I've been reading about what seems to be a step-up in LE activity in several cities.  There are several agencies involved.   I have been contemplating no longer giving out my employer info and personal or business phone numbers (other than my cell) and just having several reputable ladies who know me, agree to provide me a reference when potential new providers want to verify me.  

1.  Have any of you hobbyists drawn such a line for yourselves and is it working?
2.  Do any of you providers have a reaction to this?  Would you hesitate to see someone that only offered you a reference and refused to give up the other info (let's assume that you could establish positive ID once the guy showed up via drivers license AND that you were actually able to make contact with the reference(s) he gave you)

Please jump in on this one, folks.  I'm interested in your "take".

D7

-- Modified on 1/28/2006 4:24:40 PM

I believe that there is no better way to screen than a personal reference from a reputable provider. Not only to ward off LE but also to assure that he is a gentleman and means no harm.  

Because of my missteps in LV this past January, I now also have a place on my new reservation form for employment info. As someone who now takes No Reference = No Appt as my mantra it also settles my nerves when someone easily includes work info. This shows good faith and that they have nothing to hide. Most LE are trying to reach providers on the fly for a last minute appt and those that screen heavily don't seem to be bothered as much.

Just my two cents as that's all I have left after paying my attorney fees!

Sara

-- Modified on 1/28/2006 4:28:38 PM

First your concern must be that giving this information subjects you to the possibility of it being found by LE when a provider is arrested and being used against you.

How providers manage the personal information they collect from the clients and if it remains on their computer is different with every provider. There is no one way providers consider how to protect this information and it is unlikely a hobbyist will ever know if he would be subject to investigation when an arrest and seizure of material evidence occurs.

If you are considering seeing a provider that has no references (such as those reference found on TER or other boards) you are at a higher risk of providing it to LE and even the limited information such as your cell phone and previous provider references would be enough to prosecute even if you don’t show up. Nothing will protect you from a sting and if you give them information of previous illicit activities those will also be used against you and likely bring changes against the provider you gave to LE as a reference.

The fact is TER has all the information LE needs and has probably already been given to LE should be more of a concern then giving personal information to a well known provider. The fact is if you are a paying member, they probably already have you on their list. (a current concern comes from comments made by the owner when asked if LE has requested information on it’s members, he couldn’t comment as it is a federal offense to interfere with on ongoing investigation – our search engine data was given up by everyone but Google, and they are about to be forced to)

Even if you are not a paying member, they probably have your email address and IP information which isn't difficult to trace back to the source.

So, if you are considering the risks, limit them, but don't fool yourself. When it's your turn to fall, there isn't much you can do to stop the chances of that happening unless you give up the hobby - then pray your not part of a long ongoing investigation.

Providers who ask for this information are much safer then those who ask for nothing – but even LE can fake business, home, and all the requirements of a heavy screening process, it’s just more difficult and with so many easy targets, why would they.

I have considered using only WIFI access open to the public from a laptop. I have considered using a prepay cell phone and never call anyone other then a provider on it. But rather then complicate life and take all the pleasure out of this hobby and replace it with fear, stress, suspicion and anxiety, I only see well reviewed providers – fortunately I have enough references I don’t have to give up the personal details (which I usually do once we meet anyway).

Good topic – hope others provide their insight and comments.

To start with not all of us even have verifiable employer numbers...this is Washington after all.  If my long history on two major boards...tons of references in several cities is not adequate...then the appt simply can not be made.  Through the years there have been a provider or two that I was unable to book with because they or their agency insisted on info I could or would not trust to them.  Too bad...but there are plenty out there not too lazy to do reference checks.

Sara,

What is your opinion on date-check.com as a reference source?

From what I know of date-check as I have only had 2 clients on it, it would help settle my nerves a bit but I still would want to actually hear from a provider that they had actually seen the potential client. Nothing like the personal contact you know! It is going to take awhile for me to be at ease when meeting any new client as I am still in the jumpy faze but I have been told that fades away after time.

If a new client gives me 1 reference I am a bit wary, 2 references I can actually get intouch with then that's great. Add a few TER reviews and/or date-check or something similar and I am grand!

Since I took early retirement several years ago providing employer information has never been an option for me. I have never been denied access for having references only.

Alex

Without references my screening process has always been fairly tough and I have turned a few gentleman away. But better safe than sorry. I know some gentleman feel uncomfortable with giving out so much info, and to be honest I like references from known providers best anyway. I have even gone as far to tell a gentleman that he is welcome to visit another known provider, and then come back once they have the reference under their belt.

So to answer your question a reference without personal info is fine.

And to address another point, I have ome across providers who do not give references more than 1 year old. The reasons being a gentleman changing his MO and becoming an undesirable. So boys, keep your references current and up to date.