We recently received a $300.00 check as a deposit from a wedding client who booked her date for 8/2/08. We deposited her check and it bounced.

As business owners, what is the best way to handle this? What do I say when I call her? We were charged a $19 fee, should I bill her for that? Should we proceed with the wedding? Should I request a larger cash deposit up front

What a bummer. I'll take any and all advice you have.

Many businesses post a note that bounced checks are subject to a substantial fee -- usually about $35. Phone the check-writer, or contract-signer, and ask what they want to do about it. Accept cash only for the deposit and also balance of the contracted price from this potential client. Bill them for your costs, plus your handling and two trips to the bank, in addition to the deposit fee.

Be glad that it's a deposit check, not the FINAL payment, I've heard a few horror stories as far as what you have to do to get your funds... Best thing to do is to accept credit/debit cards or call the bank to be sure that there are sufficient funds to cover the amount before the potential clients leave.

WRONG. Don't accept debit/credit payments. If a client is in enough financial trouble to bounce a check on you, there's a reasonable chance they'll try to put a stop-payment on your fee for the wedding, claiming X,Y, and Z. Not worth the headache. Once a check bounces or they've lost your trust, cash, and cash alone, is king.

Jonathan H wrote:
WRONG. Don't accept debit/credit payments. If a client is in enough financial trouble to bounce a check on you, there's a reasonable chance they'll try to put a stop-payment on your fee for the wedding, claiming X,Y, and Z. Not worth the headache. Once a check bounces or they've lost your trust, cash, and cash alone, is king.

+1 to that too.

+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.

Shit happens. They're juggling a lot right now and screwed up, it happens to the best of us. That being said, business is business. You should take a very understanding approach to this, be as embarrassed as they are going to be about it. But still stand your ground, cash is king, charge them your fees and then some, don't deliver anything until the final payments are made. This is a chance to make an even better impression on them by not being a dick when you have every right to be.

Nathan Whitchu wrote:
Shit happens. They're juggling a lot right now and screwed up, it happens to the best of us. That being said, business is business. You should take a very understanding approach to this, be as embarrassed as they are going to be about it. But still stand your ground, cash is king, charge them your fees and then some, don't deliver anything until the final payments are made. This is a chance to make an even better impression on them by not being a dick when you have every right to be.

+1

This can happen to anyone. Weddings are expensive and there is a lot of cash flowing out prior to the wedding.. Maybe they just did not manage their checking account properly. Lots of things going on prior to wedding.

Whole heartedly agree with all of the above. We've all been here and like Nathan says, most people would throw their toys out of their pram and be a complete arse towards the customers. Chances are they're going to feel a) terrible and b) horrendously embarrased and treating them with understanding and compassion will likely save the day.
On the other hand business is business, although I think adding extra cash onto the final balance probably won't help if they're struggling. What I'd do here is to speak with them, explain what's happened and state that what you'd normally do is charge them £x amount but if they can get full payment to you within, maybe 14 days, you'll waive that charge.
I work by the mantra that customer service comes above everything else. Maybe I'm wrong to suggest not charging them? I think cash is king for everything to be honest - what I do as a deposit, is charge an amount that I know will cover all my expenses and a little bit more - that way if something does happen after the wedding and they stop the payment/cheque bounces etc. I know I'm not out of pocket - ok maybe a wasted weekend when i could have earned more money elsewhere, but these things happen.

Luckily, I've never had a payment check bounce. But I know full well, sooner or later it will happen. My current policy is to require a booking fee. If a booking fee check bounced, they'd lose the date and have to re-book and I'd accept only cash, I'd tell them they lost the booking and I may possibly book another job and they'd have to go elsewhere if they didn't re-book with cash. People bounce checks for a number of reasons, I don't care to get into personality issues or honest mistakes or excuses. The simple truth is, if they have the money, they can get you the cash.

Give them a few days after receiving the check. They should contact you. If they don't. You will have better feel about how to proceed.

