated decisions, and at $300 or more for an hour's entertainment, not many are going to find a banned provider and want to see her..

It's amazing that both PK and NL are still getting ripoff level reviews, but they remain in the system, although in my mind, that's a good thing as it prevents others from being screwed in a bad way..

There also could be slander/libel reasons to not publish a list of banned providers/agencies.  If they feel their banning is unjustified and there's a list of banned they're on, they potentially could sue TER for libel and restraint of trade or inflicting harm on their business, etc..  If they're simply not there, there is no libel exposure..

Of course, there IS a list of ripoffs, so maybe TER isn't worried about it anyway..!

just my 2 cents..

--JB

I believe, although I'm not sure, having a list of banned
providers falls under this category.

Also, reveiws are never totally deleted.  Searches are done
against a provider's profile.  When they are delisted the
profiles are either tagged or deleted so they do not show up in
searches.  But, you can always search for reviews under a
particular TER handle.  A delisted provider's reviews will still
show up and you can read them - you just can't look at her
profile info.

Of course, having the reviews available this way is almost
worthless but just thought I'd throw that out there.

hope this helps

That's one way of looking at it.  But... personally, I would only search other boards if I couldn't find Suzy Creamcheese's review on TER.  If I see that she is banned here, I wouldn't waste my time trying to get more information elsewhere.

that I hadn't thought of until I posted on the Blue Gems thread that they were banned....

The flood of PMs and posts saying 'That was overkill, some of them were real' or 'But the girls really were good, I reviewed one' or 'some of those ladies are the highest reviewed ladies on TER, so what if they posted self-reviews to get started?'

The bottom line is, they broke the rules and got caught.  The punishment is laid out and well known, they may have had good intentions, however.....

-- Modified on 11/17/2004 7:07:13 AM

-- Modified on 11/17/2004 7:07:49 AM