[markpowell]

Is it time to start asking for cash only?
I have had 3 cheques bounce on me in the last 2 weeks for a total of £477.00.
Is it due to the credit crunch or just bad luck?
I have never had a cheque bounce on me until now, so i am putting it down to people writing cheques that they cant afford to honour.
From now on i am only accepting cheques that are guaranteed with a card, i think this is usually £100, otherwise its cash on completion of the job.
Is anyone else having similar problems at the mo?
Mark

[Spot On cleaning]

Mark

I have been asking for cash only for the last 2 months without a problem. As i said in an earlier posting, you do the work, why then should you not get paid straight away. I give good prices and have a petrol bill in running a tm. Some people can't be bothered to draw cash out.

Dave

[sherco]

I had one the other day, she said when i had finished leave the invoice and she will send a cheque. I said no i want a cheque on completion as to my terms not yours. She paid there and then.

[Chris Galloway]

Just make sure you advise fully, cash on completion of the job, when you give the quote and advise its due to dishonoured cheques. You cant afford to be doing these jobs on credit any longer, as you are a small business with small cash flow.

A you say if they want these jobs done then they need to pay for it..  However many may be put off, as not everyone will have large sums of money on their person.

Perhas get them to sign a confirmation of payment, once a job has been done, and for them to sign it to say they are happy with the job and will pay.

Any charges due to bouncing cheques they will pay for, and if it comes to it you take them to the small claims courts to claim the money you are owed including costs!

[mark shannon]

I think its horses for courses some of my better clients would be insulted if i stipulated cash only on completion, rentals yes and you get a gut feeling if the custys dodgy so get card number.

Ive only been knocked once in 6 years and i think demanding cash from all custys on completion would damage the trust relationship i want to develop.

"

[Robert Watson]

Mark you beat me to it.
Was typing as you posted, Hate that.
This was it any way,

I think theres a fine line between getting cash and insulting the customer.
If they ask "would you take a cheque or prefer cash", I just say cash is always easier.
Also, you don't want them thinking your not declaring it.
Rab. 

[clinton]

Supose with any new clients i would be wary specialy if its and end of tenancy etc

Must be lucky as had one about ten years ago :

[derek west]

my clients trust me in there home, and i trust them with payment, only end of tenancy have to pay cash with me, its early days for me so i suppose until i get burnt this will always be my view, lets hope i never get burnt, for the customers sake not mine.
derek

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Very much in agreement with Mark and Derek.

Here are the tricks to ensure any cheque will be paid providing a guarantee card is being used:-

Obviously ensure the card belongs to the owner and the signature on the cheque matches the signature on the card. Also ensure the sort code on cheque and card also match.

Now, assuming the cheque guarantee card has a limit of £100 and say your bill is for £205, the following will GUARANTEE the cheque is paid.

Firstly, it is you, the payee, not the writer of the cheque who must put the card number on the back of the cheque. If the writer does then the bank on which it is drawn is entitled to return the cheque if there are insufficient funds in the account to pay it.

Secondly, get three cheques off the person, say for example £90, £90 and £25. Make sure they are dated on different days and most importantly, present them (ie. pay them in) on three different days. If all 3 were paid in on the same day the rules for cheque guarantee cards stipulate that if there are insufficient funds in an account then only the first cheque to the same payee, issued on the same date need only be paid and in this example the second and third cheques could be "bounced" if there are insufficient funds to pay them.

Hope this explanation helps a little?

[JandS]

Cash is king up here.
Rarely get a cheque from your ordinairy Joe Public not even for large amounts.
Don't forget though I live in Yorkshire and everybody up here keeps there money under the whippets blanket in the kennel next to the ferret.
I don't get cheques offered I get bags of salt, chickens and goats offered and they never bounce??
Oh and even though they know what the price is for the job they always say "how much" when it comes to paying.

John

[mark_roberts]

I rarely get cash.  Only had two bounce in the last 8-9 years got it back.  If I ever do a rental for the tennent  i do ask for cash though.

A good few large businesses now pay by bacs which is great.

Mark

[derek west]

john
if you ever get offered a wii fit, let me know
derek

[John Kelly]

Derek, Viking Direct had them. We got one a few weeks ago.

[davep]

Nice tip John, just got one 

[clinton]