by Jane Duvall

First, let me give you some basic info. AVS's started quite a while ago, supposedly as a way to ensure that people accessing the site were at least 18. When this was done by credit card only, that was more believable, since you have to be of legal age to have a credit card. Now many AVS's offer 900 number signups also. I personally feel that AVS's are a good way for a site with really good content, but not enough material to be a legitimate PAY site, to make enough money to run their site. It is expensive to run a big adult site. I know.. my monthly bills are around $1,400 now and I am a TINY site in the overall adult world. So.. usually AVS sites that get a "Q" rating on my list are sites that have better content than most free sites, and less advertising than the free sites.

A few other points to keep in mind:

• Lifetime memberships.. remember.. this should be called "lifetime of the AVS".. it's probably not going to be YOUR lifetime. None of us knows for certain what the future of the web is. Who knows if AVS's will still be around in 2 years, much less 20. I'm betting I outlive any AVS out there. ;-)
• Most AVS's do not have quality control for the content of sites they protect. You'll find a lot of crap, but hopefully a lot of gems as well. You have hundreds to thousands (depending on the AVS) of sites to browse, so in general in my opinion, they are usually worth the money.
• Sites that use an AVS make no guarantee that they will continue to do so. You may sign up on a particular site you really like, only to have them change to a different AVS, or disappear altogether, long before your year is up. You are paying for the general password, NOT for a particular site.
• When you sign up for an AVS, look for one that makes information accessible. Namely, an email contact, in case of billing problems/password problems. If they are legitimate, they should have no fear of accessibility.
• I'm starting to note those sites which have customer service problems. If you've had a problem with a particular service, mail me so I can let others know.
• I do not have personal experience with MOST of the services here. I've noted those that I do. Please don't take these listings as an endorsement of services. While most of them are probably fine, I simply don't have knowledge of them. Again, as above, if you have had a good or bad experience let me know.

Important Note: I do not sell ANY of the passwords here except Adult Check, which I use on another site I do. The reason for that is, I STRONGLY believe that AVS revenues should go to sites that actually use them, not to sites offering guides like this. (They are out there). Most webmasters who use AVS's rely on some income from these to pay their site costs. Because of that, I provide a link to the AVS directly (where you can access the participating site list), and in some cases, if I know of a good QUALITY site that uses a particular AVS, I've included their link. I do not receive any compensation for doing so.. I'm just trying to be helpful. Please, if you sign up for any of these, sign up under a site you think looks good, NOT under the AVS directly. They do not deserve all the revenue. If you are a webmaster of an exceptional site that uses any of the below AVS's, please mail me so I can consider offering your link here to sign up through.

Adult Check
The largest AVS in terms of the number of sites protected. This is the AVS I currently use for my other site, BDSMagazine. This AVS has good customer service - I've had timely responses to letters sent on behalf of several customers. They've always been wonderful. *update.. with one exception. I recently attempted to help someone who was having problems using the email help form. It took over a week to get resolution. Still, overall I think they are the most reputable..that's why I use them. UPDATE! As of March 1998, Adult Check as started offering a new service, Adult Check Gold. Read about it before you buy - you may or may not like what they are doing.
Perks: Search engine on the links page
Number of sites protected: 6,000+
Cost: $16.95/year   $24.95/2 yr   $64.95/lifetime
Forms of Payment: Instant activation by CC (secure server) or non-instant via check/money order through the mail
Appears on bill as: Cybernet Ventures, Inc.
Adult Check List of Sites
Signup (revenue from this goes to my site) 
If you're a webmaster and you want to use Adult Check on your site, click for Webmaster Signup
email: depends on problem. Click here for help page/email

