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| -Kelly- Senior Member 2517 Posts 5/03 | Hey, how's it going, When you talk about him as the owner of LA Direct Models (aka World Modeling of the new era, no disrespect to Spiegler though), he's Derek Hay. When you talk about him as a male performer, he's Ben English. Either way, he's the same guy and he bothers the hell out of me. Who is he? Well, as Derek Hay he built up the reputation of LA Direct Models on two fronts: 1. They were the director/producer's best friend due to their professionalism and ability to ensure that their girls wouldn't flake. 2. They were the performer's best friend because Hay and Hanna Harper (then-girlfriend and LADirect co-owner) were performers themselves so they had an insight that fellow performers could trust. As Ben English, he was AVN's Best Male Newcomer two years ago, had a run as a director for Wildlife's gonzo label (Powerhouse), and is a fucking fixture in any New Sensations/Digital Sin non-European cast. Why does he bother me? He has long since been mentioned n KSEX, Lukeisback, AdultFYI, and whatever other mecca of gossip you can think of as being a complete asshole. There was even a somewhat public war of words between him and Ginger Lynn that aired out through KSEX, with their debate traced back to her rather negative experience with him off and on-screen in Jewel De'Nyle's Size Queens 1 . Some, of course, admire the guy. Anyone who read Lukeisback's updates yesterday saw an article positively (or sarcastically) touting Hay as the Toughest Agent in Porn. However, I read that and I think of Hay as the new Chuck Traynor, just with the whole roster of LA Direct in place of Linda Lovelace. Good businessman? Yes. Admirable? Eh, depends on who you ask. With the rumors, is it "where there's smoke..." or "they're just rumors"? It's hard to tell. There's a difference between being tough and being an asshole. It does seem that girls can go through LA Direct and make plenty of money. This is where he bothers me: I feel weird watching him working (industry word for fucking, thank you Eric Edwards) in a scene with one of his LA Direct girls. I mean for all intents and purposes you're watching a pimp fuck one of his girls and he's getting paid for it. So, does he get paid a performance fee and then an agency fee for the girl (or does her individual agent get the fee and as an employee of LA Direct they then split it with Hay)? As a performer, the guy just creeps me out. Maybe it's his mechanical, passionless, emotionless way of fucking (I've seen Jon Dough look more into it in old feature films back when his name was really perfect for his persona) or his suspect habit of being everhard (even after cumming) that begs the question of what impotency medicine he has a prescription to (the same criticism can be made about a majority of all current male performers though). Either way, his presence in a scene kills it for me, even it it stars a girl like Naomi or Sara Stone. But that's my opinion and I could be wrong. Edited by - -Kelly- on Jan 25 2006 [Link] |
| skronker Notable Legendary Icon Scopophiliac 9780 Posts 9/02 | |
| Dragon Novelties Member > Click the Pic < 123 Posts 11/04 | ...and Lisa Ann was also very thorough, professional and not to mention stunning in person. Spiegler is also great to work with. Edited by - dragon novelties on 1/25/2006 9:22:12 PM |
| Eric381 Deactivated User What are you looking at? It 2452 Posts 3/05 | While I have no direct experience with Derek Hay (or his alter ego), or really any on the "inside" of the industry, I took steps last year in doing research on who I'd like to photograph - his girls came first b/c of the variety. I've read he's a hardass, but his emails come across very professional (never talked to him personally, however). I know he's been accused of some shit (the Tiffany Holiday gig), and I really don't care...their business, not mine (she has a known habit for flaking since leaving his agency anyway). Some call him the 'hardest working agent in the biz', but I'd contend that Shylock appears to get his girls a bit of work as well, even if he has only a fraction to work with (quantity -v- quality, in that regard). Talk about confusion, just an outsider's point of view, FWIW... ~E |
| picman Senior Member Nothing says I love you so much as a tongue in the ass. 2884 Posts 1/03 | |
| de25ge Member yes I'm virilis 954 Posts 11/05 | I haven't seen that much male performers with passion but maybe I've not seen enough. I think maybe I'll have to watch a movie with this Julian. Every girl(pagoda , lindi .....)and even Gaysatyr on ADT seems to scream for and adore. The only one that was not that bad wasJean Valjean, maybe because the whole scene was in slow motion or just Andrew Blake is damn good director. |
| MASAMUNE Senior Member 1452 Posts 12/04 | |
| christianx Senior Member 1883 Posts 9/04 | |