Nathan Whitchu wrote:
Shit happens. They're juggling a lot right now and screwed up, it happens to the best of us. That being said, business is business. You should take a very understanding approach to this, be as embarrassed as they are going to be about it. But still stand your ground, cash is king, charge them your fees and then some, don't deliver anything until the final payments are made. This is a chance to make an even better impression on them by not being a dick when you have every right to be.

Oh please. Feel free to be a d*** at your convenience. If the couple didn't even have their finances in line to keep at least $300 in a checking account then how can you actually trust them to make good on a substantial payment for the rest of your services? Sure, couples planning a wedding are juggling a lot, but these kinds of things should have been planned for far in advance with the expectation that a lot of wedding-related services would be asking for up-front deposits.

farley wrote:
Give them a few days after receiving the check. They should contact you. If they don't. You will have better feel about how to proceed.

I've received a few bounced checks in my day -- some even as gifts from close relatives -- and they never, ever contact you about it. It's most embarrassing and few people have the courage to admit to a mistake like that.

Chances are the couple doesn't even know about the bounced check, and if they do, they'll wait for you to contact them.

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

Remember cash don't bounce. I also find it humorous that your post should follow a post concerning Pro Bono work. Good luck with the client, and I hope this all sorts itself out for you. I would just address the issue with tact, even if the client is wrong they can still bad mouth your business.

Call, say "Hello (their name), this is (your name); the wedding photographer for your upcoming ceremony. I'm afraid the deposit check we received for your wedding has bounced and I am calling to inquire about such"

Act according to their reaction. If its "oh my god, I have no idea how that happened" say "misunderstandings do happen, we will require a cash payment in the future and I'm afraid we do have to bill you for the bounce fee ($19)"; if they say "I'm so sorry everything's so overwhelming" just ask them to pay the bounce fee and don't shoot their wedding.

Stuff does happen. No need to be rude or nasty about it. Just call them and let them know that the check came back. Let them know you need cash, MO, or cashiers check with-in 72 hours.

This is also why you get final payment BEFORE the day of the wedding.

Probably the most tactful way to state it is that the check "was returned by your bank", bounced is kinda tacky.

Give them a couple days after you call, then send some "Remittance Advice" certified stating that they have 5 days to pay the balance (plus fees) through a certified funding source (cash, bank cashiers check, etc.) or they will lose the date. Make sure you have a policy in the contract stating all of this, or you may get into hot water if you cancel to quick.

mdude85 wrote:
Oh please. Feel free to be a d*** at your convenience. If the couple didn't even have their finances in line to keep at least $300 in a checking account then how can you actually trust them to make good on a substantial payment for the rest of your services? Sure, couples planning a wedding are juggling a lot, but these kinds of things should have been planned for far in advance with the expectation that a lot of wedding-related services would be asking for up-front deposits.

Quite a harsh line to take with clients in my opinion. We've all made mistakes. If you act like a d*** towards them, you lose your professionalism. Once you've lost that you're dead in the water.
I see your point mdude85 - things should be all in order, but sometimes, things go wrong. How those things are handled determine how good you are as a businessman. If you get results by acting like a d*** towards paying clients, good luck. I, and I suspect most people get results by acting professionally and courteously - regardless of who they are or what they have.

K-Lex wrote:

Quite a harsh line to take with clients in my opinion. We've all made mistakes. If you act like a d*** towards them, you lose your professionalism. Once you've lost that you're dead in the water.
I see your point mdude85 - things should be all in order, but sometimes, things go wrong. How those things are handled determine how good you are as a businessman. If you get results by acting like a d*** towards paying clients, good luck. I, and I suspect most people get results by acting professionally and courteously - regardless of who they are or what they have.


I agree, but we also must admit that it doesn't look good (for the rest of the payment as well). The problem is that we book the date and now is too late to re-book. That's the ugly aspect of this business.

What would I do? I'd try to get as much money I can in advance. Re-deposit the check after they'll deposit the funds but I'd try to get more , leaving the balance as little as possible. And be gentle, of course.

K-Lex wrote:
mdude85 wrote:
Oh please. Feel free to be a d*** at your convenience. If the couple didn't even have their finances in line to keep at least $300 in a checking account then how can you actually trust them to make good on a substantial payment for the rest of your services? Sure, couples planning a wedding are juggling a lot, but these kinds of things should have been planned for far in advance with the expectation that a lot of wedding-related services would be asking for up-front deposits.

