Missing Guest Payment, Host Is Upset!

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Discussion Overview

This thread discusses a situation where a consultant is missing a payment from a guest at a show, leading to tension with the host. Participants share their experiences and suggestions on how to handle the situation, including communication with the guest and strategies for managing payments during shows.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, expresses frustration over missing a $70 payment and the host's reaction, noting that they have all other payments accounted for.
  • Another participant suggests contacting the guest directly to verify if a check was issued and to potentially obtain a credit card number.
  • Several users mention the importance of keeping track of checks by writing check numbers on order forms to avoid similar situations in the future.
  • One participant shares a personal experience of mistakenly thinking they lost a check, which was later found in the host's checkbook, highlighting the possibility of misunderstandings.
  • Another participant advises being firm with the host while ensuring that the guest receives their order and host benefits.
  • Some participants discuss strategies for managing checkouts during busy shows to prevent confusion and missed payments.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the best approach to resolve the situation, with some participants advocating for direct communication with the guest while others emphasize the importance of managing host expectations. No clear consensus emerges on a single best practice.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal anecdotes and experiences related to handling payments at shows, reflecting a range of strategies and outcomes. The discussion highlights the challenges consultants face in managing multiple orders and payments simultaneously.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants who encounter similar payment issues during shows may find the shared experiences and strategies helpful in navigating their own situations.

chefsteph07
chefsteph07
Messages
3,199
I just went to submit a show from last weekend, before I turned it in I did a quick check just to make sure I had everyone's payments in order, and I found I was missing a payment. I called the host and told her that I didn't have this person's money and she got nasty with me and told me that she watched her hand me the check...I put all money that I get in my money bag and everyone's is there but hers...It's a $70 order! I am not going to cover that! I don't think she gave me the check,because if she did I"d have it, but I could be wrong...why would I have everyone's but hers? What should I do?

I could tell my host was mad, but I am not turning in this show w/o the money...I cannot cover her order, if it was smaller I would, but I'm not doing it. I don't have the guests number, she didn't put it on her order form.

I think I should just be firm and tell her that I don't have it, but I do have everyone else's and if she can give a debit or credit number for it I can submit I'll do it tonight but otherwise I can't do anything. If I cancel her order it will drop her host benefits. What would you do??

This is a host I"ve never met before, so I don't know if I should trust that she "watched" me take the payment, it's not like I stuff checks in my pockets or anything...immediately when I get a check I put it in the bag. This is the first time this has happened.
 
I would actually call the guest and see what she says. Maybe she has a duplicate check to show if she did pay or not.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #3
What if the guest said she did?
I've checked everything, my bag w/ the catalogs that I take, in between all order forms, etc. I simply don't have it.
 
Try to get the guest's phone number (whitepages.com or from the host) and call the guest directly. I know she's mad, but tell your host that you want to make sure she gets all her host benefits and that all of her guests get what they wanted.

If she did write a check, you can tell her that it was lost. She can give you a credit card # or send you another check. Assure her that if the old check surfaces, you will mail it back.

I would not send in the guest's order without the money.
 
Definitely contact the guest and see if she has a duplicate check. If she did give you a check, then unfortunately you may have misplaced or lost the check.

Perhaps she can stop payment and give you a credit card. I would offer to cover the stop check fee.

Hope that helps -
 
chefsteph07 said:
What if the guest said she did?
I've checked everything, my bag w/ the catalogs that I take, in between all order forms, etc. I simply don't have it.
Click to expand...

You could offer to pay a cancel check fee (would be cheaper than the whole order amount) if she can prove she did write you a check. Or maybe she'll realize she left without doing it at all and be honest with you.
 
I once thought I'd lost a host's check. She had paid for her own and several other orders. I was beside myself. Plus, it was late when I got home, so I didn't even open things until the next day. I couldn't get hold of her. I told her I would hold the show until I talked with her. I offered to pay the check cancellation fee and make the 1-hour drive to her home to pick it up. I tried calling all day.That evening, she phoned. She and I both remembered her writing the check. However, that check was still in her checkbook! We both had a good laugh. I picked the check up the next day. Tragedy averted.It's very possible that something similar happened with your guest.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #8
I did think to offer to pay a stop payment fee for her.
but, she can check the bank and know that it wasn't cashed...
I just don't know...don't remember her giving it to me at all. I've tried doing the one on one checkout and it NEVER works out, this particular show I had 5 people throwing order forms and checks at me at the same time so I don't even recall taking it from her. But, I am diligent about if I get a check handed to me I put it right in the bag immediately.
 
This doesn't help now, but I have gotten in the habit of writing the check number on the order form, then putting the check in my bag. Helps me know whether or not I received the check..no check, no number on the form.Robin
 
chefsteph07 said:
I just don't know...don't remember her giving it to me at all. I've tried doing the one on one checkout and it NEVER works out, this particular show I had 5 people throwing order forms and checks at me at the same time so I don't even recall taking it from her. But, I am diligent about if I get a check handed to me I put it right in the bag immediately.
Click to expand...

