I just read a pretty humorous article about a small town teen who racked up a BIG time bill while calling a “free” psychic hotline

The story is funny…….and the parents didnt’ end up having to pay, but the warning is real:  Avoid psychic services that offer free readings, or 100% complimentary psychic services, or however they advertise the word FREE! 

Why?  Because no professional psychic that pays for advertising is going to give you (or anyone else for that matter) a complimentary psychic reading without a catch…..simply because they LIKE you, right?

At the end of the day, the truth is, your common sense SHOULD be your best friend and constant companion when calling any sort of professional service provider at all…and that includes accountants and attorneys as well as new age professionals and those who practice more esoteric style services.

Another good tip? 

ONLY hire psychics and services that have money back guarantees and offer first class customer service protection…and advertise as such.  There are many reputable psychic networks and hotlines that we DO recommend….and it’s a shame that there are less than honest folks out there who tarnish the whole industry with silly stuff we see in the news..:-)

Check out the short “scam alert” below from a local state attorney general for other common online scams, or simply call one of our recommended psychics for a REAL reading without the B.S when you’re ready for something real!

Teens who call psychic hotlines to get a free reading sometimes get a nasty surprise when their parent’s phone bill comes.Mom: “What’s this $25.99 on the phone bill?!”Daughter: “The first five minutes were supposed to be free!”You can’t count on offers for “free” readings. The hotline might put you on hold, or waste a lot of time to make the phone call last a long time.

Maryland Attorney General – Teen Consumer – Scams

The good news? 

You have A LOT of options.

The bad news?  Most of those options AREN’T very good..:-)

The vast majority of psychic networks, websites and services are NOT all that impressive, and unfortunately, most folks have a pretty disasppointing (or hit or miss) experience when they use these services.

A good way to overcome that…..is to simply do a little bit of due dillegence and read some reviews of the psychics or services that you want to call.  And while of course many review sites have an affiliate relationship with the services they write about or recommend (as do we) you CAN get amazing insight into the sorts of readings you should expect when you call. 

For more…check out the the short article we wrote a while back on online psychic reviews, and the critical components for selecting psychics who DON’T suck as well..;-)

The BEST Way to Avoid Being Ripped Off, Disappointed or Let Down Is……Be very selective! We only recommend one or two networks, for example….and they must comply with a a pretty strict standard of both “hit” or success rate, as well as satisfied customers and clients who consistently come back. We’ve researched, read and analyzed so much of the feedback out there when it comes to what people want in a reading, and the truth is….we ALL want accuracy, honesty and real psychic gifts when we call. (and not a well intentioned, nice and friendly person with NO real psychic ability or skill)

Online Psychic Reviews – Warning! The #1 Reason Why Most Psychic Readings Are Bad!

And how to make sure the psychic reviews you read are REAL

We get lots of questions about psychic hotlines, and which ones are most legitimate, credible and trustworthy…which shouldn’t be a big surprise, right?

But interestingly, we also get lots of questions about the actual reviews of psychic websites that are commonly found online.  (including stuff we write here)

Can psychic reviews be trusted? 

The truth is very simple.  Many people who publish psychic reviews are compensated for referrals and recommendations.  (as we are….although we like to think that doesn’t affect our bias, it’s certainly something you SHOULD know)

As a result….and after years of being in this industry, I can tell right away when a review is bogus!

After all……if I’ve actually tested the psychic or service myself and thought they were terrible….and yet, I read a glowing review with fancy words and heaps of profuse praise, it’s pretty clear something is amiss..:-)  (especially when other people I know have called and had a similar experience to  mine)

So…..your best bet is to always read ALL online reviews with a grain of salt, and psychic readings are no different. 

I DO like to believe that I’m fair, honest and balanced when I offer a review, even if the network or intuitive is compensating me for business I send their way.

But, as stated above…you DO have the right to decide that for yourself, and when I see psychic reviews that make NO mention that they have an affiliate relationship with the service they are covering, I guess it makes me shake my head a bit.

Here is a short article we wrote for a major article on this below…….OR, check out Psychic Source HERE, one of the few networks we DO use and recommend, and one that we have a long relationship with as well!

