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Hmm.

post #1 of 76
10/28/10 at 7:13am
Thread Starter 
So last month I had a really sweet couple (from out of town) book a wedding for next weekend. A few weeks later, met the mother...also very sweet. Not a hint of bridezilla, and I don't think they are bridezillas even today.

However the payment was due yesterday. Last week reminded the bride, and she said no problem....mom is signing contract and sending payment by the due date. (Contract late because serving amount late...long story. But wasn't a problem.)

Mom called this am...can't find the contract. Of course payment due yesterday.

I emailed her contract, requested immediate payment online.

She said online would not verify her info so she would send check.

I wrote making sure she knew how to place an online payment (does not have to join anything, just put in credit numbers) and also said she could not send a check...she will have to send me cash via registered and insured mail.....I cannot accept a check this late in the game.

Have not heard back but I'm hoping it turns out because if she goes ahead and sends a check I don't know what I'll do...the bride and groom were one of the sweetest ones I've met thus far, and I'd hate to be the bad guy and say "no cake" and return a check...so I"m hoping things resolve by later today.

I think my biggest problem is that I don't have a signed contract so technically nobody is bound to anything....I kept trying to push them for information and stuff and ...oh whatever. I have to decide what to do with these guys...so nice and sweet but so.....tardy. *sigh*
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post #2 of 76
10/28/10 at 7:21am
Sometimes I say that 'payment received confirms all the stated conditions plus revisions to date listed on the order'. Something like that. So if they pay then game on and all conditions I listed by email are binding--both ways, me to them, them to me.

Now paying late is it's own problem, but once they start pinging & ponging with me by email and have made one payment like I said, game on.

I say, payment is in lieu of signature. 'Cause they get three payments if they want.

just a thought for you
 
 

 

 

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post #3 of 76
10/28/10 at 7:38am
I think I'd call the bride and let her know the status. I know if my wedding cake was in jeopardy, I'd definitely want to know about it. If you receive a check and have to send it back with a sorry, no can do, it might be too late for the bride to get a cake somewhere else.
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post #4 of 76
10/28/10 at 7:41am
Thread Starter 
I emailed the bride....so we'll see what happens. My phone signal is BAD today....(I only have cell phone) and I already got cut off this morning with the MOB so I'm doing email for now...if I don't get any responses by this afternoon will try calling (so far during the planning I've had good response via email with all parties).
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post #5 of 76
10/28/10 at 7:49am
No signed contract and no deposit? I'm surprised you held the date for them. Where i work that is not an indication of a cake order, just someone who was interested, but must have gone elsewhere.

Could it be that they are so nice that they can't tell you they went somewhere else? Some people will go to great lengths to avoid conflict.
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post #6 of 76
10/28/10 at 8:04am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LindaF144

No signed contract and no deposit? I'm surprised you held the date for them. Where i work that is not an indication of a cake order, just someone who was interested, but must have gone elsewhere.

Could it be that they are so nice that they can't tell you they went somewhere else? Some people will go to great lengths to avoid conflict.



No, the reason the contract was never signed is because they were not sure about adding a small kitchen cake (for extra servings) or not...and they waffled for a very long time about it...they could have signed it but just did not get around to it I guess....they put a nice deposit down so I do have that...so they didn't go elsewhere.

I guess they're just kinda unorganized. I hope that's all it is. I've kept up on them all this time with reminders here and there but you cannot force a bride to be prompt....
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post #7 of 76
10/28/10 at 12:18pm
Kit, I have a clause in my contract that states payment of deposit solidifies the agreement and terms of contract in lieu of signature. So basically, if they make a payment towards the contract they are agreeing to the terms and are bound by the contractual terms. This does hold up in court, (lawyer friend informed me of that little tidbit). Basically the same as a verbal agreement where payment has been documented. It is a contractual agreement.
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post #8 of 76
10/28/10 at 12:25pm
Thread Starter 
Well what happened is she went ahead and put a check in the mail before she got my email about NO check..I called her and she told me she did it. Its a local bank so I should be able to cash at her bank but if its written to my business name, I may not be able to.

She assured me it would clear, and I told her that I know she's a nice lady and I'm sure it will clear....but since I don't personally know her, I have to take certain precautions because if it does NOT clear, then I'm the one out of luck.

Question....I was thinking I should put something in my contract that states if payment is not made on time....then payment MUST be in cash. But then, that opens the door for late payments being acceptable.

On the other hand, I can't see ruining a bride's wedding because her mom paid her cake bill late....ya know?

