Does anybody get their money back from Non payers?

[So tel C to Pro]

Hi all.

I've only had one client who disappeared off the face of the earth after not turning up for a treatment (for which I didn't charge) only to re-book about 3 weeks later and, again, not turn up. The second time, I got the centre that I work at to send a letter asking for payment but, surprise surprise, no payment was ever sent. I think that it is right to ask for payment as it is our time that they are wasting, and lets face it, Doctors & Dentists can (and do!) do it.

Anyway, my question is... Has anybody actually asked for a late cancellation payment, and actually got it??? How long do you leave it before chasing it up?

I have told the centre that if he does ever re-book it will be a cash-upfront arrangement (although I doubt he ever will) but it all seems a bit silly and I hate confrontation. OOh, I'm in a pickle!!

Any ideas, oh wise ones

Thank you

Jane xx

 

[Stephen Anderson]

Hi Jane,

We've never tried to charge for a no-show client. Fortunately we have only had a few and work from our home clinic. We did have one client who had a treatment (his first), paid by cheque, booked a second treatment and then cancelled his cheque and the second treatment without any reason - he just wouldn't give us a reason.

Now we are somewhat cautious of first-time appointments who choose to pay by cheque and ask for a cheque guarantee card.

It must be difficult for you if you have to pay the Clinic's charges whether or not a client turns up. I think that the only way is to ask for cash payments, as you have suggested, but it would be impossible to charge a booking deposit on appointments made by telephone as a protection against no-shows.

I hope you will not dwell on this one client and let him go with love. He will reap the benefit(?) of his actions in the fullness of time.

Look forward to the future using this experience as a caution.

 

[Phillip]

The time and effort you could spend chasing the debt would probably be more than the debt itself.....unless you actually make the client aware there is a cancellation charge you dont really have a leg to stand on...

It is sadly part of the trade....just think of it as having an extra bit of time for yourself..

T
x

 

[Mommy, M.A.]

I don't charge for my home clients - I think I have rarely, if ever, been let down at home, and there's always something else I can be doing here, so no time wasted.

In the clinic where I work, it happens a couple of times a month. I usually call up the client and give them an opportunity to rebook. If they miss two appointments, I send an invoice and in 90 per cent of cases, I have been paid, usually because they are already existing clients of the clinic where I work and they don't want to upset them. Incidentally, I charge 50 per cent of the treatment cost as I am not charged for the room for no-shows.

I also get people wanting to pay by card as the clinic takes it, but I don't and they won't put payments through for the freelance therapists. It's on all my literature that I only take cash or cheques and the receptionist is supposed to tell new clients, however....

I have to trust them and so far, they've all brought in the money later on.

Lesley

 

[Kave Dast]

When every I have had a no-show it has usually been a mistake and they have re-booked. Some offer to pay me, but I haven't actually taken it, prefer the good-will. Other therapists have been paid when they have been let down though at our Centre.

If I were you I would refuse to book him in again. You are within your rights to tell the clinic that you won't be available for him and to tell him so.

 

[tehpwnerer1918]

Won't prevent the check being cancelled, won't it?

Artemis

 

[Dr.RVs]

Hi Artemis,

I thought that once the correct cheque guarantee card number had been written on the back of a cheque it couldn't be stopped.


Have I been wrong all these years?[&:]

 

[Pragmat]

Paul

As I understand it, a cheque guarantee card means that the payment will be met, whether funds are in the account to cover it or not, i.e. the cheque cannot bounce.

However, the person making the payment can still stop a cheque at any time. This usually happens when a cheque becomes lost or stolen or if goods weren't received against the payment made.

Lesley

 

[Ronen Tal]

Thanks for that, Lesley.

 

[rlgsquhb]

Thankfully, I've never not been paid for my work and have never had any no-shows (though I'm mobile and I suppose I'd be more likely to no-show, lol).

The only time I didn't have enough change (busy day!), the client gave me more than her bill and I took it off her next treatment.