What Would You Have Done

[sandysounds 0]

no lectures please....i know i need to change my policy!

I had an all day wedding today, MC, kids entertainment and evening entertainment. When i arrived there was noone there so i set up as i'd already visited the venue with the bride and groom and knew exactly what they wanted. When everyone arrived, the best man came straight to me with the balance in the form of a cheque. On my contract it clearly states that the balance should be cash on the night or cheque sent two weeks prior. I decided not to make a fuss and accepted the cheque without saying a word. When i looked at it, it had been made out in the wrong name.....although it does state on my contract the name cheques should be written to. I caught the brides brother and told him. Him and his mother came to me with £200 in cash and said that no one had a cheque book with them and they would send me the rest in the post. Bearing in mind this was during the afternoon and i still had the rest of the MCing to do and the evening etc.

 

What would you have done in the same situation.....then i will reveal what i did.

Edited December 27, 2008 by sandysounds

[Revelationroadshow 0]

Well, to be honest there's the "what we should have done" and the "what we would actually have done".

 

The first is easy - pack up and go home, wedding ruined, but policy not upheld and every chance to put it right given. I would ask what the cheque had been made out to. Our business account will accept most things - my name, wife's name, disco name, chocolate fountain name etc.... so that might have made it OK.

 

But the actually what would I have done. Got a little frustrated, but seen the cash as a good will gesture and carried on like a true professional!

[TonyB 0]

I would have carried on regardless. Signed contract agrees how much they will pay. In the event that they try to get out of paying what they have agreed to pay, a summons would head in their direction but it hasn't happened yet.

[Bouncy Dancefloor 0]

i guess it depends on how much more they still owed you?

 

Ive made people drive out to a cashpoint to get the cash before

[Dukesy 0]

Firstly, I wold have posted this in the correct area of the forum given the nature of the post!!! Topic moved.

 

The person who 'pays the bearer on demand' should have been politely asked to change the incorrect name to the one you state on your contract and initial it, or it would be foolish to accept!

This would have taken seconds to adjust, and you wouldn't have to accept any cash from third parties.

Like Tony suggests, if the cheque bounced, then that is indeed a default of the payment terms and a breech of contract. It would not be in the clients favour but in yours to make a small claims action which is a highly effective means to recover monies owed.

Changes in current practice will prevent this ever happening again. smile icon

[Kingy 0]

I would have asked for the cheque to be changed and initialed there and then.

 

As long as you have a signed contract you would have been ok via the court system anyhow.

[YourBigEvent 0]

If I knew the hotel I would have got them to charge the client, and then invoiced the hotel.

[spinner 0]

In those circumstances I would have asked for the cheque to be altered and signed next to the alteration- not initialled. If it did bounce then Money Claim Online is very easy to use.

 

As a point of interest, just before Christmas I received an initial payment cheque, for a wedding next year, made out to the wrong name. Luckily there was plenty of time to send it back and ask for the mistake to be rectified.

 

Under normal circumstances I would have done what I have done for years - send a final invoice asking for payment 10 business days before the event.

 

Some years before I introduced that policy a groom "forgot" to bring either the cash or his chequebook on the night and promised to send a cheque the next week. He didn't and I had to threaten legal action, whereupon I received a cheque from the bride.

Edited December 28, 2008 by spinner

[Dukesy 0]

In those circumstances I would have asked for the cheque to be altered and signed next to the alteration- not initialled. If it did bounce then Money Claim Online is very easy to use.

Of coure, assuming that there is room to add the signature against the correction. smile icon

DJ@ members were forwarded this recently - How to recover money - it's also available on the website.

[spinner 0]

Of coure, assuming that there is room to add the signature against the correction. smile icon

 

 

If not then you have a problem - as advised by my bank, initialling is not enough.

 

Better to get another cheque or (first choice) cash.

[dj.silver 0]

i guess it depends on how much more they still owed you?

 

Ive made people drive out to a cashpoint to get the cash before

 

For me the above is what it's all about. Big day and all that ... if the outstanding amount was £10 then what the heck, if it was £1000 that's different.

 

So for me impossible to comment on, although I just have! http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-10162.gif

[McCardle 1]

On my contract it clearly states that the balance should be cash on the night or cheque sent two weeks prior. I decided not to make a fuss and accepted the cheque without saying a word.

 

I use similar policies, however it does make me wonder how many businesses actually put more effort in getting this point across to their clients, or follow up with a courtesy email / call, some 21 - 28 days before the function date to remind them that the payment deadline for cheque is drawing close, if this is their prefered payment method.

 

Bear in mind that it may have been months / years since the booking was made and the contract / confirmation sent. Of course they may have forgotten or even mislaid it, especially with a Wedding where there may be 10 or 20 other people to pay, each with their own terms. So the onus is partly on us to remind them closer to, and this means getting in touch.