Age Check
Similar in look to Adult Check, but don't be fooled. Different company.
Perks: Free video feed w/membership
Number of sites protected: 714
Cost: $12.95/year,   $18.95/2 years,   $49.95/lifetime
Forms of Payment: Instant activation by CC (secure server) or non-instant via mailorder
Name of company appearing on bill: Tri-Tech Entertainment
Age Check List of Sites
email contact: For questions/comments: agecheck@agecheck.com  For billing: edbilling@agecheck.com
number of complaints emailed to me: 3
number of endorsements emailed to me: 0

Universal Adult Pass
Perks: Members chatroom, 200 hardcore video clips, one live video feed (24 hr)
Number of sites protected: 500+ (they say they guarantee this)
Cost: $2.99/1 week trial or $9.95/month
Forms of Payment: Instant activation by CC (secure server) Visa, MC or Amex. Non-instant via check/MO by mail
Name of company appearing on bill: Universal Websites
Universal adult pass list of sites is not available. You have to be a member to access it.
email contact: Support@universaladultpass.com
number of complaints emailed to me: 1
number of endorsements emailed to me: 0

Adult Watch
We strongly recommend that you DO NOT sign up for Adult Watch. As I write this on 4/2/98, Adult Watch has sent notice to their participating sites which indicates that their business is in serious trouble. CLICK HERE to read the rest of the latest info - you should know this before you consider buying an ID.
Number of sites protected: I couldn't find a hard number, but over 1,000
Cost: $12.95/6 month,   $17.95/yr,   $25.95/2 yr,   $64.95/lifetime
Forms of Payment: Instant with CC (secure server) or non-instant via mailorder check. Fax option also.
Name of company appearing on bill: DSP Enterprises, Inc.
Adult Watch List of Sites
email contact: adultwatch@adultwatch.com

X-Tacy Online
Perks: 9 video feeds, chatroom
Number of sites protected: around 90 were listed when I visited. Some were link sites that don't have protected content, but sell memberships. This is a totally new service, so the number may grow. Good deal for webmasters, but not for websurfers in my opinion.
Forms of payment: Visa, MC, AmEx. Check or Money order via mail.
Name of company that appears on bill: Imagine Internet Enterprises
X-Tacy Online list of participating sites
Cost: $15.00/yr, $24.00/2 year, $55.00/lifetime
email contact: support@x-tacy-online.com

Adult Pass
Perks: None listed
Number of sites protected: 804
Cost: $12.95/annual,   $18.95/2 year
Forms of Payment: instant access via CC (secure server) or non-instant via mailorder check/money order
Appears on bill as: FM Network
Adult Pass List of Sites
email: info@adultpass.com

Age Pass
Perks: Video feed
Number of sites protected: over 2,000
Cost: monthly RECURRING $4.95,   $12.95 / 1 yr,   $49.95/lifetime
Forms of Payment: CC only, via secure server
Appears on bill as: Network Sciences Corporation
Age Pass List of Sites
email: support@agepass.com

Privat-Eyes
Perks: None
Number of sites protected: ? they didn't say, but only 40 were listed on the link list
Cost: $12.95/year
Forms of Payment: Major Credit Card. Insecure server
Appears on bill as: This was not listed.
Privat-Eyes List of Sites
email: Was not listed

SexKey
Perks: None listed
Number of sites protected: 40 links on their site list when I visited
Cost: 3 months/$9.95   6 months/$16.95   1 yr /$24.95
Forms of Payment: CC via secure server. Visa, MC, Diner's Club. Mail w/check or money order
Appears on bill as: Internet Key, Inc.
SexKey List of Sites
email: custsupport@sexkey.com

PornoPass
Perks: Free chat, image galleries for 2 yr plan only, free video.
Number of sites protected: 850
Cost: $15.95/year   $19.95/2 years
Forms of Payment: Major CC, secure server (instant)
Appears on bill as: Space Age Services, Inc.
PornoPass List of Sites
email: pornopass@pornopass.com
number of complaints emailed to me: 0
number of endorsements emailed to me: 1

