Would you have stopped payment? (vent) - Page 6  

I know you DH said he doesn't want you stressed out anymore than you already are, but until you resolve this problem, you will be depressed, stressed, mad, untrusting of future orders, resentful and other mental issues.

You need, for your own health, to stand up for your talent and professionalism and take all the advise given and do what needs to be done, get paid what is due.

You do not need to confront her if you do not want to, let the lawyer do what needs to be done. If you have all your paperwork, pictures, email correspondence in order as proof, you have what the lawyer needs to proceed.

Why are you letting this person bully you? Get a backbone and stand up to her abuse. She is a liar and a thief and should not be allowed to do this to you are anyone that participated in the event.

Would you allow someone to steal from your children? Would you allow her to abuse your children? Would you allow her to put your children down in front of all her friends?

She knows you will back down if she stands her ground, so why are you letting her?

You came here asking a question and my answer is NO. This is fraud. She signed a contract not only with you, but the check is a contract and the contract was fulfilled. She had no legal grounds to break the contract. You do not help out yourself or any other cake artist by letting her get away with this.

If guilting you into action is the only way to get through, then this is my intent. Help other cake artist and take action so that the message gets through to those that want to steal.

Your cake is beautiful with or without the flowers. It is elegant and you should and must be compensated for it.

The easy thing to do is to let it go, but what will you do when the next customer does this, because they heard you let her get away without paying for a perfect cake?

Off my soapbox now. Good Luck

I asked my DH about this (He is a Police Chief), here in Ohio, stopping payment on a check for something like this is ILLEGAL. Make a police report. The cake was beautiful - do NOT let her get away with stealing from you.

Dear MOB
The cake I made for your daughters recent wedding was made to the order I was given. While I regret that you were not satisfied, it does not change the fact that I delivered what was ordered.

I am not sure that you realize that stopping payment on this cake was illegal. You may check this out with the bank and local authorities. I am giving you the benefit of the doubt, and if you get the funds to me by______, certifed check or cash only, I will not turn this over for legal action. If not, I will be forced to take further action.

I know many people that get seriously stressed out with confrontation. If dealing with confrontation is not your cup of tea, (and selling to strangers opens this possibility), then you may want to change your clientelle to friends and family. Not trying to be rude, but I don't know how to sugar coat this. Seriously...if you can not handle difficult customers, you are going to have a future of being taken advantage of..financially and professionally. Customers are rude now a days..."I'm sorry" doesn't cut it for them anymore. They want a discount or want it for free now a days. I see it everyday in the bakery I work at. It's a darn shame! I wish you luck.

I haven't read the whole thread, but I wanted to advice you to charge the last payment 15 days before the event. Good willing costumers wont have an issue with paying in advance. That have been my policy for 17 years. The few times I have breack my own rule, are the times I've been in situations similar to yours.
After the party is over is when the money starts to hurt.

I was in a fast food place recently. Evidently the order for the man ahead of me was messed up. THe place made it right and corrected his order. When they gave it to him, he loudly proclaimed, "That's it? That's all I get? What about my time I spent standing here? I should get this for free after all of this?"

The manager was a real professional. WIthout saying a word, he pulled the cash from the register, gave the man his money AND his food. The man continued to rant and rave.

I'm standing there thinking, "WTH is your problem? They made the order right AND gave it to you for free and you're STILL b*tchin'!?"

In the words of Seinfeld: People .... they're the WORST!

Indydebi-- ""I'm standing there thinking, "WTH is your problem? They made the order right AND gave it to you for free and you're STILL b*tchin'!?"""

I was manager at a Steak and Shake not too long ago and that's exactly it, they don't just want the order fixed the want a free shake or money back or something. I hate to be negative and I'd like to think the best of people, but there is something about the food industry now that we let people get away with this stuff. People don't pull this stuff at walmart or target... return something because it doesn't work and walk away with a new product and all your money. Sorry, this is a big pet peeve of mine after working at that place for so long.

this is EXACTLY what you should send her! Light a fire under her a$$ and you may not have to take further action

I sure hope you copy and paste this into an email or even a certified letter...that always gets people to do it quickly because they now know you're tracking the progress.

goddessa, before my husband moved to the accounting dept, he was the guy you paid when you got your car fixed at the dealership. he said he could tell the ones, before they even walked in the door!, who had planned from the git-go to complain about SOMETHING to try to get it for free.

My favorite story is the lady who complained about her new tires and she shouldn't have to pay "that much" for those tires. So the service mgr told the tech to put her old tires back on and then turned to her and told her there would be no labor charge for swapping the tires. She suddenly started stammering. She wanted the new tires but she didnt' wnat to pay for them and the dealership called her bluff. She got the new tires..... and paid full price for them.

That's it exactly Indy-- you just know the ones that are going to be problems, it's the little things they say when ordering or side comments, but you can usually tell before it goes south.
Who would ever think that complaining about price would get you cheaper tires, that just blows my mind!

Well, we hear about all of the baddies, but I'm going to tell you about a "good bride".
She wanted a cupcake stand with 96 cupcakes. Disposable, so that we didn't have to worry about deposits, etc. I did my best, and the one part of the stand that I was worried about was fine, but a leg came off (don't even ask me how!!!!) before anyone got there. They were able to re-ice the cupcakes, the cutting cake was fine, they re-used the useable parts of the stand, and all the bride wanted me to know was that this happened. Doesn't want anything back. Didn't call to complain. Just to let me know. I'm going to send her a GC for a free occasional cake, because she is nice, didn't yell, was understanding, and, mostly, because she didn't ask for it. And I like her.

Oh, no. My DH is making me pi$$y with people who are being argumentative. I thought that Mensh was actually good, it was the people who were beaking about it that was getting my knickers in a bunch!

But if you are offering an upgrade....

Such a nice story. Sometimes things just can't be helped, and she knew it was no one's fault. Sh*t happens. And good for you in just sending her a gift cert. Now, you've got not only her future business, but the business of everyone she tells about you.

I once called a store to tell them that the flyers they had paid to have hand delivered for a weekend sale didn't come until Tuesday after the sale was over. I had never shopped there, didn't think I ever would, but the business deserved to know they didn't get the service they paid for. The receptionist was very grateful that I had told them. I didn't ask for 'payment' for my information, but I felt good in doing it.

LOL!! I'm a little slow sometimes! I thought I had finally solved the mystery of "who is Mensch anyway?"

"offering an upgrade" hilarious, thanks for the laugh!


To the OP, I really wish you would reconsider and at least contact your local police and ask them about filing a police report.

You worked hard for that money and it's not right that this woman should be allowed to snatch it back from you.

You don't have to deal with her. The police will. This is called Theft by deception and it is illegal. I would send her a letter with a copy of the language of the fines possible in your state, usually it is something like treble damages plus a fine plus court costs, letting her know that you will be taking the matter to the district attorney in 10 business days. Refer all phone calls on the matter to your lawyer.