hi antonia
it is hard sometimes with deposits with bookings taken over the phone.
as a salon, we either expect them to drop it in as we r local. or if the appointment is a week away at least, we ask them to send a cheque.
if the deposit isnt received by a day or 2 b4, then a call is made to cancel the appointment unless they can get the deposit in that day.
if i was mobile, i would think it worth driving to them to pick up the deposit.
at least when i was in the area.
if someone books for the next day and cant bring deposit in, the decision can only be made on instinct.
i would take a land line phone number and address.
they may still mess u around, but they may think twice if you have their details.
of course they may give u false details, the phone no u can check by calling later in the day, but there is only so much u can do to protect yourself.
we only do this near to xmas, when the likelyhood of people blowing u out is high, and the chance of u fitting someone else in at short notice is high.
if u are in a quieter time of yr, then this may seem unecessary.
i would seriously think about taking deposits for their 1st rebalance in the new yr also, as the ones that only wanted them for the xmas period very rarely call to cancel.
explain to them that if they give you 2 days notice, they can have their deposit back.
good luck, and hope you all take bucket loads of bookings in the run up to xmas!
