First client from "a street"...

[Vanish]

I had my first client today in salonfor full set of gel nais... it went well and she seemed very pleased with her nails. She wanted to pay with card but the salon I work in doesn't exept it and we appologised to her for that.. she said :"No probs.. I'll go to cash point and be back in a few minutes.."(we are right in the city centre and there are plenty of different banks and so on...) But she never came back It is so sad... I mean even the loose of money isn't so dissapointing as the fact some people DO do that...
Did it happend to anybody else? What tips do you have to prevent such a situations?
Thanks a lot for any replies.

 

[champagne]

Well if it was me id call the police and see if theres any cctv in the area....

Unfortuately this is the society we live in....... How these people sleep at night is beyond me ....

You should inform each client of the payment system before you carry out any treatment so that they can get cash before you start ......

 

[DaisyPie]

Do you have her contact information? I would firstly try phoning, followed by a politely (but sternly) worded letter sent to her house reminding her to pay (and noting that you will be taking things further if payment is not made within the week), and then if that doesn't work I'd report her to the police.

 

[Sassy Hassy]

Try and prevent it in the first place by letting people know you only accept cash when you book. It is very rare for places not to take cards these days and will solve embarrassment all round.

 

[talented talons]

This is a difficult one really, but as Sassy said, make it clear in the beginning about cash only.

I'm mobile myself, so cash is my only option really and people know this. Only regulars occasionally pay me using a cheque. I would just make sure she never gets booked in again, (although i doubt she'd have the balls to come back anyway) It's just annoying when it happens.

 

[nailzoo]

ask them to leave something until they come back .....
honest people understand this,
as a joke, I ask them to leave 1 shoe.

 

[talented talons]

ask them to leave something until they come back .....
honest people understand this,
as a joke, I ask them to leave 1 shoe.

I like this comment Hun, the other option is to go with them if you can?? Just say, "Fine i'll come with you to save you coming back to us."

 

[michelle g]

I have had people that have had to pop to the bank but they normally
leave thier handbag and just take thier purse. you can't trust anybody
unfortunately.

 

[izzidoll]

Surely if a Client Consultation card had been filled out with her details then she would have been less likely to do this, she would have known you had her details and could have reported her to the police.

I hope this hasn't knocked your confidence too much, most of us have been caught out by clients in some way, bounced cheques, ""forgot my purse etc etc.....It is all a learning curve at the beginning, and unfortunately we learn more from our mistakes lol!!!

Her loss as well though, as she now can't come back to you for another set of lovely nails!!

By the way your User ID is rather appropriate for this thread lol:lol:

 

[thg]

this has happened to me a couple of times, what type of people are they, they've sat with you and watched you do all that work on there nails , shameful.
I'm a great believer it will come back to haunt her.
Don't let this experience put you off. Just carry on most people are honest and trustworthy, she probably new the salon did'nt have a card machine, and hoped that the situation turned out the way it did, cow no towrag i wouldn't want to insult an animal.lol thg

 

[Bev Rose]

I agree with Izzi.

I always - before I even look at a new clients hands, give them a form to fill out which includes all contact details and other information, then we have a consultation etc.
This would certainly avoid this happening. Or at least you could of sent her the bill.

I have had the odd person nip out to the cash machine in the next village and come back.

I don't have a card facility and not really looked into it. May be this would be worth the investigation.

I think contacting the police is a good idea as they will more than likely have cctv. Hope you can catch the blighter!

 

[Susie H]

I agree with Izzi.

I always - before I even look at a new clients hands, give them a form to fill out which includes all contact details and other information, then we have a consultation etc.
This would certainly avoid this happening. Or at least you could of sent her the bill.

I think its lovely that you are so honest that it hasn't occurred to you that someone who is dishonest enough to walk of with out paying would also put false details down on a card:irked:
I'm afraid as said, the only way to stop this is the one already given, go with her to the cash point machine, to save her coming back.
Also a large prominent sign in the window that states no cards taken.
Hard to do but chalk it up to experience and move on.

I had this happen a few times as a taxi driver and it got so bad in Luton that taxi's started charging up front.

 

[blossom]

I agree with everything that's been said and it may be a sad reflection on a small part of today's society. I still think the majority of people are honest but it's a shame that there is this element but it will always be the case (and always has been).

However, it was only yesterday and maybe something unavoidable happened. One of my clients found she had no money and I asked could she pop it by later that day . . . (I work from home and said if I was out leave it in an envelope through the door). Sadly she never came back that day and I was rolling my eyes and thinking bad of her, and was very surprised because I had her down for being very trustworthy.

Three days later she send a cheque through (and a larger amount than what was due as well) with a note of apology, there had been something which cropped up which just blew minor things from her mind temporarily. She continues to come now, in fact she is one of my favourites (oh I know we shouldn't have favourites but how can you not?)

Maybe I'm an eternal optimist but I like to think your lady will come back soon with her money.

If she doesn't then it really is her loss, she won't be able to show her face in your salon again for her infills even if they are the best nails she's ever had!