Quite a harsh line to take with clients in my opinion. We've all made mistakes. If you act like a d*** towards them, you lose your professionalism. Once you've lost that you're dead in the water.
I see your point mdude85 - things should be all in order, but sometimes, things go wrong. How those things are handled determine how good you are as a businessman. If you get results by acting like a d*** towards paying clients, good luck. I, and I suspect most people get results by acting professionally and courteously - regardless of who they are or what they have.

Well, true, we all make mistakes. By "be a d***" I really just mean of course letting the couple know immediately (this whole business of waiting for them to bring it up is extremely passive aggressive), charging a $35 fee for the incident, and consider issuing a somewhat stern but professional warning that your business will no longer tolerate bounced checks in the future. Doing any less than these aforementioned things seems wholly inadequate.

But maybe I'm just being harsh, however in general I have absolutely no tolerance for people who don't have any backing for the checks they write. It's up there with buying a house you can't afford as one of the most financially irresponsible things you can do, especially because it's so easy to avoid.

mdude85 wrote:
K-Lex wrote:
mdude85 wrote:
Oh please. Feel free to be a d*** at your convenience. If the couple didn't even have their finances in line to keep at least $300 in a checking account then how can you actually trust them to make good on a substantial payment for the rest of your services? Sure, couples planning a wedding are juggling a lot, but these kinds of things should have been planned for far in advance with the expectation that a lot of wedding-related services would be asking for up-front deposits.

Quite a harsh line to take with clients in my opinion. We've all made mistakes. If you act like a d*** towards them, you lose your professionalism. Once you've lost that you're dead in the water.
I see your point mdude85 - things should be all in order, but sometimes, things go wrong. How those things are handled determine how good you are as a businessman. If you get results by acting like a d*** towards paying clients, good luck. I, and I suspect most people get results by acting professionally and courteously - regardless of who they are or what they have.

Well, true, we all make mistakes. By "be a d***" I really just mean of course letting the couple know immediately (this whole business of waiting for them to bring it up is extremely passive aggressive), charging a $35 fee for the incident, and consider issuing a somewhat stern but professional warning that your business will no longer tolerate bounced checks in the future. Doing any less than these aforementioned things seems wholly inadequate.

But maybe I'm just being harsh, however in general I have absolutely no tolerance for people who don't have any backing for the checks they write. It's up there with buying a house you can't afford as one of the most financially irresponsible things you can do, especially because it's so easy to avoid.


Point taken. See where you're coming from. It's about getting the balance right I guess - making sure you don't lose out, and not losing face with the customers. If a $300 cheque bounced, there's a chance a $2000 cheque will too.
You can't run a business on good will at the end of the day.

There is a reason why many businesses don't take checks anymore and those that do oftentimes have a large list of "do not take checks from these people" people.

+2 on cash only from this couple. Otherwise you're going to get burned.

msnumbers wrote:
We recently received a $300.00 check as a deposit from a wedding client who booked her date for 8/2/08. We deposited her check and it bounced.

As business owners, what is the best way to handle this? What do I say when I call her? We were charged a $19 fee, should I bill her for that? Should we proceed with the wedding? Should I request a larger cash deposit up front

What a bummer. I'll take any and all advice you have.

First thing to do is to send them a letter followed by a phone call...if they don't respond, send a registered letter. Writing a bad check is a felony and you can turn it over to the proper authorities.

August 8th is next weekend so let them know that without an upfront payment...in cash...you won't be able to photograph their wedding.

I only average a handful of bad checks and credit cards per year but I have a standard letter that I send to the guilty party with a $35.00 penalty added. Some pay but most are dead-beats who know how to use the system to their advantage.

All the best,

Lee Woolery
Speedshot Action Photography

I'm sure there is an reasonable excuse for the returned check. I'd calmly call them and inform them of the problem and either have them drop the cash off or let them use PayPal. These things happen and I imagine there are two people writing checks on the account, so be professional and have a little compassion.