Are deposit requests becoming a regular thing?

[chelseanyc]

I'm not a frequent client so my sample size is small, but of the 3 new escorts I have approached over the past few months, 2 of them requested a deposit in advance before agreeing to schedule an appointment (1 hour session).  I refused on both cases, and 1 relented (he said if he got an inquiry by a prospective client willing to send a deposit, my appointment would be cancelled - I was willing to take the chance and we ended up meeting) and the other we ended up not meeting because I wouldn't send a deposit and he wouldn't drop the request.

I presume this is because escorts are tired of no-shows but that's always been the case.  Are there now more no-shows these days?  

Ideally, it would be great if there was an anonymous escrow service where a client could deposit an amount so the escort knew the client was serious but the client couldn't claim it unless both parties agreed to release it.  I guess there would be an issue if there was a dispute, and financial service wouldn't really want to get in the middle of that.

Anyway, not a fan on this trend. BTW the one who I did meet up with - I asked after the (decent) session if now that he knew I was legit and not a flake, if I would need to do a deposit in the future, he said yes he would still request one.

[Walt]

Maybe deposits are becoming a more regular thing.  Maybe not. Either way, DON'T DO IT (unless you have money to throw away and not whine about it later or are asking someone to travel a great distance and need to cover their travel expenses and travel time.)

[56harrisond]

I will not pay a deposit. If a provider requires one, then I move on and hire a provider who doesn't. If a provider finds that deposits work for them, that's great. But I won't send a deposit to someone I've never met with no independent way to recoup my offering if the meeting doesn't occur.

[Wanderoz]

No.

[Guest NYC1984]

Im a nonbinary provider, & if any new client books & wants me to wear make up, i require at least 50-75 deposit, that only applies to new clients tho

[+ ThroatCummer]

I’ve never had a provider asked me for deposit, ever.

Why? My approach to them is also very serious, straightforward, and has a lot of substance behind it. I have a client profile with description and pictures. Reviews I have written are all on that profile. They’re visible to other providers. I give them my name and information about me and I ask meaningful questions of them.  
 

All of the above carries weight when the provider is doing the mental math on the ROI for engaging with me. Apparently they’ve all decided, for a pure business perspective, than I’m a client that is serious and don’t require a deposit and it’s worked out very well all around. 
 

YMMV. I’m sure there are providers out there with a very strict rule that they require a deposit from everyone. I just haven’t run into them.

[builder boy]

I think so.  

[+ nycman]

Only from the scammers. 

[big-n-tall]

In my experience... no.

[Luv2play]

I'm on my March break (lol) and have hired 3 providers. Two I've seen before at least once or more, and the other was a newbie. No deposits requested ever nor given.

But then I'm in Canada and we still have a decent social fabric where people trust each other until proven otherwise. At least that's what I like to believe. 😉  

[Bluefin]

I’ve hired close to 100 (maybe more) masseurs and only 1 has ever asked for a deposit and it turned out to be a scam. 

[Trick]

I have not come across many requiring a deposit, but more and more providers are asking for money up front.

[IamAdamRose]

I always collect payment before i get to business with clients, if they want me to drive longer than 30 minutes I do ask for at a $50 deposit for gas

[+ KensingtonHomo]

I get asked for deposits from some providers. If they seem legit, I’ll do a nominal one. I haven’t been burned yet, and I’ve never been asked for one after the initial meeting. I understand a request for one initially but once you’ve proven you’re not a flake, I don’t see the need for them. 

[NYXboy]

I've noticed this when travelling and asked my regular boy about it - he showed me his phone and he had SEVEN bookings in a row that were canceled. he is a bottom so he had showered, not eaten that day, prepped and cleaned out - only to have them cancel sometimes 30 minutes beforehand. 

He now says for new clients they can send deposit - anything from $5 or $20 just something.  if they are not comfortable with that - they can contact him on the day and if he is still available he will see them, but without deposit he wont lock anything down in advance.  Same day appointments only. 

"When I book a table at a restaurant, doctor  or to see my hairdresser they take my CC details in advance and charge me cancelation fee if i don't show- I'm not doing that - just making sure people are serious about my time" he said. 

I think either loads of fake bookings - or perhaps clients are hedging bets and booking two or three boys on the same day and taking the best one from that. Or maybe even other providers are setting up these fake bookings? who knows.  Either way, seven days of cancelations in a row is a lot.  I know in my job if i had that i would be looking at changing my business model. 

 

When travelling i wouldn't mind locking in a booking with a $50 deposit- IF they have favourable reviews on RM and on here. 

[ChasingGirth]

Only insecure, non delivering escorts will ask for a deposit.

A guy that is worth it don’t care about deposits because he knows he has his regulars and that he can get booked anyways. Only for travel I would understand if the guy never met you before. 

Just don’t fall into that trap. Their loss not yours. Never send a deposit. 

[Pd1_jap]

I've sent a deposit once and the guy scammed. Twice I paid before services rendered. The first, promptly told me, right after I gave him 300, that that was only for his company and even a massage would be extra. The second, I paid a masseur for three sessions in advance. After the first session he was always to busy to find time. 

