I have only ever worked for two agencies before deciding to go completely independent and here was my experience with both:
First agency i worked for this really bizarre woman Let's call her Sue. She would always push the fact i was 'independent' despite her taking 40%. She was literally never ever around. My first day i arrived at the apartment and sat for 6 hours with this girl who was working there that day untill she showed up to help me set up a profile (as i had never done it before and didnt know what to do, she knew i was coming she told me to come at that time). She was always very unreliable, addicted to cocaine, irrational and a massive compulsive liar. The girls that worked there were mainly problematic. There was this one girl who was super problematic and i complained to Sue about her and obviously, because i was very busy she didnt want me to leave, so she gave me this massive speech about how we've become such good friends etc etc and obvsiouly she is going to get rid of her. Cut to two weeks, she didn't know i was coming and when i got to the flat there guess who was there working with Sue (who constantly said she was an ex escort and doesn't do it anymore but all the only girls said she still did it just from her home address)... She also told me she was studying a degree in psychology, however when i questioned her (i had studied psychology for 4 years) on things such as what she wanted to do with her degree or what her degree entails she was very vague and didnt seem to know alot (ANYTHING) about psychology. Whenever i needed her assistance she would always tell me she was 'at the library'.... She would have to meet me sometimes to let me in, and then other girls would arrive on a 'don't tell Sue im here so i don't have to leave any money'. I would leave money and the other girls would often tell me not to put my 40% in (probably so they could tell Sue on me, i was very busy i guess cause i was new and i would have 5 clients for every 1 they had). This was a well established 'whore house' in the sense that she had the apartment for a long time. I can remember one time i was staying overnight because there was a new girl who was just NINETEEN and had come to London from Northern England and i didn't want her to stay on her own (as i knew the area had some dodgy clients) and a client shows up coked up, drunk at 4am demanding to see 'the black girl" (there were only black girls working in this flat, i was the only white girl) and the 19 year old ended up seeing him and after his time he refused to leave for ages. Stuff like this happened all the time. The police would often show up unannounced (we never answered the door, but we assume ex girls or salty clients reported. Anyway i hear that flat got raided by the police shortly after i left and blocked Sue on everything and changed my number.
The next and only agency was okay. It was run by a guy, let's call him Paul. Paul was actually a well alright guy, proper laugh, proper protective of us, had several apartments around kitted out with CCTV so always self safe working, would always surprise us with takeaways, More like a brother figure. Never pushed us to do anything; let us set our own rates and services, happy to talk about the ins and outs of his business and how he got there and what experiences he has, also about family life. Really nice guy. Really looks out for you and treated everyone with respect. Was never inappropriate with any girls He provided towels (which we had to wash a dry ourselves at the end of every day) Lube, condoms in every size, shower gels, toothpaste EVERYTHING. If we wanted anything which would benefit our service he would get it, such as costumes or toys. A girl i worked with asked for a massage table and diffusers and stuff because she studied massage therapy and wanted to include it as a service, and yep he got her one. He let me live at the flat for one month while i was in-between homes. However, he took 50% of my earnings and although i had a really good time working for him, always hanging around with a few girls so was never on my own. But yeah, would be gutted when i would be on a £1200 day and have too had over £600.
Overall i'd say my experiences with agencies haven't been too bad, the first one being worse and the second one i felt quite lucky, however i will never work for someone else again. Being independent means i can see half as many clients before and still make the same money; or even better see the same amount of clients for twice as much money. Being independent is much easier than is sounds and soooo worth it. I no longer feel pressured to take any client. If i even get a whif of bad vibes from a client i wont see them. Sometimes, i just want like an hour break so i wont see any clients. No pressure, all on my terms and no one taking 50% (apart from maybe boohoo.com and other clothing sites i am addicted too)