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Post by disneypal on Aug 27, 2015 17:52:02 GMT
Refund of album, yes Interest - no
It isn't the photographer's decision on how the couple chose to pay for the album. I am sure there is nothing in the agreement about paying them interest should they chose to cancel so no, I don't think interest should be reimbursed.
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bethany102399
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,521
Oct 11, 2014 3:17:29 GMT
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Post by bethany102399 on Aug 27, 2015 17:59:05 GMT
I'm with TheOtherMeg on this one. my gut instinct is hell to the no on the interest. That being said, what's the PR cost to the photog if they go crazy on social media badmouthing them? I have my own ideas about what the proper response is when first being told the wedding is cancelled, but as I am not a photographer, nor could I work with clients on a regular basis without wanting to hurt someone I don't know what I would actually do in that situation.
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Post by originalvanillabean on Aug 27, 2015 18:04:02 GMT
this. Perhaps...IF they communicated to photographer an alternate request, one could, as a courtesy. But no communication = no dice.
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suzastampin
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Posts: 2,587
Jun 28, 2014 14:32:59 GMT
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Post by suzastampin on Aug 27, 2015 18:06:39 GMT
The me part of me says "oh hell no" on the interest refund - like others have stated, they didn't have to use their CC. But, the business owner part of me says "what will it cost if I don't refund the interest?" Are these the type of people who will make the photog's life living hell over a couple of Hamilton's? If yes, then eat it and make it clear in the contracts for future bookings that interest will NEVER be refunded if the customer uses a CC and requests a refund. Learn from the mistake and move on. Cost of doing business, yada yada yada. Not worth the bad press the photog might get. Bad news travels a lot farther than good news. What's the saying, they'll tell one person if they are happy and 10 people if they are not.
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Post by STBC on Aug 27, 2015 18:10:51 GMT
Did they ask for the album refund? If they waited until a couple months later, that's on them. They knew it was on the card, and had the wedding actually taken place, would still have been on the card. Any other business would not include credit card interest with a refund.
But, the photographer shouldn't have waited on the client to say something for two months. I can see not bothering them for a few days or even a couple weeks, but not leave it outstanding for months.
However, it's probably less expensive to the business as a whole to just pay the interest an move on.
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MsKnit
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RefuPea #1406
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Jun 26, 2014 19:06:42 GMT
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Post by MsKnit on Aug 27, 2015 18:33:19 GMT
Absolutely not! Their choice to use a CC & pay interest is on them not those who they do business with.
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momto4kiddos
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,151
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:15 GMT
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Post by momto4kiddos on Aug 27, 2015 18:51:15 GMT
I can't even begin to form words about this...because they paid via credit card you are supposed to pay the interest they paid because they don't pay their balance every month? So if they paid by check would you be require to pay the interest they didn't get on that money in the months since you cashed the check? But really the big question is are they nuts?!!
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Post by twinks on Aug 27, 2015 18:53:35 GMT
I can see the photographer not wanting to get involved, meddle, etc. when one is cancelling a wedding. The client paid the $ and it is up to them to communicate with the photographer their intentions. It is their problem that they didn't communicate with the photographer until a couple of months had past. It is their choice to have put it on a CC and then not to have paid it off prior to interest being accrued. Sorry, but, refund is issued on the part that is in the contract. No interest is paid.
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Nanner
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Jun 25, 2014 23:13:23 GMT
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Post by Nanner on Aug 27, 2015 18:58:35 GMT
definitely no interest!
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Rhondito
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Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Aug 27, 2015 18:59:01 GMT
I agree the photog doesn't need to meddle or chase down the clients, but I'm curious. You say "waits for an answer". An answer to what? What was the question? Client emails photog, says "wedding is off". What was photog's response? (I still don't think photog should refund interest; I'm just curious as to why the couple expects this) The question being: Are you rescheduling, are you wanting to do a family shoot? Of course you don't just blurt that out when someone cancels a wedding, delicate hearts and all. Maybe photographer should have been more super blunt with these people. I think they are "we need you to be blunt" type people. I have to disagree here. When someone books a photographer for a wedding and then says the wedding is off, then it's kind of common sense that they will not be needing a photographer. If the photographer needs that to be clarified, then he/she needs to ask. I doubt it's a very joyous occasion when a wedding is canceled... I can't imagine wanting to document that time with family pictures. :/ But to answer the question - no, there should be no interest paid to the customer.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 7, 2024 7:56:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2015 19:07:28 GMT
As far as interest goes it really doesn't matter whether this is on credit card or not. Unless the couple keeps their money under a mattress or a no interest account (possible) they will be losing interest.
