Cheque Processing Fee
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- detritus
I've just been warned that a client will likely try and pay with a [fucking] cheque.
I'm kind of stumped at how retarded this is, but anyway.
I want to add a provision to my invoice stating something along the lines of "Payments by cheque are subject to an additional £x handling fee".
Anyone else do this? There's nothing 'wrong' with it as such, is there? Legally. I mean (in the UK)?
I'd rather they just paid via bank transfer like everyone else does in the 21st Century.
Fucking cheques.
*exasperated*
- Raniator0
1%? I don't know... but that could work?
- locustsloth0
Be careful, D. They're spelling "check" wrong. They might try to get you on some sort of loophole and not pay
- detritus0
Oh, I'm just going to add on a round figure that is enough to irritate, but not so much as to be greedy, or anything.
I'm just wondering whether I actually can or not.
I'm pretty sure corporations do this..
- bjladams0
for us, an e.f.t. costs 1-2%, and takes 2+ business days for the transaction to clear - where a check is free to deposit and usually clears within an hour.
but id say it's really your call... it costs you to take the time to get to the bank.
- detritus0
Yeah, same day bank transfers are [supposed to be, anyway] standard here in Blighty, without any charge.
A cheque means I won't receive the damn slip of paper for three days, then a few hours out of my schedule to go to a bank which is miles away, only to wait for another 3 days for payment.
It's fucking ludicrous.
- boobs0
What's the matter with a cheque? Just take it to your bank, and Bob's your uncle. Maybe you'll even be helped by a sexy teller?
- boobs0
Sorry. Didn't see that you were "hours" away from your bank. Maybe you should use this opportunity to open an account at a nearer bank? Here in America, banks are all over the place. Like "petrol" stations. Some are even in the lobby of the supermarket. It's no problem to get a bank that's very, very close to where you live. We find this very handy.
- detritus0
You're a bit of a dick, aren't you, boobs?
- doesnotexist0
join chase, you can take a pic of your check and have it deposited instantly.
- there's gotta be something like this in the ukdoesnotexist
- as meta and as anachronistic a method as that is, i find that quite an amusing solution.detritus
- My bank USAA does this too.epigraph
- detritus0
It's just easier.. for everyone involved, to do it online.
I guess it's a sign that they're out of date old fogeys.
- boobs0
I'm sorry. I really am. But it just seems to me that receiving payments by check is a standard part of business. A bit old-fashioned, and not the latest thing, certainly, but it is a well-established procedure.
- +1doesnotexist
- I haven't seen a cheque in years and haven't had a cheque book in at least a decade.detritus
- i'd say that 90% of our accounts receivable comes in checks.bjladams
- but i'm walking distance to the bank and they give me cookies.bjladams
- kgvs720
Last time I used a check was in 2006. Prior to that, I can't remember.
- jadrian_uk0
if he makes a bank transfer it is the client who has to pay extra , if it's a cheque you, that's the only reason why you're exasperated.
- shellie0
Besides maybe being late -- I'll take money in any form that allows me to eventually spend it. I know it's kind of a pain in the ass when you're not paid in the format you request or is easiest for you. I pay all my freelancers with ACH payments so they get it clears basically in 24 hours once the transfer is made. But, I find when you start putting diva fine print in your contracts, it can end up turning off potential clients.
Here's an example: An agency I used to work for added a bunch of crap in their statement of work. After that there was a severe dropoff in job awards from both new clients and clients we've worked with before. Many more of those jobs were being awarded to somebody else with less baggage. And, no matter what we wrote in there they paid how they wanted to pay, and when they wanted to do it if the jobs were awarded to us.
- shellie0
BUT, here's a good way of making a bad thing seem good. Add a 3% markup to your prices. Add a 3% discount if the balance is paid with (specific payment format) within (#) days of the job ending.
Clients will be inclined to pay you on time in the desired format, and feel like they're getting a bonus on top of that.
You're welcome :D I'll bill you later (payable within 20 business days).
- VikingKingEleven0
3% handling fee normally.
How much does it cost to cover a bounced check?
- shellie0
^ @VikingKingEleven There's a lot of ways to avoid that situation.
- Splitting payments in half or into thirds. You shouldn't find out that the person can't cover a big payment at the very end once everything is delivered.
- Depositing immediately.
I've done business with really flaky people who often made me wonder if their checks would clear. If you do business with people like that you should:
- Know that you did it to yourself. You choose your clients. Do some research. If you have to take a project from those kinds of people and they're intent on screwing you, no amount of paperwork will cover your ass. You will still not get paid and people like that aren't afraid of the possibility of probably never getting sued by you.
- Take whatever checks they give you, go to THEIR bank, cash it for cash, then deposit into your bank.