Are all psychic reviews honest?Absolutely not. Many are written by folks who have never even had a reading themselves, and are simply much more interested in marketing, than mediums!Do psychic services actually “own” their own review sites?Not frequently, no. This would be against the law… and would really be a violation of all kinds of consumer protection regulations as well. That said, if you are reading the review ON the actual psychic website itself, that’s a different story, and those reviews are obviously being published by the psychic, or service themselves. (which is totally okay… as they are more like testimonials, which all professionals need, rather than objective reviews, which appear to be coming from an outside source)

How to Find Honest Psychic Reviews That Won’t Rip You Off

Is Psychic Source Legitimate? 

Are the Psychic Source readers carefully chosen, well rated and tested BEFORE they are hired…..or do they let anyone “answer the phone” and provide readings?  Do they offer test or trial readings, and if so….what do they cost?  In this short blog post, we’re going to take a closer look at one of the largest and most popular psychic networks online, and see why they often are the #1 recommendation WE make when suggesting a psychic for our readers and subscribers as well. 

First – Understand THIS, because it’s important to know:

We are an affilite partner for Psychic Source, which means we are compensated when we refer one of our readers to their service.  That doesn’t mean our recommendation should carry less weight (in our opinion, anyway) but you DO deserve to know that whenever you read a professional recommendation.  (there are tons and tons of psychic networks to recommed of course, and the ONLY reason we prefer Psychic Source is that they continue to offer exemplary service and outstanding readings to everyone we refer)

As a matter of fact…while I don’t hear back from everyone who gets a reading, in 3 years, we’ve NEVER gotten one single piece of negative feedback from somone who has called Psychic Source, on our recommendation.  (and that’s probably pushing close to 8 or 900 readings, which is very statistically significant)

Other factors why we LOVE this particular network over others?

• They have a wide variety of readers available at all times.  (about 125 at last count)
• They have a KILLER money back guarantee.
• They have great rates.  (including a great rate for trial readings that’s hard to beat)
• Their customer service is second to none.  (I’ve personally spoken to their manager by phone on several occasions, and by email more times than I can count….and EVERY time I’ve had a question or issue raised by one of my readers)

Want to get a test reading yourself?  Check them out HERE.  (or read a review we wrote a while back for a popular article directory that still holds true today at the link following the short excerpt below!)

Great question! Psychic source has over 125 readers, right now….as of this writing. Many have overlapping specialities, while others cater to their very own unique “niche”. You are more than welcome to try one that you really like….or sample a whole bunch of different styles in determining which path is right for you.Okay, okay….but these folks don’t have any real skills, right? Anyone can be an internet psychic, right?Absolutely NOT. Maybe with some companies, but psychic source proudly only accepts 5% or less of those who apply, preferring to maintain complete integrity with their readers…rather than becoming a “psychic supermarket” for mediocrity. This means that you are guaranteed to get a real reading with the “cream of the crop” when you select any of their intuitives.

Psychic Source Review – Do the Psychic Source Readers Live Up to the Hype? (Find Out Here)

I hate to be the one who rains on ANYBODY’S parade…….

But if you think a free psychic reading is going to be the answer -  THINK AGAIN!

The truth is, and I say this as someone who has many years of reading, writing and psychical research behind me….there are FEW legitimate “free” psychic offers of any value.  As a matter of fact, i’ll go out on a limb and tell you that ANY professional who advertises their services for free, should be a red flag that there is some sort of shoe to drop thereafter.

(usually in the form of hidden charges, inflated prices to compensate for the free offer, or most commonly….some sort of bait and switch high pressure style offer at some point in the transaction)

As a matter of fact, unless the free part of the reading is advertised as trial or test before a more in-depth PAID reading begins, I almost don’t even pay attention to these style offers at all anymore.  (simply because I know from first hand experience that they aren’t going to be right for me)

When a free psychic offer CAN be helpful?

As mentioned above, when it is used as a short test or precursor to a longer, paid reading.  For example, some services will offer you 5 or 6 free minutes to get comfortable with a particular psychic before you have to pay….and this CAN be very helpful, and help you clarify whether you have a connection with a given reader, or not.  That said, there is not a ton of life changing information that is going to come out of a 5 minute reading or conversation with ANY professional in any field, so you have to temper your expectations.  (e.g. – you aren’t going to get EVERYTHING you need in 5 minutes)

Your BEST bet if you are looking for an inexpensive psychic reading and can’t afford to pay much?

There are several reputable, well respected and HONEST psychic services that offer low cost, very affordable first time readings for callers and clients who are on a limited budget.  These readings can be as low as $10…….and are backed by first rate customer service policies that protect YOU from being scammed.  (including, at least in the psychic services WE recommend, 100% money back guarantees if you aren’t satisfied)

If you have NO money at all and need psychic advice?

