Hi... Realize I'm a bit behind in the conversations here but you sound po'd!  The majority of my abstracting orders comes from out of state & national companies.  Most of them pay automatically which is great--no invoicing--and I don't have a problem.  There are 2 out of state companies that owe me for work right now that contacted me via this website.  One has ignored all my faxing, msgs. & the other assures me "the check is in the mail".  Well, I'll give them a bit more time.  If they don't pay me I want to give them a negative rating on this site but do wonder if there are any ramifications to this.  You must've dealt w/some bad national companies; there are many good ones out there.  Here, there are numerous abstractors; experienced & non, bad & good.  And it's a no-no to take another's business.  So really, because of this directory, I have gotten quite a few good clients and they have contacted me and I haven't "stolen" anyone's business.  Fortunately, I have also gotten some local clients too.  There are some national companies who dump you for the cheaper abstractor (It's become a part of doing biz)but there are also those who appreciate the work you do & keep you because you do a good job.  As an independent, I guess I have to put up w/a liitle more in some aspects but I have found many of these companies have some real nice people to converse with.   I haven't had a problem getting paid for searches already completed and are then cancelled.  I am paid the full fee.  If  I'm at the courthouse and haven't done their search yet, I am paid a trip fee.  That  varies, depending on the client & circumstances.  There's always going to be the company that dumps you for the cheaper abstractor but there are some good national companies that you can develop a nice working relationship with.  I try not "put all my eggs in one basket" and understand the ever changing nature of the business I've chosen to be in.