Rant

[JohnGoodman]

I've just had a client for reflexology and she brought her Mum along too, perhaps for safety as she has never been before, which is fair enough. But between them they hadn't brought enough money to pay for the treatment and so expected a discount. I had already given the treatment as I only deal with money after I finish so there really wasn't anything I could do except say ''ok make it up next time'' even though she hasn't booked another treatment.
How cheeky is that?! If they were buying jeans in a shop they wouldn't get them for less than the stated amount and my price list is clear on my website which is how she found me.
I feel quite upset...what can you do in these situations? I always just expect people to be decent and pay for what they get.

 

[bigeightteeninch]

Cheeky blighters, send them a bill! Im sure they would have checked out the cost before coming (who dosent?) Some people just take the biscuit.
I m sure like most of us therapists if they really wanted a treatment but couldnt afford the full fee , we would be happy to help but , to just expect it is just out of line.

 

[Encossisp]

I would wait a week or so to see if they re-book, if you don't hear from them, absolutely send them an invoice!

The cheek of it!

 

[Reginald Flemmingsatire]

Unbelievable!! I agree with Rosi...
I doubt she will rebook now sadly!

 

[Rhyaddan]

SO annoying! was there a big difference in the amount she paid you? My first ever client did that to me, ok, it was only a pound difference but she KNEW how much i charged after speaking to me on the phone! Plus i had to pay for the room hire. Why on earth would anyone go for a treatment knowing they didn't have enough money to pay?! After all, you wouldn't go to the supermarket with less money than needed. Freeloader springs to mind. Maybe ask future clients to pay first? genuine people will understand this i'm sure. And i would deffo send her a bill, the cheeky mare!! x x

 

[pgeetudgivniqleez]

I don't think that you will ever see them again, nor do I think you will get any money through the post if you invoice them! I have experienced this first hand - idential scenario - I wonder if it is the same pair! They tried it on with another therapist in the same town, but I had already warned people, so they left the building as they were asked to pay before the treatment - same sort of thing "Oh, I left my purse at home - Mum (in my case it was her sister), have you got any?" "Only £20 note" (my fee was £30, as clearly stated on all my leaflets, on the wall and on the phone!!!...... However, once bitten etc - I've never let it happen again.

 

[John Lennon]

Note to everyone, always ask for the money first!

 

[mwm0788]

In this particular situation, it may well be that it was deliberate, but I do think there is an expectation now that everywhere will take debit cards. I would rarely have enough actual cash on me to pay for a massage etc. I was mortified at a new hairdresser recently as I assumed that would take plastic, and I didn't have enough to pay cash, even though I did know in advance what it would cost. (although I would say I hot-footed it to the cash point with a red face, and paid within 10 minutes). And the haridresser was lovely about it - but I could easily have disappeared with my nice new highlights, and never been seen again!

 

[IntenseDesire]

Yeah I would also have run to the nearest cash point! It seems the only thing to do, really!!

I find it hard to ask people to pay before the treatment... :S

 

[Briony]

It's sad that it seems to be such a common thing. I feel like it is a bit too 'business' like to do the money first and makes me look like a money grabber but if this kind of thing is going to happen I may have to start asking first for the money.
She gave me most of the payment but I couldn't believe how cheeky it was! If it was me I would at least offer to bring money later instead of seriously expecting to not have to pay properly.
It says on my website 'cash payment only'!
If I don't hear from her again I will send her an email in couple of weeks asking for the rest.
Thanks to everyone for your supportive replies!

 

[nxojwgor]

Good luck hon, I remember I once went to a salon and assumed they took plastic, I was mortified when they said cash only!, I even left a piece of jewellery while I nipped to a cash point close by. Isn't it awful how we can all mistrust so easily though. x x

 

[Mind2Mind]

I've thankfully never had this happen. It's more about the clients who don't turn up for their appointments and don't say that leaves a bad taste. And getting them to pay for a missed treatment is another scenario that's unwelcome.

