Follow this link to learn how to get verified provider status:
http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?t=4725
I haven't read your Welcome Wagon thread yet, but it sounds like assholes who may have some agenda entirely unrelated to you are doing what assholes do best. Assholes are too numerous to correct one at a time, so just ignore them and they will go away. Your control panel has the capability to automatically ignore shitbirds who have proved themselves unworthy of any further attention; it is incredibly useful.
Hang tough.