| -Kelly- Senior Member 2517 Posts 5/03 | That's a good point. Do you say anything critical to "Ben" knowing that he's stopped LA Direct business relationships in the past with people he's had a dispute with? However, the conflict of interest that immediately concerns me is the boss-employee dynamic that exists between "Ben" and any of his LA Direct co-stars. On one end, you can argue that if he performs with one of his LA Direct girls he can help her improve in the long run. He's essentially sampling the goods, and afterward he can offer the girl any tips he has on things she might do better for on-screen performing. I'm thinking stuff like, "You might want to use more eye contact during this," or "You might want to cheat more toward the camera in this position," etc. Also, if the girl is new maybe it's nice for her to work a scene with a guy she knows and trusts. However, that would assume that Derek is a nice guy, which even if he's not an asshole he's probably not guilty of being a truly nice guy. He's a consummate businessman. He may have absolutely no personality on camera, as performer or director (ever see his pre-scene interviews in his Intensitivity series? Those were some of the most awkward and pathetic interviewing I've ever seen in porn, plus he cast almost entirely LA Direct girls in that series and most didn't look comfortable being interviewed by him). But I don't really imagine him offering these girls polite suggestions. Of course, maybe I'm giving him too little credit and he's professional enough to keep his two roles separate. Girls can make a lot of money through Derek, and some of them have been with him almost their whole career (Haley Paige, Harmony Rose). He has his fans and he has his enemies. Me? The guy just bothers me. I compared him to Chuck Traynor earlier. Well, it's not like I think he's beating his girls (why would he? that would then make them desirable to only a fringe market, and that's bad for business), but the iron fist and anything for money mentality seems prevalent. Edited by - -Kelly- on 1/26/2006 11:50:48 AM |
| payday Member damn 311 Posts 7/05 | |
| Karlson Member 28 Posts 12/05 | So from what I have seen so far, he is a solid performer and a good agent for the industry. Its not like he is abusing his girls, right? |
| vodka tonic coolest cucumber who 1243 Posts 11/02 | |
| Pagoda Senior Member Thread Killer 1747 Posts 10/05 | |
| de25ge Member yes I'm virilis 954 Posts 11/05 | |
| myadultgroups Deactivated User Los Angeles 755 Posts 10/04 | |
| payday Member damn 311 Posts 7/05 | Click to expand |
| 4theheart Senior Member pornologist 3102 Posts 8/01 | |
| de25ge Member yes I'm virilis 954 Posts 11/05 | |
| -Kelly- Senior Member 2517 Posts 5/03 | Luke Ford at LukeisBack- Some of Derek's peers say that he's a paid consultant to the escort service BellaModels.com (the new Nicisgirls.com). When I asked Derek about this in Vegas, he wouldn't address the issue. If this accusation were true, Derek would have his talent agency license yanked once it came to the attention of the California department that regulates such matters. It's common for escort agencies to pay commissions to people who refer them talent. 12/25/05-Though Derek Hay denies this, I've been told that he demanded that Lisa Ann move Lexie into her new house and keep an eye on her. Lisa said no. "My house is my sanctuary. I don't want a crackhead in my house. I don't want work affiliated with my home." Derek is supposed to have insisted and Lisa Ann quit. Lexie has proved highly unpopular with the people she's lived with over the past few months, including various LA Direct girls. Over the past two years, Derek has built LADirectModels.com into the most powerful and organized talent agency in the business. Derek delivers his girls to sets on time. He's loved and respected by many photographers and producers. His detractors call him a tyrant. Several porners have asked me, "Why don't you write anything bad about Derek? Are you afraid of him?" Derek had an incident with Dylan Lauren a few weeks ago. I don't know if Derek hit her car and Dillan demanded his insurance information... Whatever happened, Derek told her to clear her stuff out of his house within five minutes and leave. She did. It's Derek's way or the highway at LADirect. 12-30-05-Lisa Ann on KSEX, "Things come up some times and things get really intense [...] And sometimes we all make decisions. The break was well needed for both parties to simmer things down and work it out. Derek is an amazing businessman" [5 of his current 96 girls have scored contracts with video companies] Luke's late '02 interview with "Ben English" ---- Taylor Rain from LukeFord.com- from AVN.com- he 19-year-old Lexie Marie joined Vivid in late 2004 after just a few months in the industry. Reasons for the company’s actions were unclear and her agent, Derek Hay, would not speak on the matter. “I know why this happened, but I’d rather talk about the fact that this is a chance to explore other opportunities that are out there,” he said, adding that he’s already fielding offers for her. “She’s just 19 and she’s a very attractive and intelligent