with the recent news of another scammer, i want to make a short thread of some red flags and things to look out when paying for astrology services. not every astrologer who does any of these things is a scammer or inexperienced, but these are things to be mindful of

because i see them primarily in more inexperienced astros and people who want to make a quick buck (especially if they have a big following and post pop/enthusiast astro content)

and for the record, i'm not saying don't buy from less experienced readers! that's how people learn and grow as astrologers. but transparency is important from readers, and clients have a right to know what they're getting. an open and honest dialogue about this is key

1. asking for a screenshot of a chart instead of birth info

professional astrologers will want the option to set their preferred house system and points in the chart if they're offering a full reading as well as checking transits and timing. a screenshot is a problem

for context, i do ask for screenshots when i'm doing free or tipped readings because i'm trying to produce more one off content quickly. but a full paid reading should require birth info

2. reading from a table instead of a circle chart

if you're charging for readings, you should be able to read from a circle chart. a table loses the nuances and relationships between planets and can't give a complete picture

3. house system

this is not a red flag but definitely something to check on before getting a reading. different house systems can provide different insights, but it's helpful to know what you're getting into with an astrologer

and if you're not familiar with the system used, feel free to ask questions! ask them about the principles for it and why they use it

common house systems among pro astrologers include: whole sign, equal house, placidus, campanus, regiomontanus, alcabitius, porphyry

these are absolutely not the only valid house systems! but if an astrologer is using a different one (especially one that doesn't put the AC as the 1H cusp or in the 1H), perhaps do some more research or ask questions

4. low prices

another one that's not a deal breaker but one to be mindful of. most pro astro readings are upwards of $100 and absolutely worth it. you're paying for years of study and experience in client work

when someone is charging much lower than that, they're likely in an earlier phase in their study and have less experience. which isn't bad! and this isn't to say dont book an astrologer with lower prices. again, this is how people get experience

but as a client, it's important to understand that more expensive services do usually reflect a more seasoned astrologer, and you get what you pay for, truly. i definitely recommend trying to save up for a consult with a pro. it's an amazing experience

if you want to support an up and coming astro, be willing to offer feedback! since most people starting out with low prices are studying and working on their craft, give open and honest feedback. imo this is the best way to be a client in general, but especially for new astros

5. written reports (for natal astrology)

another one that isn't a red flag necessarily. a lot of us start out with written reports because they're a little more removed and you can spend more time with research/editing

but most astrologers find at some point that doing reports becomes too taxing with all that needs to be shared and discussed and will begin doing recordings or consultations. it can be really intimidating to do a consult but it's really an incredible experience for both people!

written reports can be great practice (and are much more common for things like horary or even electional). but most astrologers will eventually move beyond this if they do natal. written reports are also great for giving feedback, because you can see everything

this is another case where if an astrologer is giving a lower priced written report, detailed feedback will likely be extremely helpful

unfortunately, you do see scammers doing written reports typically, because there's no set appointment time and they can delay indefinitely

6. lack of communication

back to more scammer behavior, but if someone isn't regularly communicative after you've paid them, especially if you reach out to check in, that can be a sign they're scamming

7. sketchiness around refunds

sometimes, astrologers just can't deliver what they promised or a client no longer had an interest in the service. if that's the case, they should be more than willing to offer a refund promptly, no excuses

if i struggle to deliver i will typically offer a refund proactively because i don't want to hold onto money if i'm not 100% sure i can deliver a good product. anyone who is weird about refunds should be a huge red flag

8. transparency

how long have they been studying? who are their teachers? what are they doing to improve their practice? what do their clients think about them? astrologers should already be open about all of these things, and if not they should be open to answering these Qs

if an astrologer dodges questions like this, that can be a sign of someone who might be scamming, or just isn't fully open about their practice. transparency is key

i want to add that this thread is not perfect, nor is it the final word on any of these things. there are always exception, and your judgment should always take precedence. use your discernment and trust your gut