ok, thanks. if thats the case are there ways of directly contacting writers with a subject to see whether they would be interested in completing a piece of work, or does this have to be done through an agent site (i know you cannot mention individual sites)? if it did have to done through an agent site would a writer be able/ willing to give the name of their agent site privately through email/ private message or would they be able/ willing to look at the topic first through private message/ email through this forum?

hi, thanks for the information, very helpful. it's pretty much what i thought. basically just trying to sound out some writers without actually asking the question directly (which was probably obvious).

i've seen the essay chat site but like all sites you have no idea who is ligitimate and who is not so thought i look here as well which seems to have slightly lessened my fears. i know that you are always going to be taking chance unless you know the writer, but it seems there are a few people who are popping up on a number of sites who i will now research further.

so once again, thanks.

also don't give these people (or any other of the dodgy companies for that matter) your telephone number. i did (very stupid i know) but they haven't stopped calling me and leaving messages for a few days.