 

I realise that people may be a little hesitant to ring or email to talk about rude things like being paid, :scared: because that is not the 'british' way to discuss money. However there is nothing wrong with sending a polite pre-function email or letter along the lines of...

 

 

Dear (clients name]

 

Just a courtesy email to let you know that everything is okay for (clients function) on (date) at (venue), and to remind you of our arrival at the venue for (time of arrival).

 

May I also take this opportunity at bringing to your attention that the last payment date for the balance of (balance) if opting to pay by cheque will be ( payment date) , and you should ensure that cheques are sent to us by this date. Please make cheques payable to (your name) and post to the address provided on the contract. Unfortunately we are unable to accept any cheque payments on the night, and so please ensure that cash payment is made in full upon our arrival at the venue should you prefer to pay us on the night of the function.

 

This is just the basics, as you can also add to the template other reminders, such as information on the first dance, to enquire about key names such as the Best Man, Father of the Bride etc, or any other information that the contract didn't include or was left as a TBA by the client 'needing more time to think'.

 

I know that I get several clients wanting more time to think about their first dance tracks or mention that they will be sending a request list, and then just weeks before the event the promised info still hasn't materialised. This reminder can also serve a means of bringing it back into their focus, rather than a subtle payment reminder (which is exactly what its main intention is)

 

If you send out discrete reminders in this manner, it also re-assures that the client that you are still around and haven't forgotten them, and also ensures that they have no excuse for 'not reading the small print' on your confirmations / contracts in relation to your payment terms when you have also pointed it out to them in a more recent communication. Anybody who doesn't pay you after being sent a written contract, and a courtesy email / letter within weeks of the function, is either Mr Bean or has no intention of paying up.

 

It takes a few minutes, costs nothing (if you use email) or 36p by letter and virtually guarantees that your payment terms will be adhered to. It also looks professional in the eyes of the client that you are thinking of them, value their peace of mind and business, blah blah blah.

 

I figure that as a full time DJ, I work 35 - 39 hours (which is about average for full time employment), of that timescale, I actually play music for about 18-ish hours week, which frees up about another 18 - 20 hours to do the boring paperwork side of the business that nobody likes to talk about. Of course this varies from week to week, however, as bookings go, I'm not as busy as the Hilton and neither do I have their workload and so rarely any week goes by where there isn't at least a few minutes to follow up clients with correspondance smile icon .

 

I used to get a lot of tardy payments, until I started doing this and now its reduced all instances of it to virtually zero. I also use the services of a local garage who send out MOT and servicing reminders, it is a great value added service done with the appearance of courtesy but of which probably secures them a lot of business. I know it secures mine smile icon .

 

I once again point out that most of our other fellow service providers at the average wedding would probably not be so lenient in respect of lingering payment. I can't see the caterers buying and perparing all of that food just on the strength of a confirmation, i'm sure that all monies were paid upfront otherwise they more than likely wouldn't have turned up, and the same for the venue who probably wouldn't have let them through the door.

Edited December 28, 2008 by McCardle

[sandysounds 0]

I use similar policies, however it does make me wonder how many businesses actually put more effort in getting this point across to their clients, or follow up with a courtesy email / call, some 21 - 28 days before the function date to remind them that the payment deadline for cheque is drawing close, if this is their prefered payment method.

 

Bear in mind that it may have been months / years since the booking was made and the contract / confirmation sent. Of course they may have forgotten or even mislaid it, especially with a Wedding where there may be 10 or 20 other people to pay, each with their own terms. So the onus is partly on us to remind them closer to, and this means getting in touch.

 

I realise that people may be a little hesitant to ring or email to talk about rude things like being paid, :scared: because that is not the 'british' way to discuss money. However there is nothing wrong with sending a polite pre-function email or letter along the lines of...

This is just the basics, as you can also add to the template other reminders, such as information on the first dance, to enquire about key names such as the Best Man, Father of the Bride etc, or any other information that the contract didn't include or was left as a TBA by the client 'needing more time to think'.

 

I know that I get several clients wanting more time to think about their first dance tracks or mention that they will be sending a request list, and then just weeks before the event the promised info still hasn't materialised. This reminder can also serve a means of bringing it back into their focus, rather than a subtle payment reminder (which is exactly what its main intention is)

 

If you send out discrete reminders in this manner, it also re-assures that the client that you are still around and haven't forgotten them, and also ensures that they have no excuse for 'not reading the small print' on your confirmations / contracts in relation to your payment terms when you have also pointed it out to them in a more recent communication. Anybody who doesn't pay you after being sent a written contract, and a courtesy email / letter within weeks of the function, is either Mr Bean or has no intention of paying up.

