I have clients get sweet on me frequently. I just have to handle it the same way I would anywhere else. I even had one woman respond to my saying that I could not date her because I was her professional service provider by canceling her apointments and then calling me 6 weeks later and saying, "Now that I am NOT your client, can we go out on a date now?"

Choice :
I am sorry to hear of what happened with the client you had who refused to pay and is no longer alive to pay. I will agree that you had a bad experience with that client.
I would like to tell you of how my Electrologist handled payment When I was getting Electrolysis as a client. The first time a client met with her she allowed only cash or credit/debit card payments. At that first session however she would offer a client the option to prepay by check for the next session. She explained to each that she offered this option to that the reason she offered it only as pre pay only for check cases is that this way she had time to be sure that the check would clear. Further she stated that if a client was going to cancel the appointment that was prepaid they needed to give her a 24 hour notice on actual business days Monday thru Friday or the appointment was considered attended and she would not rescedule the paid appointment. However, as with anything she also stated that there would be exceptions to this. If a client could prove extenuating circumstances as in an emergency situation on scheduled day she would reschedule them as prepaid for a different day. This option kept her and the clients happy. I was one who often took advantage of the pre pay option. And yes she did reschedule me once and only once when I did indeed have a situation preventing me from attending my appointment. Truth said I was surprised I was resceduled as I was unable to reach her at the last minute but she did find I had at least called her answering machine to explain the situation that one day and she called me the next week day to ask what day I would like to come in for a reschedule and to bring her proof of the funeral I had attended for a family member out of state that day I had been prescheduled for. See I had found out at the last minute with just enough time to attend that funeral. So she was willing to reschedule me that time. Her system really worked tho and rarely did a client actually turn out to be a no show as a good number of us were pre pay.
You might ask why I am telling you about this. There is a good reason. I thought it might give you some workable ideas for your practice since you stated a number of folks had either been no shows or had given you bad checks. This idea she put in action in her business while she was still in business (shes retired now) actually could work for you with those who want to pay by check.
If I am out of line by suggestion that you might wish to try what worked for my past Electrologist then I appologize now. But realize I am only trying to help you like many of you help out many of us in each of your practices on a day to day basis.

Monica_Jennifer

Don't worry Monica_Jennifer, we like discussing options here. That is what this site is all about.

Hi:

I think it is important for a client to establish a good relationship with their electrologist, and part of that means showing up for your appointments. I don't think it is good business practice to accept cheques from people unless they are long term clients and it is a rare occasion such as they didn't make it to the bank. If someone wanted to pay ahead by check as Monica mentioned that would probably work too.

I think we expect our electrologists to be professional and keep their appointments with us, and we have to do likewise. Relationships are built over time.

I am sure their are trans clients who would "stiff you" on a bad cheque,and I have been burned loaning a small amount of money to such a person, but they only end up burning their bridges and poisoning the well for others. Shame on them.

Alicia

Actually, in 20 years in business, I have never had anyone totally stiff me on a cheque. In fact, my clients are normally calling me on the phone to inform me that they are on their way over to replace a bad check with cash plus bounced item fees before my bank has even informed me of the occurance.

Like AliciaDarling said, it is a relationship. My clients are sweeties who don't want me to think that I can't take their checks, or that they don't value my work.

The naughty person who burned me and every other electrologist in the area extended the work past the free consultation and sample treatment period, and then pulled the "forgot my wallet" ruse. My secretary called the police and we could have had him/her arrested, but my compassion got the best of me, as I know what Trans people go through in jail, and our local holding center is an overcrowded zoo where natural born women report being raped by other inmates while in custody. Perhaps if I had not been so compassionate, I would have gotten paid, and that person of low morals would have learned a valuable lesson. It may have been better for the local community if I had. I just too much faith in the good of the world, which my experience with the majority of my business dealings had brought me up to at that point.

