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msnumbers
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p.2 #1 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

Thanks for all the great advice. I attempted to reach them by phone, but received a message that they are not accepting incoming calls. WTF? I'll proceed by sending a letter and an email and let you all know what happens.

Jul 22, 2008 at 06:57 PM

leewoolery
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p.2 #2 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

msnumbers wrote:
Thanks for all the great advice. I attempted to reach them by phone, but received a message that they are not accepting incoming calls. WTF? I'll proceed by sending a letter and an email and let you all know what happens.

msnumbers

...chances are, you're not the only one left with a bad check or are owed money.

You can always take the check to their bank for collection. I've had to do that on a few occasions.

Make sure your registered letter states that you will not photograph the wedding unless you are paid...in full...cash money...upfront!

All the best,

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Action Photography

Jul 22, 2008 at 08:27 PM

Taylor Barrett
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p.2 #3 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

Letters are slow and unless you send it signature required (which they might not sign for) or delivery confirmation (which can't prove that they got it, just that it was dropped at their house), its no good.

If their phones are cut off and a $300 check bounced, I'd just count your blessings that this didn't happen with the full check after the wedding.

My guess is that things are going bad fast and a wedding may not even be happening. Getting your phone cut off is up there with the electricity... takes a few months before they do it.

Jul 22, 2008 at 09:17 PM

j.curtis
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p.2 #4 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

RELAX!

There are many phone services now, especially the VOIP phones come with a feature where you can turn the phone off. This doesn't mean they're "running" from everyone.

I really hope you guys don't run your business's they way you act like you do.

I'm not saying don't cover your butt, just don't act like a butt (like some of these people are) and jump to conclusions.

Edited on Jul 23, 2008 at 01:43 AM

Jul 23, 2008 at 01:42 AM

leewoolery
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p.2 #5 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

j.curtis wrote:
RELAX!

There are many phone services now, especially the VOIP phones come with a feature where you can turn the phone off. This doesn't mean they're "running" from everyone.

I really hope you guys don't run your business's they way you act like you do.

I'm not saying don't cover your butt, just don't act like a butt (like some of these people are) and jump to conclusions.

Writing bad checks is a crime...especially one for $300.00...9 times out of 10...the guilty party knows they didn't have enough money in their account and wrote it anyways.

Is the original poster supposed to be understanding when the offender is not responding to phone calls after sticking him for $300.00 and tying up a Saturday....especially when the wedding is less than 10 days away?

The excuses I get are amazing...not only from those writing bad checks but those who are behind on payments for photographic services.

I don't want to hear their stories...just pay the amount of the original transaction plus the penalties from the bank or bring their account up to date. Not responding to phone calls certainly gives the impression that someone is hiding from their financial and legal responsibilities.

I don't know if you own a business but many of my small business friends have had it with customers writing bad checks and eliminated personal or business checks as a means of payment. It's either credit card or cash.

Much success,

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Action Photography

Edited on Jul 23, 2008 at 02:15 AM

Jul 23, 2008 at 02:09 AM

nathanlake
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p.2 #6 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

karpfish24 wrote:
+2 to taking cash only. If the client bounced a $300 check, the chance that they will be have the funds to cover several times that come the big day is very slim.

In today's world, you are not much of a business if you accept cash only.

Jul 23, 2008 at 09:49 PM

K-Lex
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p.2 #7 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

nathanlake wrote:
karpfish24 wrote:
+2 to taking cash only. If the client bounced a $300 check, the chance that they will be have the funds to cover several times that come the big day is very slim.

In today's world, you are not much of a business if you accept cash only.

Quite. However, you're also not much of a business if cheques bounce and you don't earn money whilst getting stuffed for bank charges. I think accepting all forms of payment is satisfactory - but if any problems arise then you are within your rights to request cash.

Jul 23, 2008 at 10:28 PM

jamesf99
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p.2 #8 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

EA6B wrote:
Contact them and adjust your response based on their actions. Crap happens, perhaps a check made out to them bounced starting a chain reaction. It happens. Don't arbitrarily be an arse.

E

Agreed. Find out what happened.

In the 90's I deposited a check for $7k to an account with $4k already in it, the total should have been $11k. Chase, a US bank full of idiots, morons, and wooden posts decided that I shouldn't be given the value of the check (a credit), they should subtract it (debit) instead, and the result was that I was immediately $3k over drawn as soon as I deposited the check.

