I've only just started with this "hobby" and have avoided agency providers so far. I have had good to great experiences with each of the Independent women I have seen. Part of it is I like the thought that the woman I'm seeing is keeping all of the money in the envelope.
So, why use an agency? What's the advantage or is there some reason to use an Agency vs. an Independent?...just like anything else there are good ones and bad ones. I started using an agency. I had no references. I passed the screening and made an appointment. Thereafter whenever I wanted to see a provider all I had to do was call them and make an appointment. The agency gave me access to many excellent providers without screening every time I wanted to see someone new to me. This agency had an excellent reputation for discretion, reliability, and high quality providers at a reasonable rate. Later as some of the providers went independent I was able to see them without any screening as they already knew me. They were then able to give references when I wanted to see other independent providers.
Some say agencies are a bigger LE target. That's reasonable but again it's case by case in how discrete they are. The agencies that have run into trouble with LE drew attention to themselves by not taking precautions to stay low key and drew the tax man's attention.
Agencies are there when you're ready. Just a call that's all. Last minute appointments are more easily accommodated once you've passed their screening.
Stardate : 20140314
Hobby space : the final frontier
These are the voyages of using both agencies and indies
To explore strange new positions
To seek out new girls
To boldly go where no monger has gone before
lmao
Agency : less personal contact with girl. generally drama free unless you fight with booker. No further verification needed once approved. Can select from a number of girls on any given day. Generally costs less than established indies. Easy to see a new girl with no reviews cuz she's far less likely to be LE. Girls don't really have all your verification info. Agencies takes a cut but only fair for employing a new girl just getting started or for handling scheduling and access to all their client list. No need for girl to do marketing, set up website, hire photographers, book traveling, etc.
Indies: more personal contact with girl, which could mean better GFE due to chance to know the girl before hand, but can lead to more drama. many indies started out as agency girls and once they learn the ropes, raise rates and become indies. Some still charge same rate though. Possible more frequent flaking NCNS compared to agency girl cuz she doesn't have a boss. Need to be verified for each new girl and each of them know your info. Indies have more control over their schedule, possibly lower volume.
Did I miss anything
In some locations a factor for some may be exposure to LE.
Soliciting and providing independent services may be a misdemeanor where the same activities with an agency would be a felony due to it being an enterprise. This is true in Clark County, NV and appears to be true in Virginia.
In all locations, agencies are more lucrative targets and much more likely to be the target of the recent focus on human trafficking whether there really is any trafficking going on at the agency or not.
For many this would never even be a consideration. For me, it is a major one. But I am still a newbie. A cautious newbie.
But that's mostly because majority of the providers I see don't offer incalls in those areas where it's treated as a felony rather than misdemeanor. If it's a girl I know already then it's less of a problem.
One good thing about indies that I can relate to recently is the long term personal connection that extends beyond the hobby. I'm going on a vacation with an indie UTR provider (who turned into a close friend). Luckily I'm not paying for her time cuz we are just traveling for mutual fun. Might pay for her trip if she puts out. But we aren't calling it a session so it's technically not hobby.
Am I worried about anything while we cross customs? Nope. I'm not breaking any laws traveling with a friend. No agency to deal with since it's just me and her doing this.
Life is good...
I will add only this, agency girls have little or no control over who they see, and may tend to be higher volume than indies. They may also have appts. set up with little or no time between to freshen up, not good. I have always used indies.
Swim
Mainly for the reasons mentioned already. I understand that they work for others, but for me I want to be assured that the lady's decision to see me or not is 100% hers. Including my requested time. I don't like the idea of a go-between telling her to come and see me. The pre-date information exchange allows questions to be asked and the lady to decline if she wants. This "free will" no pressure decision makes me feel better about having a meeting.
Also, we can find agencies no matter how discreet they are, which means LE can too. I am extremely risk averse and dread the idea of waking up one day and find out an agency I have used got busted. I know that using independents does not eliminate the LE risk, but I feel it is lowered, with all the precautions I take.
All of this stuff is personal opinion, and there is no right or wrong. I am not trying to sway anyone else with this decision. Just passing along my opinion.