Honestly…I’d rather see you wait until you have a few bucks put away, rather than trying your luck with a free psychic that could turn into a bad experience and leave you full of regret.  I consider myself a pretty savvy customer…and yet, I’ve had a few bad experiences where I’ve been taken advantage of, and several in the psychic domain as well.  (always when I’ve been most needy, and had the least resources available….and allowed myself to be suckered into believing something that SOUNDED too good to be true really was..:-)

It rarely is…and free psychics, as enticing as they sound, fall into that category!  (as would a free accountant, a free lawyer, a free car mechanic, a free landscaper or any other offer that would make you wonder WHAT’S the catch?)

I remember once wandering into a “free” psychic booth on vacation many years ago after a bad breakup and 2 days later, after 3 or 4 return visits…….”woke up” to the reality that I had spent several hundred dollars on psychic advice that wasn’t all that good.  But, because I was needy, and looking for free help, I allowed myself to vulnerable to someone who took advantage of my situation, and my obvious emotional upheaval.  Don’t make the same mistake…..and avoiding free psychic offers, as a general rule, is a good way of making sure you don’t!

The truth is, while the show is very entertaining and I do think Theresa is a very talented medium, it’s always difficult to form an opinion on ANYTHING from reality TV..:-)  (and that applies to not only the psychic realm, but in just about any and all of the programming that’s out there today with a reality bent)

For more…..read the short article we wrote earlier today   Agree?  Disagree?  Share your thoughts with us below!

According to his remarks, the TV executives didn’t think that made for the type of TV most people want to see these days, and are equally as interested in the back story, as they are in the actual psychic readings. (which seems to be the case with most reality TV programming these days… at least the popular shows we all know)So what does that mean overall?I say, keep an open mind, but always know that what you are watching is edited. Not necessarily in a bad way…..but any sort of editing, if you are a psychic “snob” like me, changes something about how seriously I can take the information that comes through. But for entertainment purposes…the Long Island Medium is A LOT of fun, and having seen Theresa Caputo do all sorts of other interviews as well, I think she deserves the success, too!

Is the Long Island Medium SCRIPTED? Caution! What You Must Know About Psychics on TV

Is John Edward really psychic?  How much does he charge for a reading?  And what evidence is there that he’s REALLY doing what he says he does…rather than cold reading, guessing or just plain old fashioned good luck?

In my many years of psychic research, I can honestly say I’ve come across my fair share of genuine psychics, mediums and clairvoyants, as well as plenty of fakes, frauds and fugazi’s who simply pretend to be authentic in front of a gullible and wishful thinking audience.

In MY view> John Edward is the real deal...and I’ve seen him personally, up close and without the filtering of TV, enough times to be sure he’s NOT making it up.

The truth is, no matter how much the skeptics, debunkers and cynics want to admit it, any psychic medium who performs on TV, or in front of a live studio audience is NOT going to “cheat” very easily. 

People are NOT as stupid or as gullbile as the sketpics like to accuse them of, and when real information comes through that CANNOT be explained away as a good guess, or good luck or cold reading….it should be counted in favor of the medium.  (just like when BAD readings are certainly held against the psychics and mediums who serve them up, much the way they should be)

Here is a little more information on John Edward, from his recent appearance on the Dr. Oz show…and a good example of how a fair minded skeptic CAN have his mind changed if he’s willing to look at the evidence with an open mind!

John Edward has been a Psychic Medium for 25 years. Could talking to the dead be the best medicine for grief? Edward Dr Oz John Edward Psychic Mediumsaid that grief is an energetic form of cancer, and it will grow into other aspects of a person’s life. A session with a Psychic Medium can be very therapeutic. When they come in for the session, they are closed and powered down, but during the course of the reading, the lights come back o n in their eyes and they are amazed how healing it can be. They often leave inspired and feel more hopeful about the life they will live. John Edward said he lost his mother at the age of 19, and he asked her for three signs. He got all three signs over a span of nine and half years. In order to really heal though, you have to start the process while the person is still here.

Dr Oz: John Edward Psychic Medium: Can You Talk To The Dead?

How can I find a psychic I can really trust?  Are all psychics equally as honest….or do I need to have my GUARD up to get a reading I can believe in?  The truth is, if you are curious but NOT convinced, finding an authentic psychic to give you first hand evidence that you can really  trust is easier said than done.