I did have a problem with asking for money from my clients (in the early days I didn't even charge near enough for what I was worth!), but have done some personal development courses since and have seen my fair share of 'cheeky' clients over the years, to now feel AND OWN my worth, which allows me to be the therapist and person I wish my clients to know and trust. I am straight with my clients, and never offer a discount, I wait to be asked and then I stick to the strict discount criteria I have stipulated on my website. I certainly don't discount first treatments, as this is the footing you are gaining a client on which IMO will only lead to future cheeky requests and awkward situations.
You could say once you've finished your consultation, what the treatment fee is and that they can pay now or at the end of the treatment. This would stop anyone from saying they didn't know how much you charge and anyone who didn't have enough money would have chance to say so. Though, if you are sure you only want to ask for money at the end of a treatment, then make sure you are aware of your nearest cash point.

If you looked at the situation from the clients perspective, what kind of a therapist would you like to greet you? One who was willing and accepting to do whatever you asked, or one who was strong in mind and had softness in delivery of voice.
My beauty therapist is meek when she asks overly politely for her fee at the end of my treatment, I certainly don't respect her for it - as I know if i put her in the situation where I asked for a discount or couldn't pay full price, I know I'd get it and then I could tell all my mates that she's a pushover and can get cheaper treatments. I tell her to state it plainly (I am polite, don't worry), and even more so if she ever decides and finds the strength to raise her prices too!

Find that inner strength and be that strong and confident person you can be! You know you have it in you! I'm just stating what you already know but sometimes need reminding of

Love
Ping

 

[zimstar]

Sorry about what happened spangle! Unfortunately there are a lot of chancers out there.

Certainly a solution is to ask for payment up front. I didn't used to do this but I read about it on Healthy Pages a while back and decided to give it a try. Now what I do is make a judgement call as to how trustworth I think the client is. Admittedly it's a bit of a gamble but I tend to trust my gut feelings about people. You don't have to ask many times before it becomes less uncomfortable and more like habit. Sometimes I'll say "would you like to pay cash or cheque?" at the beginning, which is a good prompt. Or I may say "could we sort the payment first so we don't have to worry about it at the end?" Several people at that point make the connection that they'll be feeling very relaxed when the treatment is finished and may find writing a cheque a bit of a struggle. If you say it with warmth and nicely (which I'm sure you will) it soon becomes easy and clients never bat an eyelid.

OK so I'm lucky because I'm mainly mobile so clients can't really say they've left their handbag/wallet at home. I've never yet had someone say they can't pay me doing mobile but if they did I'd be tempted to ask for something to act as security like their watch, toaster or cat . It's unlikely they'd be dishonest though since I know where they live. (...actually, I'd want to keep the cat! )

I also work at a salon as an independant therapist but, as such, the salon wont take card payments when clients use me since they don't want my money going through their system. This has meant that I've had to trust several clients who have been caught without means of payment and needed to go to the nearest cash machine. Thankfully they've always come back, so far.

Basically the main thing is not to let dodgy clients get to you. It's one think losing some money but it's a bigger issue to dwell on it and let it gnaw away at you.

 

[As_It_Is]

This has happened to me a couple of times. I said they could pay on their next appointment (only £3-£5 difference), they booked appointments and then never showed up to them!

I have also had people assume that they could pay by card to find out there was no card facilities where I work. They always rushed to the cash point nearby to get the money out and came straight back to pay. I now always say on the phone/email that I do not accet credit/debit cards - just cash/cheque.

 

[daringafire]

Hey everybody,
Well I thought I would update you and I am glad to be able to tell you that this story has a happy ending! I waited two weeks and heard nothing from the woman. So I sent her an email and didn't mention the money, I just said I was interested to know how she felt after the treatment and whether she had any feedback. She answered positively and said she felt terrible about not paying the full amount. She said she would pay it into my a/c if I gave her my bank number, which I felt a bit dubious about but did it anyway. Sure enough she has paid the difference!