 

[Vanish]

Hello Geeks and thank for all your replies
Now I realised that girl knew at the first place what she was doing...
She did fill a client record form(I'd never miss that bit of work) but the name isn't her real name... at least a voice on the answering mashine says absolutely different name... the address she gave isn't exsist in generally though a zip code is right but the number of house is wrong... So why would anybody do that if he isn't going to do something dishonest?
But you are right in one - I should awere people we do not accept cards...
lesson for future...
I still belive though there are more nice and honest people in this world than opposite ones.

 

[Bev Rose]

I agree with Izzi.

I always - before I even look at a new clients hands, give them a form to fill out which includes all contact details and other information, then we have a consultation etc.
This would certainly avoid this happening. Or at least you could of sent her the bill.

I think its lovely that you are so honest that it hasn't occurred to you that someone who is dishonest enough to walk of with out paying would also put false details down on a card:irked:

Susie - do you know - I am honest, because that has never occurred to me that anyone would want to do that to me. How sad am I. However, I do live in a small village in a rural area anyone rings me to book in their number comes up on either my mob or landline & I make a note - but I suppose that could be a call box.

I'm afraid as said, the only way to stop this is the one already given, go with her to the cash point machine, to save her coming back.
Also a large prominent sign in the window that states no cards taken.
Hard to do but chalk it up to experience and move on.

I had this happen a few times as a taxi driver and it got so bad in Luton that taxi's started charging up front.

Hello Geeks and thank for all your replies
Now I realised that girl knew at the first place what she was doing...
She did fill a client record form(I'd never miss that bit of work) but the name isn't her real name... at least a voice on the answering mashine says absolutely different name... the address she gave isn't exsist in generally though a zip code is right but the number of house is wrong... So why would anybody do that if he isn't going to do something dishonest?
But you are right in one - I should awere people we do not accept cards...
lesson for future...
I still belive though there are more nice and honest people in this world than opposite ones.

Me too hun, but I expect we'll both get our fingers burnt sooner or later.

A few years ago, a client I had been visiting for a couple of months paid me by cheque, I was sooooo busy (xmas time) I had no time to bank it before & returned for my next appointment (2weekly) and she paid me by cheque again.
I banked these after the xmas rush & they bounced. Twice & cost me bank charges.
I telephoned and was promised the usual toss of cheque in the post & I said no, bring the cash. The Hubby promised to drop it in (£60 approx) the next eve. No Show!
I called them again & she would not come to the phone - thankfully I have a friend who runs a debt collection agency & he took it on, without me asking - it cost her £250, plus a court judgement - I ended up with about £100, which covered my costs.
Stupid bint! It still riles me up now, thinking about how that bitch must of been laughing inwardly whilst I was toiling away on her. The cheques were about 15 cheque numbers apart - so I was obviously not the only one she duped. ggggrrrr!:irked:

 

['chelle]

What an awful thing to happen. I honestly dont think there was anything you could have done to prevent that happening. You filled in the client record card, and of course none of us ask how our client intends to pay until the treatment is over and done with. She clearly targeted you knowing you dont take card payments.

I would still contact the police, procuring a service without means of payment and making off without payment are criminal offences, and they may be able to pick her up trying this trick elsewhere??

Put this one down to experience and move on. I am glad I read this thread as I would have done just the same in your situation, but now I will make sure I tell every new client that I dont take card payments before the treatment starts so they can go and get their cash before any work has been done.

 

[Superkaz]

Thats a sad thing to happen.
Especially that she went to all the trouble of providing fake details.

She will be kicking herself if you did a great job of her nails though.
She will be angry that she cant come back to you in the future!

 

[MrsR]

What comes around..............it will all catch her up in some way hun.

 

[cro-mari]

What comes around..............it will all catch her up in some way hun.

agree on that. Don't worry hun, just move on. I had a client who was coming for awhile and (I thought) she was ok. But one day she said, oh, can you please do my nails and I'll bring you money in 10 days, when my pay check comes. So I said ok, coz I had no trouble with her and she brought her sister too, so she became my client to. And when I finnished she said, bye, my hubby's waiting, we're going to the store now to buy xy stuff. I raised my eyebrowes and thought, so, you don't have money for nails but you have for xy stuff which wasn't exactly milk or diapers for her kids. But, I waited... and waited... no her and her sister either. And after 4 freaking months I ran into her in the store (and she was trying to run away like she didn't see me) and I said, my dear, if you knew that you wouldnt pay, you should have said so and I would have done it for free (I wouldnt, but I just said it to make her ashamed). And she said, oh, I will pay... and I said, don't bother, and turned my back on her.

All people are not bad, but some of them really can surprise us. But that's just one of my other 100 dear, dear clients.

 

[kylz]

This may be a bit far fetched but have you called other salons in the area to see if she has done the same thing to them?
Perhaps one of them has a contact card for her, or possibly followed it up with police etc, she may be known in the area?
It also warns other salons of her possible intentions.

I like to think 99 % of people are honest, perhaps she just forgot, although im sure when she looks at her nice new nails, she would remember?
I cannot give you any advise except perhaps that my clients like to pay upfront so they dont mess up their polish diving into their handbag. saying something like "would you like to pay prior to having your nails done, that way your nail polish wont get messed up afterwards"...you may want to word it a bit differently.