Reading reviews helps.  As does trusting your own intuition, and going with your gut.  But whether you want to admit or not, there are plenty of psychic scams, shams and con artists out there as well….and learning to discern between fact and fiction is an IMPORTANT part of the spiritual journey as well.

Here is a short article on learning to discern fact from fiction when seeking out psychic advice, and making intelligent intuitive decisions along the way as well.   Curious?  Check out the full article the link following the short excerpt below.

The truth? While LOTS of psychics can be trusted…..the percentage that are good enough to PAY for their advice is much smaller than you’d probably like like to believe.I’m going to be honest with you. I’m a BORN Skeptic. It takes a SPECIAL sort of psychic to impress me…..and I don’t “fool” easy. As a professional publisher, adventurer and spiritual SEEKER of all things out of the ordinary…..I have truly only come across a very small percentage of professional psychics who have “WOWED” me….& have been worth the wait. The fact is……I’ve become a bit of a psychic “junkie” over the last few years..:-) The BEST readings? Impossible for forget! But the vast majority of them? Forgettable AND regretable alike. (especially the 100% free “bait and switch” psychic SCAMS that have one hand in your back pocket before the reading even begins!

Psychic Reviews: How to Find an Accurate Psychic Online

Is Theresa Caputo genuine?  Is the Long Island Medium TV Show a good representation of what being a psychic medium is really like…..or is simply designed to be all about entertainment, rather than spiritual enlightenment? 

The truth is, many of us watch a show like this one with mixed feelings:  On one hand, it raises awareness about psychic mediumship, and allows more people to make up their own minds about whether they believe life after death is true.  (or even possible) 

On the other hand……these sorts of shows almost always make for easy targets as well, as many people think that a fancy, well dressed medium who worries as much about her make up as mediumship makes the whole topic look silly.

My feelings?  I shared them below in a short article we contributed to a popular article directory.  Suffice it to say – I’m open minded about the show, and her genuine abilities, but not yet 100% convinced

When I first started watching the show…I was a bit skeptical, to say the least. While I’m definitely a true blue believer in the authenticity of MANY psychic mediums, (through personal experience and rigorous research) I’m also very well aware that many, especially on TV, are often much more about entertainment, than genuine ethereal enlightenment.At first, many of Theresa’s messages were a bit vague for my tastes and with so much “1 to 1″ contact, cold reading…..or picking up non verbal cues from clients, is a HUGE risk as well.(Note: This is BIG reason most people who study psychic mediums prefer to test them on the phone….with no direct visual contact with the people they’re reading. This is often called “blind” readings for that reason)

Is The “Long Island Medium” Real? The Truth About Celebrity Psychics

Is the California Psychic Hotline real?  Are they’re psychics genuine, accurate and recommended…..or are they worth avoiding instead?  It amazes me when I read negative reviews of california psychics, simply because they’re guarantee is probably the most impressive in the psychic reading industry.  They promise that if you’re psychic reading is NOT the best you’ve ever had….they will refund your money, 100% guaranteed.  (and I’ve never heard of anyone having a bad experience trying to get a refund if they’ve been unhappy with their reading)

Yet, they remain a target of the people who try to disparage online psychic readings nonetheless. 

And I really don’t understand why. 

If your reading is NOT as good as they promise…or, even better….if it’s NOT the best psychic reading of your life, they’ll give you your money back, PERIOD.  That’s a pretty powerful promise, and with a network that is really, really well known and quite well estabished, it’s certainly a call worth making.

You can test a california psychic reading HERE, or if you want to read a more lukewarm review, check out the short article below.  (they don’t really say anything of importance either way, but simply seem to suggest that some folks don’t like the network, without really backing it up with any evidence to support it)

In Defense of California PsychicsSeveral customers give excellent reviews about California Psychics in forums and online message boards. I’ve personally had a decent experience with the company, at least nothing to complain about. California Psychics has a screening process for all their psychics and requires previous experience.Something is FishyEvery single review on californiapsychics.com for their psychics is “amazing”…

This begs the question, does California Psychics modify user feedback? The likely answer is yes based on consumer complaint forums. There are also accusations that the company offers incentives to their psychics to keep callers on the phone, regardless of whether or not the psychic is done with the reading… more money. Customer Service has also received a bad reputation with accusations of unauthorized credit card charges.

Psychic Hotline Reviews – California Psychics