 

It takes a few minutes, costs nothing (if you use email) or 36p by letter and virtually guarantees that your payment terms will be adhered to. It also looks professional in the eyes of the client that you are thinking of them, value their peace of mind and business, blah blah blah.

 

I figure that as a full time DJ, I work 35 - 39 hours (which is about average for full time employment), of that timescale, I actually play music for about 18-ish hours week, which frees up about another 18 - 20 hours to do the boring paperwork side of the business that nobody likes to talk about. Of course this varies from week to week, however, as bookings go, I'm not as busy as the Hilton and neither do I have their workload and so rarely any week goes by where there isn't at least a few minutes to follow up clients with correspondance smile icon .

 

I used to get a lot of tardy payments, until I started doing this and now its reduced all instances of it to virtually zero. I also use the services of a local garage who send out MOT and servicing reminders, it is a great value added service done with the appearance of courtesy but of which probably secures them a lot of business. I know it secures mine smile icon .

 

I once again point out that most of our other fellow service providers at the average wedding would probably not be so lenient in respect of lingering payment. I can't see the caterers buying and perparing all of that food just on the strength of a confirmation, i'm sure that all monies were paid upfront otherwise they more than likely wouldn't have turned up, and the same for the venue who probably wouldn't have let them through the door.

I always phone my brides about 2 weeks before the event just to put their mind at rest as all the prep and meetings have been done by then. It would be the ideal opportunity to remind them about the fee.......but as yet i just can't seem to bring myself to mention it!

 

I like the e-mail suggestion....thanks.

[spinner 0]

I always phone my brides about 2 weeks before the event just to put their mind at rest as all the prep and meetings have been done by then. It would be the ideal opportunity to remind them about the fee.......but as yet i just can't seem to bring myself to mention it!

 

I like the e-mail suggestion....thanks.

 

 

Why don't you simply send a final invoice with SAE?

 

My system is send contract with SAE for its return with initial payment.

 

Once received send receipt showing amount owing with a note that a final invoice will be sent in good time.

 

Send final invoice, with SAE, one month before the gig.

 

 

[YourBigEvent 0]

Why can't you mentioned it ?

 

Its a business, you are in it to get money.

 

I send a reminder about one month before the function, then call them when payment is due to ask for it.

[mick 0]

Don't see a problem, I have had cheques wrongly made out over the years and I just get them altered and initialed, never had any issues or bounced cheques either, ok I know I must be lucky, but that's how it is.

I have three business's and take cheques at all of them.

[Dukesy 0]

I once again point out that most of our other fellow service providers at the average wedding would probably not be so lenient in respect of lingering payment. I can't see the caterers buying and perparing all of that food just on the strength of a confirmation, i'm sure that all monies were paid upfront otherwise they more than likely wouldn't have turned up, and the same for the venue who probably wouldn't have let them through the door.

Excellent point.

[BigBen 0]

This type of thing has happened to me, and it's how I learned to be more proactive and less embarrassed to get paid before the gig. But, until I experienced it for myself, I was quite happy to wait until 1am to get the cash from a drunk punter...I'd spend the whole night wondering if I was going to get paid.

 

When the night actually occurred, and I'm stood there with four people at 1am who all said they thought someone else was picking up the tab, I realised I needed to improve my methods.

 

I don't work for cash anymore, which comes across as a more professional set-up actually, and I want the cash in my bank 10 working days before the gig.

 

When faced with your scenario, I would have asked about getting the cheque re-written but I would have soldiered on through the day.

[Bouncy Dancefloor 0]

Sandy, what did you do?

[sandysounds 0]

Sandy, what did you do?

carried on, did the gig, took the £200.....and trust that i will receive the rest in the post next week!

[vokf 0]

carried on, did the gig, took the £200.....and trust that i will receive the rest in the post next week!

 

I assume you had a signed agreement (contract) in your possession?

 

If you've got any doubts they may stall, I'd send an invoice for the remainder just so they know you expect it posted quickly. This would also be a good time to clarify the outstanding balance and the name to write the cheque to.

[sandysounds 0]

I always carry a photocopy of the contract to the gig with me. As soon as I saw a potential problem I got it out and presented them with it with the pretence it had my name and address on. I didn't have to say anything because the bit about cash on night or cheque two weeks prior jumped out and bit him on the nose

[vokf 0]

I always carry a photocopy of the contract to the gig with me. As soon as I saw a potential problem I got it out and presented them with it with the pretence it had my name and address on. I didn't have to say anything because the bit about cash on night or cheque two weeks prior jumped out and bit him on the nose

 

Haha, just read the bit about "bit on the nose", and quickly re-read the above :-) That'll teach me to skim read..

 

For what its worth, I would have done the same - take the £200 and carried on. I would then have got home and sent a letter asking for the balance (ie, not just relying on them to remember).

 

There is a very good template "pay up or we'll get legal" letter on DJ Associates