Now days, I won't be so easy, and many so called friends have ruined it for others in other areas as well. (Yes, that means you CD, BP & KK amoung others)

Getting stiffed is not unique to one particular group of people we work on. I know I'm repeating the obvious to all that have contributed their thoughts on this thread, so don't feel you have to come back and say "duh, Dee!" (smile). Personally speaking, I have had to take the trouble and time to go as far as file a suit in small claims court and put a lein on another persons property. We are into the 6th year and I will wait as long as the law allows. Sounds silly for such a small amount of $173.00, but I'm one bull dog that doesn't like being stiffed. And, no, he was not down and out. He never answered my calls or letters. His lifestyle was rather good and comfortable, at least on the surface. It all boiled down to the way he ignored me rather than the money issue. One of his properties is now up for sale, and when it sales, I'll be in line on closing day to collect the original fee, court costs and interest that has more than doubled the amount he originally owed me. Idiot.

I usually don't have problems with accepting checks from anybody, other than people saying that they forgot their checkbook the day of treatment, but they always mail it within a week. Those who don't pay up just need a phone call. Those that don't pay for services rendered will have the bulldog on their trail. I rely more on credit and debit cards now - easier for me and the client.

People that don't pay are the real losers because there are not enough good electrologists to make the rounds to complete their permanent hair removal plan, as James said. The job ahead always requires several sessions BECAUSE guess what!!!!........ hair grows in cycles! So don't tick off your electrolgist ladies and gentlemen. You need their help for a year or more. And, I agree with you Alicia, rapport and relationships makes it hard for anybody to be on the losing side of things.

Aliciadarling, thanks for explaining your reasons for not posting your electrologist's information. This is always the call of the client and the electrolgist. One idea: if you posted the information through Andrea or James or Monica-Jennifer, no one would even know that you gave this information so you could still be incognito. Of course, if your electrolgosist resists, then that's final.

Dee

Thanks for all the replies. I just wanted to give a reason that maybe many in the TS/TG community hadn't thought of as to why it's so hard to find an electrologist. It had never occurred to me until a group of electrologists were talking about it at a seminar. To me hair is hair and I wish I had more TS/TG clients! Conversations that I'm sure are training me to be a therapist in my next life. Unfortunately, because of the "unfriendly" area that I'm in, every single one of my TS/TG clients move to friendlier grounds before I complete their hair removal. The closest doctor that will do hormone therapy is 2 hours away! How ridiculous is that? And as for therapists, there is only one in my area that will see these ladies, but they report back to me that the therapist needs a therapist. So thank you Dee for posting the link to Laura's Playground.

I began taking credit/debit cards about 18-20 months ago. In years past, every time I looked into it, the fees and terminal were just more than I was willing to give up for the convenience. But now, the fees are next to nothing, especially considering that my bank now charges my business account a "deposit fee" after the first 50 checks! I love my credit card terminal! Next to my Apilus it's the 2nd most loved piece of equipment in my office!! I had a call this morning from a young woman seeing an electrologist in a neighboring town, and asked if I accepted checks, or just cash. When I told her I take it all, she was astounded that I take debit and credit cards, as her current electrologist doesn't. Guess I'm not as behind as some others.

Hi Dee:

I finally broke down and gave my electrologist info to Monica in case it may help someone. My electrologist is very accepting and understanding. I hope if anyone uses the information they aren't one of the deadbeat clients you have had to endure.


Hi Choice:

It would be a shame if the actions of a few bad apples discredited the whole group. I would like to think that people like myself on the other hand have had the opposite effect with regard to the people I have dealt with.

I think there are a lot of individuals out there in the beginning phases who are afraid to go to an electrologist since they are still in the closet. They are afraid they will either be laughed at, made the subject of gossip or condemned on moral or religious grounds. Perhaps knowing that there are accepting
electrologists around such as yourself, Dee or James might help to reassure them that they will be treated with respect.
In return for that respect they have to uphold their end of the bargain too by keeping their appointments and paying for the services rendered.

It is a shame the people in your area have to leave to find doctors treatment though.

Alicia