Argh - Guest With Finanacial Issues

[dannyzmom]

ARGH

Had a great show early this month...$1200+ in sales

One of the guest paid with a check. I deposited the checks, waited 3 days and then submitted show.

After like 4-5 days I find out her check bounced.

Show has already been submitted at this point.

I call HO and they say they can change her form of payment to credit card (get a cc # from her) and they'll credit the $ back to my PC Visa. So, that's what I did.

While I was in DC, host called to say show has been delivered - all is well.

Yesterday evening I get a call from HO telling me the guest's CC was declined.
Well...she already has her products!

I call guest today - she says she doesn't get paid until July 3rd and has $12 to her name 'til then.

HO says I can have FedEx p/u her stuff & cancel her order or wait til July 3rd and have them re-run her card then - it's up to me. At this time PC has payment for her order (they've charged it to MY Pamp Chef Visa!!)

What would you do? Wait til July 3rd (10 days away) or have FedEx go pick up her order? (It's $61.50 in commissionable sales)

Oh - and PS this guest will be at my show this coming Saturday and has assured me she'll bring me my $20 bank fee for her bounced check.

 

[janetupnorth]

First time, I'd give her the benefit of the doubt. But when 7/3 hits, that's it, no payment, get the stuff picked up - it is still within 30 days right?The saying goes...fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Kindness once may have bought you a customer for life, she may truly be in a bad situation just once. After that though, be wise!JMHO...

 

[wadesgirl]

How is she going to bring you $20 if she only has $12 to her name?! That's a tough situation. I personally would only take cash from her for now on!

 

[ChefLisa]

Time to give the customer two choices:

1. She can borrow money from a family member or friend and give you cash.

2. FedEx can pick up the products and she can reorder when she has cash to give you.

I do not think you should spot her the money. There will be another excuse for her not to pay you when she gets paid.

 

[janetupnorth]

He-he - I'm giggling at your mood Carolyn!

 

[dannyzmom]

How is she going to bring you $20 if she only has $12 to her name?! That's a tough situation. I personally would only take cash from her for now on!

She told me, and I quote, "I set aside the $20 I own you and all I have to my name until the 3rd is $12."

I know she's a single mom with a teenaged son and a sucky ex-DH.
But...WHY spend $ you don't have when you're already in a pinch??? KWIM??

 

[janetupnorth]

She told me, and I quote, "I set aside the $20 I own you and all I have to my name until the 3rd is $12."

I know she's a single mom with a teenaged son and a sucky ex-DH.
But...WHY spend $ you don't have when you're already in a pinch??? KWIM??

Why do we say DH when they are sucky? Wouldn't he just be an ex-H then?

(Sorry, pensive seems to be a fitting mood for me...)

 

[ChefLisa]

She told me, and I quote, "I set aside the $20 I own you and all I have to my name until the 3rd is $12."

I know she's a single mom with a teenaged son and a sucky ex-DH.
But...WHY spend $ you don't have when you're already in a pinch??? KWIM??

I am not feeling very friendly right now.

Let's say she went to Walmart and her payment was declined. She decides to take the products even though she did not pay for them. That is called SHOPLIFTING!

Sorry this happened to you Carolyn. Truly a yucky situation.

 

[wadesgirl]

She told me, and I quote, "I set aside the $20 I own you and all I have to my name until the 3rd is $12."

I know she's a single mom with a teenaged son and a sucky ex-DH.
But...WHY spend $ you don't have when you're already in a pinch??? KWIM??

I had a guest like that once. I called about her declined cc and asked to check to make sure I had the number down right. She said "No, I'll have to give you cash!". No question to it, she knew when she placed the order that she didn't have any money.

Maybe she figured that you wouldn't be after her this hard.

 

[dannyzmom]

I had a guest like that once. I called about her declined cc and asked to check to make sure I had the number down right. She said "No, I'll have to give you cash!". No question to it, she knew when she placed the order that she didn't have any money.

Maybe she figured that you wouldn't be after her this hard.

Hmmmm...I replied to this already but my reply seems to have disappeared.
Anyway - what I said was ...
I realize now that the CC# she gave me was the DEBIT card attached to the checking account off of which she bounced a check. She knew it was no good. She was just buying time. The more we discuss this, the less sorry-for-her I feel and the more I realize I was being duped. My emotions behind this are revolving around sell-a-thon and the fact that this was a $61.50 order toward sell-a-thon and I don't want to lose the order

 

[janetupnorth]

The more I hear the facts, I would agree that you already gave her the benefit of the doubt and now IS the time to be smart and lay down the rules.You gave her an extra chance with the card...now she IS using you.Stand firm, sell-a-thon will come if it is meant to be.

 

[wadesgirl]

I would rather buy $60 worth of products for myself that I would have in my hands then let her use all the products for free and probably never pay you!

 

[mpkegley]

Oh man, that sucks! I had a similar situation happen to me once and it was hard to deal with. Good luck Carolyn!

 

[PChefPEI]

Why do we say DH when they are sucky? Wouldn't he just be an ex-H then?