Silly me. I started writing checks against what I thought was in the bank, only to find in another week or so that I was bouncing checks left and right. They even let me withdraw $20 at the ATM and then charged me a $22 fee because I was overdrawn, meaning that $20 cost me $42. Embarrassing doesn't begin to describe the feeling of having to say "the bank made an error" when the crap began to hit the fan.

Needless to say, the damage they did took months to fix. The bank manager had to write letters to many companies, reimburse bounced check fees, pay late payment and interest fees, etc. My outrage was not a satisfactory compensation. Have I ever forgiven them? Yes, and no. I will never forget, and will only use the credit card, but will never have a bank account with them again.

It can happen, but unless they have a legitimate excuse (i.e., the bank really did pooch them) I'd ask for payment in full before the event. No less than 50% in any circumstance, and I'd probably skip the job altogether. Trying to collect money from someone is horrible. I've been there, and it's not worth it....

Edited on Jul 24, 2008 at 01:20 PM

Jul 24, 2008 at 01:19 PM

mdude85
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p.2 #9 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

leewoolery wrote:

Make sure your registered letter states that you will not photograph the wedding unless you are paid...in full...cash money...upfront!

All the best,

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Action Photography

You suggest having the client withdraw thousands of dollars in cash in order to pay you

?

Jul 24, 2008 at 03:14 PM

mdude85
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p.2 #10 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

jamesf99 wrote:

Agreed. Find out what happened.

In the 90's I deposited a check for $7k to an account with $4k already in it, the total should have been $11k. Chase, a US bank full of idiots, morons, and wooden posts decided that I shouldn't be given the value of the check (a credit), they should subtract it (debit) instead, and the result was that I was immediately $3k over drawn as soon as I deposited the check. ...

I believe requesting a simple receipt of deposit noting your account balance right after your deposit would have helped solve this problem fairly quickly. In any case, yours seems like a very strange story -- the exception rather than the rule.

Edited on Jul 24, 2008 at 03:17 PM

Jul 24, 2008 at 03:17 PM

mdude85
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p.2 #11 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

leewoolery wrote:
Writing bad checks is a crime...especially one for $300.00...9 times out of 10...the guilty party knows they didn't have enough money in their account and wrote it anyways.

Is the original poster supposed to be understanding when the offender is not responding to phone calls after sticking him for $300.00 and tying up a Saturday....especially when the wedding is less than 10 days away?

The excuses I get are amazing...not only from those writing bad checks but those who are behind on payments for photographic services.

I don't want to hear their stories...just pay the amount of the original transaction plus the penalties from the bank or bring their account up to date. Not responding to phone calls certainly gives the impression that someone is hiding from their financial and legal responsibilities.

+100

Sure, feel free to invoke empathy in that bounced check was a simple mistake and that the clients will reimburse you fully not only financially but in their apologies and exacted rationales .... however common sense and our own personal history with these matters gives us the sneaking (and often correct) suspicion that a bounced check indicates the most egregious form of financial irresponsibility the vast majority of the time.

YES, a certain amount of understanding is necessary to ensure a successful business relationship with these clients. But assuming the clients are merely involved in a snowball effect of bad checks, are victim of a strange bank error, or any number of implausible excuses discussed herein, is doing a real disservice to the intended operation of your business and to your professional code of ethics.

I believe Roosevelt said it best, "Speak softly but carry a big stick."

Edited on Jul 24, 2008 at 03:26 PM

Jul 24, 2008 at 03:23 PM

leewoolery
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p.2 #12 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

mdude85 wrote:
leewoolery wrote:

You suggest having the client withdraw thousands of dollars in cash in order to pay you

?

...just this client...not all clients. Haven't you ever seen a notice in a business or bank not to accept checks from............?

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Photo

Jul 24, 2008 at 05:24 PM

mdude85
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p.2 #13 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

leewoolery wrote:
mdude85 wrote:
leewoolery wrote:

You suggest having the client withdraw thousands of dollars in cash in order to pay you

?

...just this client...not all clients. Haven't you ever seen a notice in a business or bank not to accept checks from............?