girl that people really like,” he said. and now this commentary............. BOTTOM LINE.. Lexi has a drug problem and everyone knows about it, it was bad to the point where she was forbidden from a Jenna Jameson shoot. Vivid wanted to help her, they wanted to keep her. They told Hay some time ago, "get her the help she needs, get her straight and into shape or she's out" ... Hay then attempted to get Lexi to live with Lisa Ann. As the story goes, Lisa refused and was summarily dismissed by Derek. ADVICE TO DEREK... your "we're exploring other opportunities" comment just reaffirms your a fucking cowardly, selfish prick who injects your penis to get wood (emphasis added, no way of knowing if this is true but judging from what I've seen I've long since suspected this to be the case) and doesn't give a fuck about anyone but yourself!!! If you have any fucking nut sack at all, then stop thinking about your next house purchase, your next payment for your used car "Hey Jenaveve, let me drive over to September's house and pick you up in the Astin". You're a PIMP, with no skills to do anything except point a girl to a location, her do all the work and then you DOUBLE DIP by taking 15% from the girl AND take a fee from the producer. INSTEAD of pimpin Lexi out NOW, why not let the girl get some help, hey here's a thought, why not get involved and see if YOU as her pimp can intervene and get her some help. Come on, you've made thousands off her (and all the others). When she signed her contract, Vivid wrote you a fat "commission check". You got your money already. And by helping her, I don't mean.... "Lexi, would you like to make some good, easy money? Let me take you to lunch and introduce you to the woman who use to run Nici's Girls and now runs Bellas Models, we're good friends, I introduce her to only my special girls, you can do really well." THAT'S not the help I'm referring to. You're a licensed and bonded agent Derek, introducing ANYONE to this "Madam" will get your license revoked immediately... watch your step! That last statement, "explore other opportunities that are out there" brought me to my boiling point!! You're a pimp and a pretty good one, but when you make statements like that, especially now considering EVERYONE in this business knows Lexi has a problem and needs help, shows you to be a fucking lowlife. Let her get her life straight, let her get help.. don't try to ignore her problem as a means of stuffing your pockets. If anything happens to this girl or any of your girls because you push and push and push, there will be a line of husbands, boyfriends, mothers, fathers, friends, internet gossip writers and more... standing at your door one day to beat the fuck out of your cowardly ass. Call September from Exotic Star and take some lessons on how to treat your girls. Remember something Derek boy, you make your living off of them not the other way around. One day all this nonsense will catch up to you. YOU need these girls more than they need you. Red Light, Anabolic, Wicked, Vivid, if you die tomorrow they won't stop any productions, they'll just overwrite your number in their speed dial with someone elses. Call Spiegler and take some lessons, his girls don't fear him they respect him and they ALL make good money. PERHAPS it should have been you in the AVN skit and not Spiegler... you would have fit in well as St Croixs gay lover!!! Do the right thing, Lexi doesn't need commission paying jobs right now... Lexi needs the support of her friends and she needs help! Either help her, or get the fuck out of the way and let the people who truly care about her help her. Get in the way and prevent her from getting true help, and watch this industry turn on you SO fast you'll feel like Kurt Lockwood just entered you from behind and didn't even leave flowers on your nightstand in the morning!! ---- New Sensations President Scott Taylor on Ben as their Newest Contract Director- “He is one of the top performers in the business and I am very excited to have him on board as a director." ---- As with anything else, you always have to consider the source. After all, are those who have no problem with him really going to feel compelled to write-in with positive stories about him for gossip sites? Being too successful in America is a sin, in certain circles. The quest is for profit, but if you find yourself in what is considered excess profit (or success) you will become a subject of ridicule and possibly regulation. It's kind of like playa' hating, only in the economic realm. Maybe that's all that is going on here with Derek. Or maybe he really is a tyranical asshole whose business practices are not just illegal (turning girls over to an escort agency? cheating the girls and the companies out of money?) but also socially irresponsible (many of the industry's sins stem from a basic lack of ability to treat the girls involved as human beings)? Earlier, I referred to LA Direct as the World Modeling of the new era, and I think it is an apt comparison. Ben is sort of the new Jim South, with the same off-putting curt manner (ever hear Jim talk about girls he used to represent? It's like listening to Simon on American Idol ) that causes many to label him, farily or unfairly, as an asshole. Thankfully, LA Direct is not as monolithic though, whereas in the video age it seems as if all of the girls went through Jim, including the biggest stars of the era (Ginger, Traci, Christy, etc.) There are other agencies girls can go to, yet so many of them keep going (back) to Derek. Edited by - -Kelly- on 1/27/2006 4:40:59 PM |
