Bounced Customer Check - What to Do?

[pamperedval]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I was just doing Quicken and downloaded transactions to find that a customer check bounced and I am getting charged $10 for it on top of losing the amount of her check from my account.

This is the first time this has happened to me. What can I do? Do I figure out who it was and contact them to have them pay me back plus the $10? Do I just write it off as a business expense of bad debt?

I am really bummed about it - luckily it was only a $27 check - but still...

Just wondered what other Cheffers have done (or would do) in this situation.

Thanks,

 

[chefann]

Contact the customer and request alternate payment, including the $10 bank charge.

 

[quiverfull7]

For sure contact them... I've had it happen 3 times now ... one was PURELY accidental.. the other 2 were the same girl... I know--- I was trustworthy but stupid--- by all means call them. She probably feels terrible and may not even have received the notice from her bank yet. I think I've read on here that some consultants actually charge the $34 or $40 that banks charge just for the trouble it causes.

 

[BethCooks4U]

On the rare occasion this has happened to me I have called the customer and let her know (and I am careful of the message I leave so she doesn't get in trouble with DH). She is either appauled (sp?) and gets the cash including the charge my bank tacked on or she says "I knew that would happen." :grumpy: But they ALWAYS have paid me very quickly with cash.

You may be upset and even angry but be very nice.

If you can't get through to the guest, call the host and tell her that there's a problem with ______'s order and you can't get ahold of her and the show is being held up. Can she please call the guest or give you an alternate number? I never tell anyone that the guest's check bounced - I don't want to embarrass them and they appreciate it too.

 

[pamperedval]

Thanks Ladies!

I just called her and she gave me her credit card and told me to charge the extra $10 too. Is there any way to work that so that I get the extra $10 for myself?

I am confusing myself right now...

I haven't submitted the show yet - I was waiting for a couple other checks to - so at least I could put the charge on - I just don't know how to work it so that I can add her charge to the show, but still get to keep the $10. If I had a lady pay me cash, could I put the $10 charge on her order and then the extra $10 in cash would be mine?

Hope I am making sense. Anyway, she was very nice about it, said she had just made a deposit and was hoping that she wouldn't have been short...

 

[BethCooks4U]

Put the full amount on her charge card (including the $10). Then when entering the amounts that people paid leave $10 off so that the show balances. It works well if someone paid cash but if not then just put $10 less for someone's check and write yourself a note in her customer screen that the check was really the $10 higher amount.

 

[pamperedval]

Thanks Beth.

I had someone that paid cash so I just reduced her cash payment by $10 and put the charge on her order. So the full $37 will be charged to the bounced lady and I'll keep the extra $10 from the lady that paid cash.

Confusing - but it works!

 

[reba515]

grrrrr I had a check bounce last week and the girl wil not call me back !!! I just tried calling from my cell, but no answer. I'll try that again later.
The thing is , is that the host is this girl's cousin and I have a feeling she may be not nice about holding the order or giving it to me until I get paid or return it.
The host wasn't one of my most pleasant people to work with (was passed on from another cons.)
I haven't told the host yet I figured I would give the guest a fair chance to call me back before I go "rat her out" to her cousin.
okay I'm done just needed to vent!!