Hiring in 2026 - is it too much trouble?

[Rudynate]

Has anyone else encountered this?  The process of hiring a provider just becomes more and more complicated.  More and more, I'm encountering guys who insist on cashless, anonymized transactions - e.g.  gift cards or crypto.  They want advance payment in full prior to the appointment.  If you go to their place, there are detailed instructions about that - call on your phone, don't knock or use the doorbell, etc. etc.  There are more and more conditions and stipulations.  The whole thing has become a complicated, joyless business process. 

[MassageCommunityMember]

I have not encountered any of this - is your location a factor?

 

is this for escorts or masseurs?

Edited Thursday at 06:49 PM by MassageCommunityMember

[DenverDad]

And where are you finding these guys - Rent.Men or other sites?

[DMonDude]

I haven't had almost any of these issues either. A small handful of providers asking for partial deposit here and there sure, or even one or two asked for payment up front while in person right before starting the appointment (and they only did this on our first meet but took payment after the session in subsequent meets), but I've never been asked for full upfront payment prior to arriving to the appointment. The other things you've listed definitely are not the norm on RentMen or RentMasseur in my experience.

[mike carey]

8 hours ago, Rudynate said:

Has anyone else encountered this?  The process of hiring a provider just becomes more and more complicated.  More and more, I'm encountering guys who insist on cashless, anonymized transactions - e.g.  gift cards or crypto.  They want advance payment in full prior to the appointment.  If you go to their place, there are detailed instructions about that - call on your phone, don't knock or use the doorbell, etc. etc.  There are more and more conditions and stipulations.  The whole thing has become a complicated, joyless business process. 

That description has more red flags than a May Day parade in Pyongyang.

[Rudynate]

8 hours ago, DenverDad said:

And where are you finding these guys - Rent.Men or other sites?

Mostly A4A.

[Rudynate]

These are almost all A4A hires who contact me. One guy contacted me and I gave a positive response.  He took down his profile and started contacting me privately.  

[NJF]

1 hour ago, Rudynate said:

These are almost all A4A hires who contact me. One guy contacted me and I gave a positive response.  He took down his profile and started contacting me privately.  

A4A is now the home of scammers and crazies. I had stayed away since the covid. 

Edited Friday at 03:32 AM by NJF

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

10 hours ago, Rudynate said:

Has anyone else encountered this?  The process of hiring a provider just becomes more and more complicated.  More and more, I'm encountering guys who insist on cashless, anonymized transactions - e.g.  gift cards or crypto.  They want advance payment in full prior to the appointment.  If you go to their place, there are detailed instructions about that - call on your phone, don't knock or use the doorbell, etc. etc.  There are more and more conditions and stipulations.  The whole thing has become a complicated, joyless business process. 

So far in 2026, I've been averaging one (1) escort hire per week, not including lap dances from strippers and free hookups.  (It's been a slow start to the year.  I spent a few days in the hospital in January; otherwise, my number of partners would be higher.)

Thus far, no one has asked for money up front, asked for anything other than cash, or any other odd requests you mention above.  I've been hiring a 50/50 mix of regulars and new talent. 

The only man who sees me naked that now insists on digital payments beforehand is my doctor.  His clinic no longer accepts cash and requires co-payment up front.  I hold my doctor to the same high standards as my escorts:  No payment up front, and accept cash.  Therefore, I'm in the process of switching doctors.  I probably should look for my new doctor on Rent Men....At least then I know he'll take cash.

Edited Friday at 03:49 AM by Vegas_Millennial

[+ glutes]

10 hours ago, Rudynate said:

Has anyone else encountered this?  The process of hiring a provider just becomes more and more complicated.  More and more, I'm encountering guys who insist on cashless, anonymized transactions - e.g.  gift cards or crypto.  They want advance payment in full prior to the appointment.  If you go to their place, there are detailed instructions about that - call on your phone, don't knock or use the doorbell, etc. etc.  There are more and more conditions and stipulations.  The whole thing has become a complicated, joyless business process. 

Haven't had the crypto or gift card BS, yet.

My difficulties are AI generated pics, and just a lot of attitude. Along with charging $350-400 and hosting in a $98/night hotel.

[+ Pensant]

I’ve never encountered the crypto/gift card remuneration yet either, and wouldn’t proceed under such an arrangement. Cash for newbies and Zelle after a long relationship. As others have mentioned, the quality is noticeably poorer. I believe 2003-2016 was the heyday.