| -Kelly- Senior Member 2517 Posts 5/03 | "I don't get it. Why do I read so much negative crap about Derek of LA Direct? I think I have it boiled down to one word: Envy. Here's this guy. He starts an agency repping porn chicks. And it ain't an easy thing to start considering another agency is a 9.000 pound gorilla with a lock on the porn agency biz for just about forever. But Derek manages to get it going. And, apparently, he takes a look at this rival agency and says to himself, "What are their failings? What don't they provide to their customers? Where do they fall short?" So he decides his agency will not fall to the same failings and will provide its customers with real and actual "customer service" and will not fall short in the "falling short" areas he's identified. He also decides to run his agency like a business. A real business utilizing actual and proven business strategies and such. And what happens? His agency becomes a bona fide success and the other agency--the 9,000 pound gorilla-- suddenly becomes an anorexic chimp. And then a bunch of people who envy that success begin working overtime trying to knock him and his agency off its pedestal or to account for his success by citing a bunch of unsavory allegations about him. Okay. He runs a tight ship. Probably the tightest ship that's ever been run by any porn model agency in the whole sordid history of porn model agencies. He sets standards for his models. And he's tough when it comes to enforcing those standards. What's wrong with that? Pimps set standards for their ho's. But pimps use violence to enforce their standards. I've never ever heard of Derek using violence to keep his models in line. Not ever. Not once. Sure, he uses the power of his agency's dominant position to ensure his models adhere to his standards. And he uses the power of his own will. What's wrong with that? I tried doing the model management thing for a while. I still do so a bit. But I gotta tell you, in spite of the potential for monetary rewards, guys like Derek can have that business. I have never in my life had to deal with as much drama as when I was pimping out chicks to the jizz biz. And I've seen a fair amount of drama in my life. I found out I don't have the personality or the tolerance for it. Sure, I can get girls work. How hard is that? If you have a chick people want to shoot they don't care where she comes from--agency-wise--they just know they want to shoot her. Getting these chicks work ain't the hard part. Dealing with them on a daily basis, holding them accountable, and trying to get them to approach this business as a business is the tough part. And its the part I can't handle and, frankly, I don't care to. --- I thought that after everything I've said or quoted in this thread I owed it to Ben/Derek to post Jimmy D's take on it, even though for all intents and purposes this thread was dead. Edited by - -Kelly- on 1/28/2006 5:22:12 PM |
| myadultgroups Deactivated User Los Angeles 755 Posts 10/04 | |
| Eric381 Deactivated User What are you looking at? It 2452 Posts 3/05 | |
| -Kelly- Senior Member 2517 Posts 5/03 | That question is better suited for Taylor Rain than me. I primarily posted her take on the Lexi Marie situation as an example of an argument made against Derek, and subsequently posted Jimmy D's reaction as an example of an argument in support of Derek. Let's just hope that if Lexi's problem is as bad as it seems she gets the help she needs. Edited by - -Kelly- on 1/29/2006 11:27:33 AM |
| picman Senior Member Nothing says I love you so much as a tongue in the ass. 2884 Posts 1/03 | |
| -Kelly- Senior Member 2517 Posts 5/03 | That's definitely what I took from it. Can Derek get Lexi to quit drugs? No. But when he expresses in a press release the intention to "explore other opportunities that are out there" for Lexi, he definitely puts forth the public image that he's going to try and find her more work. He's an agent, and he's in spin control. However, let's hope that's all it is because I don't think that more work is really the most important thing for Lexi right now. Edited by - -Kelly- on 1/29/2006 11:31:59 AM |
| Eric381 Deactivated User What are you looking at? It 2452 Posts 3/05 | |
| -Kelly- Senior Member 2517 Posts 5/03 | |
| Eric381 Deactivated User What are you looking at? It 2452 Posts 3/05 | |
| Profeus Member 131 Posts 5/05 | |