The lesson, when you give over your leverage you lose all power and are then at the mercy of the provider; many of whom aren't exactly forthright. 

NEVER PAY A DEPOSIT!

Edited February 27, 2023 by Pd1_jap

[jtwalker]

I have never paid a deposit, and I never will. 

Money Up Front seems to be a more common request, but the best guys never ask for either in my experience.

[+ Pensant]

14 hours ago, chelseanyc said:

and 1 relented (he said if he got an inquiry by a prospective client willing to send a deposit, my appointment would be cancelled - I was willing to take the chance and we ended up meeting)

I would find that uncomfortable. I’d be afraid of lingering resentment and being in a queue of “economy class”.

[+ Pensant]

Some twinks have asked me for money before we’ve even met! It’s rare, but it happened recently when one texted me that his car broke down at Wal-Mart and could I send him some money. I blocked him. Again, this is a 1 in a hundred example.

[NJmusclelover]

The 2 times I have a deposit I was screwed over never again 

[Cruiser7]

15 hours ago, chelseanyc said:

Are there now more no-shows these days?  

 

12 hours ago, Trick said:

but more and more providers are asking for money up front.

I don’t know if there are more no shows today, but the requesting of deposits, etc. is more frequent because of the methods available today to send money. 
Back in the day (lol) if you wanted to see a provider, you called him and met up. There was no way to give him money beforehand, only face to face. Nowadays, with Venmo and Zelle and all those others, it’s quite easy for them to ask. 

Years ago I had an escort travel (time-wise) a significant distance to see me, I was to pick him up at the train station. I did think to myself “wow. This guy is kind of taking a chance traveling all the way out here when he doesn’t even know if I’ll be there to pick him up.” Needless to say, I did pick him up and we had a good time but I chalked that up to a risk of doing business on his part  

Put me on the “no deposit” train. If you’re asking for a deposit, I move on. 

[mds1]

I don’t mind paying a deposit in certain situations. The provider must have been on RM for over a year, and/or have 25+ good RM reviews, and/or have some positive comments on this forum from guys who have met him. The last criteria carries the most weight. If one of you have seen the person and had a good experience, or even an OK experience, then I don’t mind spending $20 or so to prove that I am serious.

I would never spend more than $40 or so, and I would certainly never pay for the full session in advance before even meeting up. Those type of deposits are a no go for me.

[IamAdamRose]

11 hours ago, NYXboy said:

I've noticed this when travelling and asked my regular boy about it - he showed me his phone and he had SEVEN bookings in a row that were canceled. he is a bottom so he had showered, not eaten that day, prepped and cleaned out - only to have them cancel sometimes 30 minutes beforehand. 

He now says for new clients they can send deposit - anything from $5 or $20 just something.  if they are not comfortable with that - they can contact him on the day and if he is still available he will see them, but without deposit he wont lock anything down in advance.  Same day appointments only. 

"When I book a table at a restaurant, doctor  or to see my hairdresser they take my CC details in advance and charge me cancelation fee if i don't show- I'm not doing that - just making sure people are serious about my time" he said. 

I think either loads of fake bookings - or perhaps clients are hedging bets and booking two or three boys on the same day and taking the best one from that. Or maybe even other providers are setting up these fake bookings? who knows.  Either way, seven days of cancelations in a row is a lot.  I know in my job if i had that i would be looking at changing my business model. 

 

When travelling i wouldn't mind locking in a booking with a $50 deposit- IF they have favourable reviews on RM and on here. 

Yeah thats alot of cancellations, im a drag queen as well & sometimes i get clients request me in drag, that forsure i charge a deposit & want at least 25% of my

rate which for drag i charge $400 an hr

[Simon Suraci]

I only require deposits for certain situations. For example, a client requested I coordinate two other providers for a multi hour session. We all had to travel over half an hour, and I had to bring a table. I was in daily communication with the client for about a week. I had the other providers lined up, got everything ready, even purchased a specialty item that the client requested for his session. Then the day of, he ghosts. Not a peep. Just disappeared.

By this point, I’ve invested hours. That’s when I decided I’m only doing complicated setups, long sessions, long travel, multiple provider coordination, etc with a deposit. The more I have to lose in terms of prep time, loss of credibility with my collaborators, schedule blocking out other would-be clients, and so on, the more inclined I am to require a deposit.

For a normal uncomplicated session, especially incall, I never require deposits. Even for the complicated sessions, I don’t require deposits after the first successful session. Once I know a client is real and follows through, I trust them and don’t need a deposit.

Deposits are an insurance policy. They need not be huge amounts, but should be something a client will think twice about before flaking. The deposit covers my time, often a hour or more worth when they do choose to flake. Even with a considerable deposit, they still do flake from time to time. 

If you’re asking for a lot, I would not be shocked if a provider requests a nominal deposit. We waste sooo much time on flaky clients. Maybe you personally don’t flake. Great. That doesn’t change the fact that a LOT of others do. That’s why many providers require deposits. Especially for the first meeting.