[NJF]

59 minutes ago, Pensant said:

I’ve never encountered the crypto/gift card remuneration yet either, and wouldn’t proceed under such an arrangement. Cash for newbies and Zelle after a long relationship. As others have mentioned, the quality is noticeably poorer. I believe 2003-2016 was the heyday.

Blame the loss of quality on OF, JF etc. The illusion of easy online money makes a generation lazy and entitled.

[Dicastri]

9 hours ago, glutes said:

Haven't had the crypto or gift card BS, yet.

My difficulties are AI generated pics, and just a lot of attitude. Along with charging $350-400 and hosting in a $98/night hotel.

What city are you based in?

[+ glutes]

10 minutes ago, Dicastri said:

What city are you based in?

SF Bay Area.

[Mark_fl]

I haven't had those problems. But I've only really used rentmen, am pretty selective, and am very clear in my profile that I pay cash. And I ask them to read it to ensure we're a good match. 

The ones that reply have generally read it, and I've had no issues. I'll also offer to have a quick chat so they know I'm real.

[+ KensingtonHomo]

My experience is similar to @DMonDude. Occasional asks for a nominal deposit for first timers. I don't have Crypto or gift cards - blah blah blah 

Also never been on A4A

 

Edited Friday at 03:03 PM by KensingtonHomo

[Rayphactor]

I, too, haven't experienced any trouble like the op describes.

[+ Tygerscent]

22 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

So far in 2026, I've been averaging one (1) escort hire per week, not including lap dances from strippers and free hookups.  (It's been a slow start to the year.  I spent a few days in the hospital in January; otherwise, my number of partners would be higher.)

Thus far, no one has asked for money up front, asked for anything other than cash, or any other odd requests you mention above.  I've been hiring a 50/50 mix of regulars and new talent. 

The only man who sees me naked that now insists on digital payments beforehand is my doctor.  His clinic no longer accepts cash and requires co-payment up front.  I hold my doctor to the same high standards as my escorts:  No payment up front, and accept cash.  Therefore, I'm in the process of switching doctors.  I probably should look for my new doctor on Rent Men....At least then I know he'll take cash.

I feel you… Especially with the doctors thing. That paying upfront thing seems to happen in a number of places around the country… I hear about that happening a lot in Florida, Los Angeles, DC, sometimes in New York, I see it in London with some providers, but I don’t really see that in Italy or Spain and really not even in Germany… It seems like the payment upfront thing also comes along with another part of the cafeteria plan where you’re paying for transportation and you’re paying for the time that they’re traveling and you’re paying for the water and time that they’re drinking if water sports or other activities are requested… Sometimes they ask you to pay for parking and the time it takes them to get from the parking lot to your room… maybe they also need a gift of clothing or something else are there is the unspoken agreement that it also means that they may be sleeping at your accommodation while they have other appointments elsewhere~ 

while I do believe in fair wages, charge to be on what is fair can simply be taking advantage and in the end, that’s not good business practice, and even in some respects bad for the industry for the providers because they end up out pricing themselves and then again… not charging what is fair is also bad for the industry and that when providers undervalue themselves, it can influence the hiring community and they expect to pay less but get more. There are providers who will try and run their business by charging well below a professional standard because they think it will get them more work, but inevitably in order to provide the quality service ongoing. They need to keep up with the cost of living in the cost of their overhead to be a provider and still also make a profit.

[+ Tygerscent]

 One of the things I have noticed influencing the ease or dis-ease of hiring is the political climate and the at times over vigilant overwatch of hotels, community groups and law enforcement making hiring precarious and both clients and providers skittish~ 

 it seems also that the demographics and f having a private place to either bring a higher two or for a provider to bring a Client to has changed~ so now, sometimes there is a spouse or family or roommates or business operating hours if it’s in a retail space, those things can come into play. Perhaps part of that is the rising cost of expenses for everybody deterring that independent living situation with situational, ongoing permanent, or short term for/long-term availability and affordability~ 

[astro]

This whole process sounds super sketchy to me — I would never accept it. I’ve never once been asked for advance payment, and honestly, cash is still the most flexible and truly anonymous option. All these extra rules and conditions just kill any fun or spontaneity. Hard pass from me.

[TryItAllTwice]

On 2/27/2026 at 7:35 AM, Pensant said:

I’ve never encountered the crypto/gift card remuneration yet either, and wouldn’t proceed under such an arrangement. Cash for newbies and Zelle after a long relationship. As others have mentioned, the quality is noticeably poorer. I believe 2003-2016 was the heyday.

Usually the gift card thing reminds me of a scam