 

[oyebsutzivxiceedh]

thats good then, glad she came up with the readys!

Ive had something similar happen to me, well its my own fault really, Im presuuming that a lot of the therapists on here charge 'mates rates'? well I have a mate who has regular treatments, usually its reflexology but shes started having IHM since I qualified in that as well.

She text me the other day asking if I was free to do her a treatment and I told her I was free, she quoted the amount I usually charge her and asked if that was correct as she couldnt remember and I text back and confirmed it was.
Well the treatment day came- (sat just gone) and when I got to her house which is a good 4 miles from my home I found her mother sat there and she was the one having the treatment, the 'mate' said shed booked me as a surprise for her Mothers day present, ok, no worries but I had to do a full consultation again as Id never treated this woman before, then the mate said was I doing her an IHM first before her mum? at that point I thought of the extra money Id earn and asigned myself to the fact I was going to be there a lot longer than originally planned and I had made plans myself but business is business, anyway, I had to stop the mates treatment halfway through as she said she felt faint and dizzy, so I made sure she was sat down with a glass of water whilst I did her mums reflexology treatment.
I got really nice feedback whilst doing her feet, she was making all these sighs and groans and told me it felt wonderful then when I finished she too said she felt faint and dizzy and at this point I got rather worried! I hadnt done anything that should have caused this but I know people react differently so I gave her the aftercare advice and double checked my 'mate' when I was satisfied they were both ok I packed up and my mate gave me the envelope which she usually gives me when she pays me.
I stupidly put it in my bag without checking it -assuming Id been paid for both treatments- and left as I was running late. When I opened the envelope she hadnt paid me for the treatment I gave her mother and she was 3 quid short off her treatment too!!
I am in a complete dilemma now of how to broach the subject as I personally feel they were both pulling a 'fast one' and had planned this from the start, yet Ive never had a problem before now with this 'mate' although I do give her a very generous discount. Its making me now think I need to stop doing mates rates but I know its gonna probably lose me a lot of clients.
Yes I am gullible and far too soft for my own liking but I enjoy giving treatments far more than I enjoy being paid for them as I love to see the end results.
I strongly suggest to anyone just starting out that they dont make the mistake I made by starting all this 'mates rates' thing off as I am my own worst enemy for stupidity.

xx

 

[Arnold Piff]

Hi Wendywoo62000

I don't know the strength of your friendship. You have written that she confirmed your price via text.

Let her know that the the text contained the quote for her, as she was the one who booked the single appointment with you.

If she was aware of your 'mates rates' price, then she should be made aware that it was exclusive to her - if she isn't aware of this already.

As you have mentioned business is business, you need to invoice her for the second clients treatment and the outstanding amount.

See what response you get. Book her next appointment once the outstanding amount is paid.

And prior to her next appintment, let her know your charges. Maybe she wasn't aware of your 'mates rates.'


Hope this helps, x

 

[brdevane]

Wendywoo you should definitely get in touch with her and ask her for the money for her mum's treatment, especially as she had got it as a gift for her mum.

 

[Lamar Jose]

Hi

I think it's deffo time to stop the mates rates, I know it's difficult when as therapists we feel passionate about what we do and why we do it, but look at the other side of it. We also have to make a living and it's such a shame that friends sometimes take advantage of this. Ask yourself, if you were working at another job and your employer only paid you a percentage of your weekly wage and said they'd pay you the rest next week how would you react?. Your friend should have told you her mother was expecting a treatment, or at least asked first. Maybe give her a call and explain how you feel, she may not have even realised that she was doing any wrong. You'll feel better for it. Good luck x

 

[Arimesis]

Yeah I definately think the honest and upfront approach is best. I don't do mates rates but I am always amazed at how many acquaintances say they'll book in for a treatment and then ask for a discount almost straight away. I always make it clear that all money I make goes through the books therefore I only charge the full rate.
It's strange because my own family and real friends never ask me for freebies (though I give them!) but virtual strangers seem to expect special treatment.