Validate
Perks: Search engine, list of Validate Exclusive sites
Number of sites protected: 1512
Cost: $12.95/1 yr   $18.95/2 yr
Forms of Payment: Major CC, secure server
Appears on bill as: not stated clearly.
Validate list of Sites
email: go to the online email form

ClubLink
Perks: Highest member option includes video
Number of sites protected: over 1,000
Cost: $12.95/1 yr   $19.95/2 yr  $29.95/lifetime + video
Forms of Payment: Major CC (secure server) or 900 number
Appears on bill as: Club Link
ClubLink Site List
email: not listed
Number of complaints emailed to me: 2 serious ones

ManCheck
Perks: Only gay sites listed. Chat, search engine.
Number of sites protected: Over 400
Cost: $12.95/1 yr,   $18.95/2 yr,   $49.95/lifetime, $49.95 30 days free streaming video + 1 yr pass (requires Netscape)
Forms of Payment: Major CC (secure server) check/money order by mail. Fax option
Appears on bill as: IBC, Inc.
Mancheck Site List
email: sales@mancheck.com

Adult Sights
Perks: Chat
Negatives: Adult Sights generates a full page ad (I consider it spam) upon entering ANY of the sites it protects. However, I've seen some good sites protected by Adult Sights.
Number of sites protected: 2,500
Cost: $16.95/1 yr,   $24.95/ 2 yrs   $59.95/lifetime
Forms of Payment: Major CC, secure server
Appears on bill as: WCD Enterprises, Inc.
AdultSights List of Sites
email: support@adultsights.com
number of complaints emailed to me: 2
number of endorsements emailed to me: 1

AVS and AVS Gold
Perks: Gold members get downloadable shareware, chat, personals and other contests and stuff
Number of sites protected: 506
Cost: AVS $19.95/1 yr, AVS Gold $29.95/1 yr
Forms of Payment: Major CC, secure server
Appears on bill as: Landslide, Inc.
AVS & AVS Gold Site List
email: avs@landslide.com
Recommended "Q" rated site to sign up through: Wetlands

Adult Rated
Perks: 43 channels video feed, 12 minutes live sex feed
Number of sites protected: around 200 on the link list when I looked
Cost: $10.95/year,   $15.95/lifetime
Forms of Payment: Major CC, or check/money order through mail
Appears on bill as: was not specified
Adult Rated List of Sites
email: adultrated@adultrated.com

Adult Key
Perks: Search engine
Number of sites protected: 500
Cost: $10/yr,   $16/2 yr,   $50/unlimited
Forms of Payment: Major CC, Insecure server
Appears on bill as: Network Authentication Systems OR AdultKey
Adult Key List of Sites
email: keymaster@adultkey.com

I-Shield
Perks: chat, streaming video
Number of sites protected: 1,000
Cost: $12.95/yr,   $18.95/2 yr,  $49.95/lifetime
Forms of Payment: Major CC by secure server, 900 nbr
Appears on bill as: Internet Business Solutions, Inc.
I-Shield List of Sites
email: click here for the help page that lists the different contacts

XPass
Perks: chat, 4 streaming video channels, search engine
Number of sites protected: 500
Cost: $13.95/ yr   $19.95/2 yr   $23.95/lifetime
Forms of Payment: Major CC by secure server, 900 nbr
Appears on bill as: Champion, Inc.
Xpass List of Sites
email: go to the help page for an email form

Adult Access
Perks: Depends on membership plan
Number of sites protected: 1,200
Cost: $12.95 standard pass, $5.95 for 1 month pass + video feed, $7.95 for 1 month + 124 channels of video feed
Forms of Payment: Major CC by secure server, 900 nbr
Appears on bill as: NPP SecureNet
Adult Access List of Sites
email: adults@pacificnet.net

If you know of an AVS I haven't included, drop me a note. Also, if you are a webmaster and you've had a bad experience with a particular AVS, let me know. I'd like to include information like that in the future. I truly hope some of this information helps. - Jane