Loretta,   I do not make any judgment if anyone is retarded, neither 
                 do I want it to seem that I am "nit picking" at you or anyone,

                 BUT you are truly blessed if you clients pay you without any
                problem.  Just read the various posts on this forum, and I'm
                sure you'll see that not all companys have the same attitude
                that those that you deal with have.   I keep tight reigns on
                mine also, and do not have any pre-pay arrangement, but
                any new company must "prove themselves" or put up the
                funds for the search in advance.   If they have nothing to
                 hide they will gladly "cooperate" to get their work done.
It is only wise to protect oneself, when so many companys "go out
of business"  or get "bought out" by others who have worked there
or had association with them in the past before they "stiffed the
searchers"  (several names come to mind, but I am sure you
know who I am talking about).

George