Okay Steph, time to pull on your big girl panties. You can take checkout under control.

Tell your guests that you will meet with them one at a time. Designate a spot for them to pile up their order forms (face down) and a spot for lapboards, pens & catalogs if applicable. Pull an order form from the bottom of the pile. Do you take your computer? If so, type in the person's name and then call them over to join you. If I manage to set up my computer in an out-of-the-way spot, I ask the person I've just finished with to send in "Jane Doe", the next person in the pile.

If they come over and stand around with their order from, say "Just put your order in the pile and I'll call you over as soon as I get to your name. In the meantime, grab something to eat and visit with your friends."

You can do this!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #11
LOL
I know, I'm normally a control freak as it is! I do have the best intentions to do the one on one checkout!
For my next show (in Jan) I WILL do this suggesstion you have!
Big girl panties are IN CHECK! ha ha

Now, to put on those same panties and deal w/ this guest...
 
I also put the check number on the order form before putting the check away. I tell them I do this so if they had not had the chance to put it in their journal they will have the information when they get home and most are very appreciative. I would call the guest and I am willing to bet she will be more understanding than the host :)
 
chefsteph07 said:
LOL
I know, I'm normally a control freak as it is! I do have the best intentions to do the one on one checkout!
For my next show (in Jan) I WILL do this suggesstion you have!
Big girl panties are IN CHECK! ha ha

Now, to put on those same panties and deal w/ this guest...
Click to expand...

I know you can! :)

Like Fluffy said, I'm sure the guest will be much more understanding than the host.
 
chefsteph07 said:
LOL
I know, I'm normally a control freak as it is! I do have the best intentions to do the one on one checkout!
For my next show (in Jan) I WILL do this suggesstion you have!
Big girl panties are IN CHECK! ha ha

Now, to put on those same panties and deal w/ this guest...
Click to expand...

Just call the guest, you never know what actually happened! It will make you feel better to take care of this.
 
chefjeanine said:
Okay Steph, time to pull on your big girl panties. You can take checkout under control.

Tell your guests that you will meet with them one at a time. Designate a spot for them to pile up their order forms (face down) and a spot for lapboards, pens & catalogs if applicable. Pull an order form from the bottom of the pile. Do you take your computer? If so, type in the person's name and then call them over to join you. If I manage to set up my computer in an out-of-the-way spot, I ask the person I've just finished with to send in "Jane Doe", the next person in the pile.

If they come over and stand around with their order from, say "Just put your order in the pile and I'll call you over as soon as I get to your name. In the meantime, grab something to eat and visit with your friends."

You can do this!
Click to expand...

I need to do this too. :rolleyes: I run into the same situation as Steph...people throwing their forms at me and being swamped all at once, it seems!

Good luck Steph. I won't repeat what everyone said, but I agree that the guest will likely be more understanding. Let us know how it goes! :)
 
I'm kinda there with you right now, except mine is a declined card with no phone number. I on the other hand am lucky that it's my mom's show and it's a relative. I just tried to rerun her card, but if that doesn't work, then my mom is going to give me the cash, and then hold her items for ransom. I said, well, if she doesn't pay, you can keep her stuff... funny thing is she already has the items... she laughed and said oh geee thanks!

I hope things work out for you! I'm really hoping is a matter of forgetting to tear the check out of the book!
 
She can check her bank & if the check is not cashed then she should be ok w/giving you another check or debit card number I would think. Can you check your previous deposits to make sure you didn't deposit it with another show? If it does come up cashed I'd ask her to get a copy of it from the back to see who endorsed it. If it wasn't you then that is a major law broken by the person that did cash it. When checking that it cleared she also needs to verify the amount in case she wrote it down as you but really wrote it out for something else. Good luck!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #18
Actually, one of my other PC mates suggessted that I possibly deposited it by accident w/ another show...that is definitely possible, and I also put in some other misc money so I am going to check to see if has been cashed.
Again, I DOUBT it, but it's entirely possible.

Thanks so much guys, I've had a headache over this all day!
 
Always write the check # on the order form BEFORE you give the guest their copy. That way you know and the guest knows that they did pay and what the check number was in case of a problem. I always put mine directly in my money bag too.

And I would not pay for the order. If they did write you a check, then they will have a duplicate or record that they wrote it. I would get the # from the host and call the guest directly. I HATE it when guests do not fill in all of the info on the order forms. I had a similar thing happen to me earlier this year. The host was like " I don't know how this is my problem" and i was like "well your guest did not give me her phone # so either you need to give it to me so I can contact her directly or you will need to call her and have her call me."

It just makes things difficult if there is a problem to resolve.

Sorry you ahve to deal with this.
 