Right now the only thing in my contract is that if payment is not made on the date specified, cake service will not be guaranteed.

If she wrote the check to my business and her bank won't accept it to cash for me, I'm gonna be upset...but I should wait I guess and see. But tomorrow is Friday...if the check does not arrive until sometime Saturday, then I'm out of luck until MONDAY which is the week of the wedding.

So irritating that such a nice, friendly family is messing me up. Grr.
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post #9 of 76
10/28/10 at 12:45pm
If the check is made out to your business, your bank may be able to give you an affidavit stating that you are the owner of the business account, so the customer's bank will cash it for you.

If this doesn't work, I would just go ahead and cash the check as you normally would at your own bank. The percentage of bad checks written is very small, and of those bad checks written only a small percentage are passed maliciously.
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post #10 of 76
10/28/10 at 1:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonkraft

If the check is made out to your business, your bank may be able to give you an affidavit stating that you are the owner of the business account, so the customer's bank will cash it for you.

If this doesn't work, I would just go ahead and cash the check as you normally would at your own bank. The percentage of bad checks written is very small, and of those bad checks written only a small percentage are passed maliciously.



Cash, or deposit?
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post #11 of 76
10/28/10 at 1:05pm
If at the customer's bank, cash it obviously...at your bank just do whatever you normally do. I always deposit checks, since I usually have enough for petty cash from customers who pay in cash.

I tend to use the term "cash" generically, it shouldn't make a difference if you get cash from the check or deposit it into your account.
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post #12 of 76
10/28/10 at 1:17pm
Come on, girlfriend, after all this time, I think you know the answer. You've seen this dreck happen too often to others here.

You need to call them and tell them that if they do not come with cash right now, they will have no cake. You will return the check, in the unopened envelope, when it arrives or when the cake is delivered.

And when it comes to your contract, you pros should all be at the point where there's no negotiating late payments. If the final payment is not made on time, cleared the bank or credit card company, and resting comfortably in your business account, they forfeit all deposits & payments, and they will also have no cake. If you are going to hold the date for them in good faith, and they do not comply with the terms of the contract, then you should be compensated for their neglect.

I have seen too many members on these forums get ripped off lately by the old check is in the mail routine, or by late checks that do not clear before delivery. Do not take the chance with these people.

Theresa icon_smile.gif
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post #13 of 76
10/28/10 at 1:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by playingwithsugar

Come on, girlfriend, after all this time, I think you know the answer. You've seen this dreck happen too often to others here.

You need to call them and tell them that if they do not come with cash right now, they will have no cake. You will return the check, in the unopened envelope, when it arrives or when the cake is delivered.

And when it comes to your contract, you pros should all be at the point where there's no negotiating late payments. If the final payment is not made on time, cleared the bank or credit card company, and resting comfortably in your business account, they forfeit all deposits & payments, and they will also have no cake. If you are going to hold the date for them in good faith, and they do not comply with the terms of the contract, then you should be compensated for their neglect.

I have seen too many members on these forums get ripped off lately by the old check is in the mail routine, or by late checks that do not clear before delivery. Do not take the chance with these people.

Theresa icon_smile.gif



I know. But I can't stomach leaving someone with no cake...especially when I really liked them. icon_sad.gif

But I know. I need to change my contract to have stronger wording about the payment, plus point it out to the customer when they sign. That way I won't feel bad if they do end up late.

Also I was left unsure as to who I was dealing with too. The bride had the main tasting. But the mother was involved too....the bride made the decisions...but then last week when I contacted her to remind her about the payment being due in a week...she told me her mom was doing it.

I sure wish they would figure out who is in charge of the cake and just keep it to one person!
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post #14 of 76
10/28/10 at 3:21pm
I would tell them at this late date it's cash only. Come pick up the check and bring me cash if you expect to have a cake at the wedding. Them misplacing the contract or being unorganized isn't your problem.
A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands!
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A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands!
Glenda
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post #15 of 76
10/28/10 at 5:29pm
At my bank I can only deposit checks made out to my business names. They will not let you cash it.

They may be the nicest people in the world but it's not your problem if they are disorganized and can't get it together to pay correctly (especially when you reminded them.)

You need to call both the bride and the mom and explain to them that you cannot accept a check at this late date. One of them needs to bring you cash and you will return the check to them. Explain to them that it is nothing personal just a business policy that you have.
Tact is telling someone where to go so nicely they can't wait to take the trip!
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Tact is telling someone where to go so nicely they can't wait to take the trip!
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