There should have been more communication. Either the couple should have said, "The wedding is cancelled. Could we get a refund on the album please?" Or the photographer should have said, "I'm sorry about the wedding. Would you like to do family shots that day instead or would you just like refund for album?" (Or something similar - maybe they won't want family pictures, but it would be a non nosey way to make sure things get communicated)
At this point the customer should not have asked for interest. I would be inwardly be rolling my eyes at that, but if the customer were polite I would just give a reasonable interest. There may have been a processing fee for the credit, but there wasn't work done on the day of the wedding and editing work etc. after that so it kind of gets taken care of.
Most of all, word of mouth goes a long way. It isn't just negative reviews that get somewhere. I've told friends and family positive experiences I have had even when the service wasn't going to work out for me.
Long short short - you don't owe it, but it may be a positive thing for business.
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johnnysmom
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Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Aug 27, 2015 19:14:19 GMT
For some reason I keep coming back to this. What does the contract say? Does it say something like "the amount paid for albums can be transferred or used towards a future booking?" if so, then you could point out where it says "amount paid" and take that stance against paying interest. Does it say anything about how soon the (non-refundable) session fee has to be used? If so, then you could say you hold funds until that date then automatically refund them, or something. If the contract doesn't address this (not specifically the interest issue, because that's just silly, but the use/forfeiture of session/album fees) then you should revise your contract. I'd still probably just give them the money to get them to go away, but it sounds like something you should revist soon anyhow.
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 27, 2015 19:19:40 GMT
We are talking about interest they accrued because they paid the photographer with a credit card and then didn't pay off their credit card bill?? hahahahahahaha no way ETA Why didn't the photographer refund the album immediately when the contract was canceled?"Never gives photographer any details of what their plan is (shoot, family photos, new date, whatever). Photographer does not meddle in the personal dealings of other people's lives and waits for an answer." Sorry, the OP only said the contract didn't allow for a refund of the wedding package, not that the wedding package could be transferred to another type of photo shoot. It sounds like the contract needs to include a time frame for when the package can be transferred. I don't think it is meddling to remind a client that have the option of rescheduling and if they choose not to, any refundable items will be processed. I still don't think they are owed any interest.
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luckyexwife
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Posts: 3,067
Jun 25, 2014 21:21:08 GMT
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Post by luckyexwife on Aug 27, 2015 19:20:16 GMT
I think the photographer dropped the ball. 2 months is a long time to wait for an answer. I would think s/he would have waited a week, then sent a polite message saying they are sorry the event was canceled, here is the album refund, and you look forward to hearing from them in the future if they need a professional photographer.
In this case, no, they are definitely not entitled to the interest refund. ..but, depending on the nature of the client, it might be easier to just refund the interest and move on, using this as a lesson on not leave money on the table for that long.
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MizIndependent
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Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,836
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Aug 27, 2015 19:21:59 GMT
No.
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Post by nyxish on Aug 27, 2015 19:26:08 GMT
Album refund, but no interest - not the photographer's issue or fault.
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freebird
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Jun 25, 2014 20:06:48 GMT
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Post by freebird on Aug 27, 2015 19:33:07 GMT
"Never gives photographer any details of what their plan is (shoot, family photos, new date, whatever). Photographer does not meddle in the personal dealings of other people's lives and waits for an answer." Sorry, the OP only said the contract didn't allow for a refund of the wedding package, not that the wedding package could be transferred to another type of photo shoot. It sounds like the contract needs to include a time frame for when the package can be transferred. I don't think it is meddling to remind a client that have the option of rescheduling and if they choose not to, any refundable items will be processed. I still don't think they are owed any interest. Actually, I did say that the wedding contract can be transferred only. but that money is not in play, only the album contract.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Aug 27, 2015 19:34:48 GMT
No. It's not the photographers issue that it was on the credit card. I agree!!
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Post by gmcwife1 on Aug 27, 2015 19:39:00 GMT
I mean, the interest thing is petty on their part, but I wouldn't want to waste my time going back and forth with them. People who ask for stupid concessions like that are the people who are going to badmouth you on every social media site and to everyone they know if they don't get what they want. It wouldn't be worth it to me. I'd bitch and moan about them privately, but would rather just get them out of my hair and move on. It's a small price to pay IMO. My thoughts as well. We're talking, what, $30 give or take a bit? It could cost you far more in time/effort to cleanup whatever bad PR they decide to inflict. I'd hate to do it, but I'd do it just to get them to shut up and go away. I hate that this is why people are getting things done their way, right or wrong, now
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Post by ChicagoKTS on Aug 27, 2015 19:43:27 GMT
The way I look at it is I buy something at a department store and put it on my CC. I hold onto it for 45 days and don't pay my credit card bill that has the purchased item on it, then decide to return it to the store for a credit -- I doubt the department store would also pay the interest I was charged even though I never used the item.
But having said that, I would probably try to ease customer relations and offer something free if they ever book another photo shoot. Maybe a free 8x10 or whatever. Just so the customer feels like they were given something.