Last edited:
Also... if they do not have duplicate chacks if it is cashed the bank makes a copy. I can look at copies of the cashed checks when I do my online banking.
 
Did you check in between the pages of the order form? This just happened to me last week. I always put the $$ in my bag...well, always must not have been this time!
 
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  • #22
Ugh..I am soo frustrated right now... After a week, I finally spoke to the guest of this whole mess w/ the check..I had sent her a letter explaining the situation and left her my number to call me back, she finally calls me today, leaves 2 messages on my cell (I left that number as a contact number) and in the first message she says that she knows she gave me the check, etc, in the 2nd message she says she wants a call back from me and she knows that it was cashed and cleared. I called her back as soon as I got the message, profusely apologized, then I told her that if she could give me a date that it was deposited so I can match it up "with my records", obviously I want a deposit date so I KNOW she gave me the check and it was deposited mistakenly by me. I already contacted my bank and they can not give me an itemized list of checks that were deposited. When I asked her to provide me w/ a date she tells me that she does not feel she should have to tell me that information but she wants a refund...Well, I'm not giving her a refund w/o knowing WHEN it was put in the bank...how do I know she actually wrote me the check and gave it to me if I don't have a deposit date...so she was very rude to me after I profusely apologized for the hassle and told me what bad business this was, etc. I told her that I do apologize but it was a clerical error on my half and I take full responsibility. She told me she was going to call PC and "report" me, etc. And I just told her regardless that I needed this info before I could give her a refund and if she could just help me out on this I would appreciate it. She told me that I would have to wait till tomorrow until she can call her bank for the info...and then basically hung up on me.

I do know that I made a mistake and her check probably got deposited w/ a few other shows, but I had a lot going in at the middle of the month and it is quite possible that hers slipped in w/ another show...and I had some personal checks as well, etc that were all lumped in so the EXACT amt of the show was not going to match what I put in...

Honestly, this has never happened to me before and I feel like a total loser, but I am NOT going to issue a refund until I KNOW that it was deposited. I could see someone knowing that they didn't pay me say "yeah I paid you now I want a refund"...not going to happen...am I wrong???
 
You are not wrong! If she can't give you that info, she doesn't deserve a refund. I am so sorry you are going through this!
 
I back you...I wouldn't give a refund w/out more proof either. She can get a copy of the front & BACK of the check to give you. That would show what account that it went to for your records. People do it all the time & a lot can do it on their online banking.
 
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  • #25
Thanks Jane, you know, it's things like this that make me wonder if I am right for this business...I take things too personally and right now I feel like a million pounds are on my shoulders, I made a mistake, yes it was stupid and I feel like hiding. I am waiting for the host to call me and start on me too...I wish this had happened to a past host I already knew... :cry:

I just feel like such an idiot...
 
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  • #26
kaseydee said:
I back you...I wouldn't give a refund w/out more proof either. She can get a copy of the front & BACK of the check to give you. That would show what account that it went to for your records. People do it all the time & a lot can do it on their online banking.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can imagine asking her for a copy of the check since it seemed like just asking her for a date it was deposited was like asking her for her personal info! I keep thinking if this had happened to me and someone called about this, I'd get on the computer right then w/ them on the phone and say "yes it was deposited right here on this date, hope this helps you..." In no way would I degrade that person and make them feel like crap.
 
people today are scum, they have no feelings for "strangers" to them, you are just another stranger. They know they'll probably never see you again, and have no respect for you. Its just wrong... wish I had a magic wand to make it all better, but unfortunately I don't! Sorry this is happening to you!
 
Oh, and I'd welcome the person to "report you" to home office. You are only asking for proof of deposit. I am quite sure home office will back you too if it comes to that! I don't see anyone there demanding you give this lady $70 without proof she even paid!

And, I'd be glad it was a stranger, not someone you have built a relationship with. This way, you are only losing the host and possibly some people at her show, if that even. If it was a past host, you could stand to lose much more!

I had something similar happen to me this summer when I lost a person's order and check, and I felt so stupid about it too! I don't think there is another emotion to feel about it. But, in my case, the lady was very friendly. She just canceled her order and reassured me that she knows it happens from time to time. There's no excuse for the rude treatment you're getting here. I would be happy to not ever have to do business with these two when all gets finished.
 
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  • #29
I was just thinking if it was a past host or someone I had dealt with that they would know that I wasn't that kind of person to just casually lose track of someone's payment.
I guess you are right...I didn't even get any bookings from the show, so I'm not really losing anything.
 
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  • #30
candiejayne said:
people today are scum, they have no feelings for "strangers" to them, you are just another stranger. They know they'll probably never see you again, and have no respect for you. Its just wrong... wish I had a magic wand to make it all better, but unfortunately I don't! Sorry this is happening to you!
Click to expand...

This made me laugh..that people are scum...so true but wish it weren't!
Thanks so much for the encouragement guys!
 
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