| -Kelly- Senior Member 2517 Posts 5/03 | The course of action that he is actually pursuing is anyone's guess, and Taylor Rain has clearly put forth her guess (that Derek actually intends to shop Lexi to escort agencies he's a consultant with). On this point, I'm in agreement with picman though: if he does profit from continued work by Lexi it would be ultra seedy. I don't think a high-priced clinic is the answer either. Fuck, I don't know what the answer is. If Derek is instrumental in helping Lexi get clean I'll be the first to say so. The girl is still only 19-years-old. Let's hope she gets the help she needs. Edited by - -Kelly- on 1/29/2006 12:35:10 PM |
| myadultgroups Deactivated User Los Angeles 755 Posts 10/04 | |
| picman Senior Member Nothing says I love you so much as a tongue in the ass. 2884 Posts 1/03 | |
| dicknjane Member 171 Posts 1/06 | thanks for the thread. dicknjane have been porn consumers for many years who have been looking in/posting on this site for a few days. we do want to know everything and don't expect we can influence much from our position ... we will try; but, to be honest, mostly to satisfy our own perverted tastes. it is up to people in the industry to fix what's broke and if you think its broke, then i salute and support your efforts in taking on Ben/Derek if he is truly using women without regard for them personally. there are lots of people in this world going to jobs every day that they hate going to, but since they have no choices they keep on doing what they hate because they need to make a living. we like to think everybody in porn is different than the rest of us 9 to 5'ers... they love it, are having fun, and wouldn't ever want to do anything else if given the opportunity ... its all part of the fantasy. regarding alcohol, drug abuse and people getting fucked up. i never worked in porn, but had fellow workers who had drug and alcohol problems. i had one fellow worker i went to a meeting with in the afternoon who hung himself in the storage room later that day. i wondered why i did not know he was in trouble ... he had a wife and kids. you just don't forget that shit. i was angry with him for doing that to me and to his family. i had no control over his decision, but somehow i felt i should have recognized something or done something. i guess what i'm trying to say very poorly ... we fans do care, but the people in the business have to recognize and fix what's broken in the porn business. fans aren't going to help you ... in my case, i couldn't help a troubled fellow employee and maybe, Kelly, you can't help Lexi either. don't beat yourself up ... just do the best you can, but don't fuck yourself up while you're on this mission. best luck to you. Edited by - dicknjane on 1/29/2006 3:40:52 PM |
| Derek117 Senior Member 1605 Posts 1/06 | In my opinion, the Porn Industry needs to care enough about it's "internal family" to create a safe place for those performers, who have made the decision to address their booze or drug problems, to go and receive the help they need. It took years for the industry to address HI-V and other STDs--and support mandatory, frequent testing. They now need to step up and address the alcohol/drug abuse problems that (according to rumors and internet reporting) many performers have. If so, then Lexie Marie's current problems could lead to real, positive changes for the entire industry. |
| pornmonger2 Member 19 Posts 12/05 | LA Direct nor Derek Hay is registered with the State of California as a talent agency. Under CA law, a talent agent can only take a maximum of 10% commission from its client (the talent) of the booking fee. LA Direct is taking 15% from its talent and charging a $100 "agency fee" on top of that. That double dipping is quite unethical. On top of the commission issues, attaining improper ID for foreign talent without a valid social security card is noteworthy of a federal investigation. People say Derek is a great business man. A great business man must be scrupulous as well. I'm surprised a disgruntled girl or producer hasn't picked up the phone can called the State. Given the State's view on porn already, it would be painlessly easy for LA Direct to disappear. |
| Eric381 Deactivated User What are you looking at? It 2452 Posts 3/05 | Hey, I'd like to believe there are crooks out there no different than the next guy. But we could really do without posts like this unless you have solid physical evidence, not just empty charges against someone you may not care for. ~E
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| pornmonger2 Member 19 Posts 12/05 | |
| pornmonger2 Member 19 Posts 12/05 | That's triple dipping. |
| Jacco All-Star Member "liable to deprave and corrupt" 2673 Posts 5/04 | "If you work in the industry please be honest about who you are and who you work for." Jacco |
| Eric381 Deactivated User What are you looking at? It 2452 Posts 3/05 | ~E
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| Bob All-Star Member 5516 Posts 3/03 | I'm a huge Hannah fan, and I hated the scene. It had a truly abusive feel to it, and she seemed miles away. Yuck.