(Sorry, pensive seems to be a fitting mood for me...)

....or ex-SH??

 

[chefsteph07]

Tell her since she is going to be at this show this weekend to bring the products back to you and she can "buy" them when she can give you cash for them. Tell her this came out of your pocket and you cannot afford it, much like she couldn't!

If she doesn't come to the party I'd call her and tell her that PC is going to pick up the products and if she does not have them outside when they come that you have no choice but to possibly contact the police for theft of products w/o payment.

Get tough and maybe she'll come through for you. (and if all THAT fails I'd run her card again asap next Friday, you have her card number now and you WILL get that money back somehow!)

 

[PChefPEI]

I would rather buy $60 worth of products for myself that I would have in my hands then let her use all the products for free and probably never pay you!

I second that! I think she's had her chance. Although, easier said then done. Knowing me, I would be waiting 'til the 3rd...gotta get myself a backbone....LOL!

 

[dannyzmom]

I also need to mention that she lives over an hour away from me...so my best bet really would be to have FedEx p/u the products. And the bank off of which she wrote her check...also over an hour away.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I would tell her that you need her to either bring the products or full payment in cash to the show on Saturday (AND your cost for the overcharge). Tell her that you can't cover it and give her suggestions on how she can get the money from a friend or something. Of course, you understand that she's in a bind but you are running a business.

If she lived closer you could hold them for her until payment but that's not an option with the distances you live from each other and you could lose the 30 day return window.

If she purchases at this show ONLY accept cash payment.

This may sound harsh but you will say it in your nice way.

 

[dannyzmom]

I would tell her that you need her to either bring the products or full payment in cash to the show on Saturday (AND your cost for the overcharge). Tell her that you can't cover it and give her suggestions on how she can get the money from a friend or something. Of course, you understand that she's in a bind but you are running a business.

If she lived closer you could hold them for her until payment but that's not an option with the distances you live from each other and you could lose the 30 day return window.

If she purchases at this show ONLY accept cash payment.

This may sound harsh but you will say it in your nice way.

PERFECT. Thanks Beth!!
Now I just need to find a nice way to say it - I am not feeling so nice toward her right about now.

 

[wadesgirl]

PERFECT. Thanks Beth!!
Now I just need to find a nice way to say it - I am not feeling so nice toward her right about now.

Don't blame you for not feeling nice towards her. She's an outright theif to do something like that. I feel bad talking bad about her without even knowing her but she's probably somebody who's used to tweeking the system to get their way. Putting your foot down will be the best thing.

 

[pamperedlinda]

What I don't understand is why HO didn't tell you that the card was no good when you gave them the number? I thought they ran payment info at the time you gave it to them.

 

[dannyzmom]

What I don't understand is why HO didn't tell you that the card was no good when you gave them the number? I thought they ran payment info at the time you gave it to them.

I thought so, too

 

[sk8rgrrl99]

(and if all THAT fails I'd run her card again asap next Friday, you have her card number now and you WILL get that money back somehow!)

That is a SUPER good idea! She did authorize you to charge her card so you should definitely try again. Granted you may be out the $20 fee but you'll still have the $60 sale.

 

[janetupnorth]

What I don't understand is why HO didn't tell you that the card was no good when you gave them the number? I thought they ran payment info at the time you gave it to them.

They probably have batch processing so it wouldn't have gone immediately, probably an hour or so later when off the phone.

If it is an immediate thing, places sometimes authorize $1 to make sure the card is good. She might have had that clear, but when the $60+ hit it declined.

 

[pamperedpals]

I would tell her that you need her to either bring the products or full payment in cash to the show on Saturday (AND your cost for the overcharge). Tell her that you can't cover it and give her suggestions on how she can get the money from a friend or something. Of course, you understand that she's in a bind but you are running a business.

I totaly agree with what Beth said. You definately want to get the product back in hand.

 

[dannyzmom]

Update - I just called her and told her I need the cash or the products on Saturday and she assured me she'd bring one or the other. She said she is going to ask her son if she can borrow the $ from him and then pay him back on the 3rd when she gets paid. She apologized up & down, too. We'll see what happens Saturday...

 

[BethCooks4U]

Update - I just called her and told her I need the cash or the products on Saturday and she assured me she'd bring one or the other. She said she is going to ask her son if she can borrow the $ from him and then pay him back on the 3rd when she gets paid. She apologized up & down, too. We'll see what happens Saturday...

Good for you! Hopefully she'll realy come through. I wouldn't expect an order Saturday. If she does order have her write the check to the host.

 

[dannyzmom]

Good for you! Hopefully she'll realy come through. I wouldn't expect an order Saturday. If she does order have her write the check to the host.

I was thinking more along the lines of telling her CASH ONLY for anything else she purchases from me.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I was thinking more along the lines of telling her CASH ONLY for anything else she purchases from me.

Exactly! But if she doesn't have it with her at least if the check is to her friend the friend can deal with it.

 

[dannyzmom]

Exactly! But if she doesn't have it with her at least if the check is to her friend the friend can deal with it.

True true...