Client likes to wait...

Blade Borge

Blade Borge

Well-known member
Client likes to wait to pay for wedding footage, luckily I haven't given them a frame...

I want to be more assertive than pushy, the Groom said he'd have the money order sent two weeks ago, nothing since, I emailed this week and then called tonight but no answer. What would your next move be?

I got bills to pay, know what I mean...
 
Send the boys around! failing that...

Did u invoice them with payment terms? If they persistently miss/avoid your calls and emails then send them a warning letter... obviously word it politely and just state that they agreed to pay two weeks ago or whatever itll be and that you have people to pay also etc....

Hope that helps...


Tom
 
This is exactly the reason why I changed my policy to '50% upfront and 50% when it's completed' a couple of years ago. Or you can think of it as a 'guaranteed booking fee/ retainer'...either way...the client has to buck up at least half to gain my trust and get me out shooting, unless I've worked with them previously of course.

If they haven't made contact with you over payment for 2 weeks after saying they would, I would simply call them back and again kindly remind them of the overdue account. If you have to go further than that, kindly let them know you simply cannot hang onto the footage forever, and that barring any payment, you cannot be held responsible for any damages that may be incurred during the storage of their Wedding video....and that it will just end up being a loss for everyone....watch them cough it up then.
....Or tell the WIFE her husband won't pay for HER wedding video...see how THAT goes over.
:nads:
 
When I did weddings it was 1/3 up front as a non refundable deposit, 1/3 the day of or before and 1/3 upon delivery of the finished video.
 
Starshine Video said:
When I did weddings it was 1/3 up front as a non refundable deposit, 1/3 the day of or before and 1/3 upon delivery of the finished video.
Click to expand...

This is what my wife and I were charged for our wedding. Pretty standard here in TO.

Though I don't do weddings, for corporate clients I charge 50% up front, 50 percent
on delivery. I started this policy about 5 years ago after I shot and edited an event
for a client, and they simply never returned my phone calls after the fact. The company
then went belly up and I was left with a lot of what I lovingly refer to as "stock footage".

you simply cannot hang onto the footage forever, and that barring any payment, you cannot be held responsible for any damages that may be incurred during the storage of their Wedding video
Click to expand...

This works really well for me when clients are dragging their butt either approving drafts or
settling the balance of an invoice.

Peter
 
Okay, it's been a month since wedding (payment was due on wedding day). I have emailed and left voicemail several times, not one response back. They have either been swamped with other payments, holiday shopping or they are flaking out and decided they can't pay for footage anymore, footage not sent yet.

Should I

a) Relax, don't send anymore emails, if they want the footage, they'll respond.

b) Persist harder, be offended they haven't communicated.

c) other

Thank ya
 
B)

I would send them a final email stating due to lack of payment the content will be deleted and tapes/media recycled within 48 hours.

If that doesnt get them going, you will never get your money anyway...
 
I would suggest "B", but only one final email - sometimes in the wedding business, you're just going to have to write a wedding or two off. Unfortunately, I had to deal with that two years ago, but its only happened once.

Some people realize they just don't have the funds or aren't willing to pay for it,

Kegan
 
emretufekci said:
B)

I would send them a final email stating due to lack of payment the content will be deleted and tapes/media recycled within 48 hours.

If that doesnt get them going, you will never get your money anyway...
Click to expand...

I like the way you think and would subscribe to your newsletter! :kali:
 
"I know where you live"

"Do I have your permission to talk to your mother?"

"shall I give my godfather a call?... no.. the other godfather.... maybe we can all sit down and work out a payment plan?"

J/K - please keep us up to date with how it is going.
 
emretufekci said:
B)

I would send them a final email stating due to lack of payment the content will be deleted and tapes/media recycled within 48 hours.

If that doesnt get them going, you will never get your money anyway...
Click to expand...


Though I like this option in theory, erasing the files doesn't get you paid. In fact, it hurts your case if you take them to small claims court,
as they can contend you didn't have anything worth paying for.

Better to just take them to small claims court. If costs barely anything (it's around $25
here in Canada) and it sends them a clear message that you want payment and are done
messing around.

9 times out of 10, they'll call to arrange payment long before you see trial.

When necessary, suing is a perfectly appropriate response. It's professional and avoids
the situation devolving into threats (veiled or otherwise).
 
This begs the question, if they don't have the item, i.e. the footage, can I take them to small claims court...
 
Blade Borge said:
This begs the question, if they don't have the item, i.e. the footage, can I take them to small claims court...
Click to expand...

Absolutely. As long as you have the documentation to back up that they hired you.

I don't know about the US, but in Canada all cases have to go to mediation first. In your
case, you would meet with an arbiter, who would try and mediate the dispute. If you
have the contract and the footage, it should be a no brainer.

Arbiter (or judge)
"Did you hire this man to photograph your wedding"

Client
"Yes"

Arbiter
"Do you have the photos they hired you to take?"

Supplier (you)
"Yes"

Arbiter (to you)
"Give them the photos.

Arbiter (to client)
Pay his invoice".

Simple as that. The only issue would be that they claim they didn't hire
you, or you agreed on a different rate (all crap if you have a contract).

I don't think it will go that far though. Once they receive your intent
to sue in the mail. They'll settle with you.
 
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