Edited by - Bob on 1/31/2006 12:31:54 AM |
| loverboy Member 64 Posts 7/05 | |
| CorinaTaylor Member 30 Posts 4/04 | |
| pornmonger2 Member 19 Posts 12/05 |
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| Eric381 Deactivated User What are you looking at? It 2452 Posts 3/05 | ~E
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| myadultgroups Deactivated User Los Angeles 755 Posts 10/04 |
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| Gentleman Jon All-Star Member 1881 Posts 6/05 | "LAY OFF DEREK "Too many people are bashing Derek Hay these days. So, here's my 3 cents." "I'm sure he is a worthless prick, I've seen him in this house on set and yes he's a little arrogant fucker who sticks his chest out like a tough guy around 105 pound chicks but hides behind doors or under desks when confronted by pitbulls or guys. Make fun of him, call him arrogant, call him gay, call his Astin a pathetic attempt at manhood. BUT, call him a good Talent Agent." "His girls show up to set 90% of the time. He always has the newest and freshest talent. He keeps people informed of new talent with professional email blasts and he goes as far as to keep you up to date on talent that's been in his stable for some time by sending out "reminders". He has a great staff of people like Richard, Kelly, Fran and Lisa that will bust their ass to get a director what he or she needs to make a shoot. If someone flakes on a set guess who 99% of the directors call for a last minute girl.... DIRECT. Bottom line, Derek and his agency are reliable!!!!!" "Derek steers the girls into directions that enhance their careers, mainstream gigs, dancing, cable shows, contracts. Or he steers them to the money if that's their route, escorting. BUT the key point there is he steers them, but ultimately the talent has the final say." "Basically Derek is a middle man for the talent and the studios. He may not be the brightest of them all, spend five minutes having a conversation with him and you'll realize he has less intelligence than Kurt Lockwoods asshole, but it's not his job to be smart, it's his job to deliver talent to sets and to deliver good paying jobs to the girls. So, regardless of his attitude or shitty personality, call it like it is. He's a good middleman and provides a service to this industry that makes it better for all involved." (I guess in this instance it would be funny if it were Taylor writing, given her own reputed level of intelligence. On the other hand, does Fayner really strike anyone as being especially bright? |
| Eric381 Deactivated User What are you looking at? It 2452 Posts 3/05 | (Lost a few brain cells myself in years past)...
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| -Kelly- Senior Member 2517 Posts 5/03 | Luke: "Are you with LA Direct now?" Dillan: "I'm not. I still speak with Derek. I haven't been shooting for the past four months. If I was going to go back in the industry, that is probably who I would go with. He's an asshole, but he's gotten me the fairest work. I like Derek. I hate him and I like him. I talked to him during the Super Bowl. I said hello to the girls at the house. I stayed there for six months. I'm good friends with Courtney Simpson... |
| morbidthoughts All-Star Member Big cats scare me but... 3627 Posts 1/03 | |
| Michael Saint Photographer Alexis Texas is always lovely 1062 Posts 2/01 | On the one occasion the model showed up extremely late and totally unprepared I called off the shoot and informed them of that. When I got my bill for that series of shoots the fee for that girl was not on it. When I booked a location that was going to be hard to find they informed me of that in advance and kept calling to make sure the women where on time or to inform me of where they were and how long they would be. So I have no issues with Derek the agent from a customer stand point. |
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