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Photo

Even THAT might be a little harsh punishment for a bounced check.... I can't imagine client being happy to be toting $2500 cash around in big brown envelope ....

Jul 24, 2008 at 09:09 PM

Paul Prior
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p.2 #14 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

I can't image photographer happy to shoot whole event and then find the next check bounced....

Consequences for actions - bounced check = cash only in the future unless there is enough time for future check to clear. Cashier's check also an option.

Jul 24, 2008 at 09:35 PM

leewoolery
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p.2 #15 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

Even THAT might be a little harsh punishment for a bounced check.... I can't imagine client being happy to be toting $2500 cash around in big brown envelope ....

Do you own or operate a photography business or what?

Have you ever tried to chase down clients who write bad checks or order photos and never pay? It's one part of owning a business that's a real pain and collection agencies want 30%...if they are successful.

If a client bounces a check for $300.00 for a deposit and doesn't return phone calls with the wedding a week away, what makes you think they'll make good on a final payment?

A certified or cashiers's check would be acceptable but I would deposit it immediately before going any further with this client.

I have regular clients who write checks, pay with credit cards and even use cash to pay for photographic services in amounts varying from a few dollars to thousands...with no problems!

If someone has a pattern of writing bad checks, credit cards are declined or don't keep their studio bills current, I treat them much different than the majority of decent, honest law-abiding citzens.

I realize economic times are tough but, in order to keep a business profitable, you have to draw the line with some customers.

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Photo

Edited on Jul 24, 2008 at 09:46 PM

Jul 24, 2008 at 09:42 PM

Mike1
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p.2 #16 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

You can always call the bank to see if there are funds available before you accept their check too, or just take a certified check or money order.

Jul 24, 2008 at 09:59 PM

ICQ

mdude85
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p.2 #17 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

leewoolery wrote:

If a client bounces a check for $300.00 for a deposit and doesn't return phone calls with the wedding a week away, what makes you think they'll make good on a final payment?

I realize economic times are tough but, in order to keep a business profitable, you have to draw the line with some customers.

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Photo

I agree completely Lee, I thought we were on the same page here. I have been fortunate to have no bounced checks in photography business, though once I received a bounced check as a birthday gift.

Jul 25, 2008 at 08:56 PM

mdude85
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p.2 #18 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

Mike1 wrote:
You can always call the bank to see if there are funds available before you accept their check too, or just take a certified check or money order.

That seems like it would be violation of some law regarding the privacy of the amount of money in your account ...

Jul 25, 2008 at 08:57 PM

EA6B
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p.2 #19 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

Not at all. You can call the bank and ask if the funds for in xxx amount are available. They won't give you their balance. They will say, The check is good at this time.

E

Jul 25, 2008 at 11:27 PM

leewoolery
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p.2 #20 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

EA6B wrote:
Not at all. You can call the bank and ask if the funds for in xxx amount are available. They won't give you their balance. They will say, The check is good at this time.

E

Why call...take it to their bank...if local, in town...and cash it.

Lee Woolery
Speedshot

Jul 26, 2008 at 01:56 AM

mdude85
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p.2 #21 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

EA6B wrote:
Not at all. You can call the bank and ask if the funds for in xxx amount are available. They won't give you their balance. They will say, The check is good at this time.

E

Thanks E, good to know!

Jul 27, 2008 at 10:49 PM

hassy501
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p.2 #22 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

Yes you can keep on checking at the bank and they will tell you if the funds are there...or..
Simply contact the client and advise them that the check bounced and that you need cash as the deposit plus the bank fee.

$300.00 is a small retainer fee.......but it all depends on your prices.

Edited on Jul 28, 2008 at 12:20 AM

Jul 28, 2008 at 12:20 AM

hassy501
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p.2 #23 · Client Check Bounced, now what??

mdude85 wrote:
leewoolery wrote:

If a client bounces a check for $300.00 for a deposit and doesn't return phone calls with the wedding a week away, what makes you think they'll make good on a final payment?

I realize economic times are tough but, in order to keep a business profitable, you have to draw the line with some customers.

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Photo

I agree completely Lee, I thought we were on the same page here. I have been fortunate to have no bounced checks in photography business, though once I received a bounced check as a birthday gift.

hahaha.....that's funny........from a good friend ?

Jul 28, 2008 at 12:21 AM


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