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Post by penny on Aug 27, 2015 19:45:04 GMT
No interest... It was their choice to put it on a credit card and run a balance... If they had chosen to pay cash or pay off their credit card, interest wouldn't be an issue...
Besides, a credit card is a company that is willing to pay the service provider on the card holder's behalf... What that company chooses to charge the card holder for that privilege is negotiated between the company and the card holder... The service provider isn't part of that contract...
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Post by anonrefugee on Aug 27, 2015 19:49:41 GMT
Yes to album refund, assuming you do no pre-wedding work on it. No to interest.
Who would even think to request it - that was their choice!
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,067
Jun 25, 2014 21:21:08 GMT
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Post by luckyexwife on Aug 27, 2015 20:24:43 GMT
Hypothetical... of course Couple books a wedding package and adds on an album. Cancels wedding within days of wedding. Contract does not allow for refund of wedding package but does for the album. Never gives photographer any details of what their plan is (shoot, family photos, new date, whatever). Photographer does not meddle in the personal dealings of other people's lives and waits for an answer. 2 months later, couple wonders if they'll be getting the album refund, but wants interest (because they put it on their credit card). + interest or not? So, hypothetically speaking, what did happen?
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 27, 2015 20:29:10 GMT
The me part of me says "oh hell no" on the interest refund - like others have stated, they didn't have to use their CC. But, the business owner part of me says "what will it cost if I don't refund the interest?" Are these the type of people who will make the photog's life living hell over a couple of Hamilton's? If yes, then eat it and make it clear in the contracts for future bookings that interest will NEVER be refunded if the customer uses a CC and requests a refund. Learn from the mistake and move on. Cost of doing business, yada yada yada. I agree with this. I would weigh heavily the kind of person I was dealing with because I wouldn't want them to bad mouth me publicly. But I also wouldn't have taken two months to refund the money either. So I'm thinking I would have automatically mailed a check at the time my services were cancelled.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 7, 2024 7:56:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2015 20:30:29 GMT
My thoughts as well. We're talking, what, $30 give or take a bit? It could cost you far more in time/effort to cleanup whatever bad PR they decide to inflict. I'd hate to do it, but I'd do it just to get them to shut up and go away. I hate that this is why people are getting things done their way, right or wrong, now It's not new, though. The same kind of people were around well before social media and they complained to everyone who would listen and businesses wanted to make them happy to shut them up then too. "The customer is always right" is certainly not a phrase that came about recently. But today, the reality is that 95% of people are going to research their photographer online before even making an initial phone call. Negative comments online could result in lost bookings and that's a lot more money than a few bucks on interest. It would internally gall me to give people like this what they want, but I also wouldn't want to cut off my nose to spite my face.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 27, 2015 20:47:24 GMT
I guess if a customer cancelled my services at the last minute and asked me for a refund on something that I was willing to give them a refund for (such as an unused product like the album), I would have processed that refund ASAP. Is that not what they asked for? I don't think it would be too out of line to ask them at the time if they would prefer the refund for the album as a credit to their payment card or a credit toward future services, just to clear up their expectations right from the start. No need to get into their personal business, you're just asking how they would like you to proceed. Good communication is a two way street.
But to answer your question, I think since the refund was not credited back to their card right away, I would probably humor them and give them the interest too. It's not going to be that much money anyway, and certainly not worth the hassle of trying to undo any amount of online bashing they might be inclined to throw your way if you didn't.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Aug 27, 2015 21:12:43 GMT
I hate that this is why people are getting things done their way, right or wrong, now It's not new, though. The same kind of people were around well before social media and they complained to everyone who would listen and businesses wanted to make them happy to shut them up then too. "The customer is always right" is certainly not a phrase that came about recently. But today, the reality is that 95% of people are going to research their photographer online before even making an initial phone call. Negative comments online could result in lost bookings and that's a lot more money than a few bucks on interest. It would internally gall me to give people like this what they want, but I also wouldn't want to cut off my nose to spite my face. I didn't say complaining was new.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 7, 2024 7:56:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2015 21:19:59 GMT
It's not new, though. The same kind of people were around well before social media and they complained to everyone who would listen and businesses wanted to make them happy to shut them up then too. "The customer is always right" is certainly not a phrase that came about recently. But today, the reality is that 95% of people are going to research their photographer online before even making an initial phone call. Negative comments online could result in lost bookings and that's a lot more money than a few bucks on interest. It would internally gall me to give people like this what they want, but I also wouldn't want to cut off my nose to spite my face. I didn't say complaining was new. I interpreted your use of "now" as meaning it's new. Sorry I misunderstood.
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Post by birukitty on Aug 27, 2015 21:21:48 GMT
The me part of me says "oh hell no" on the interest refund - like others have stated, they didn't have to use their CC. But, the business owner part of me says "what will it cost if I don't refund the interest?" Are these the type of people who will make the photog's life living hell over a couple of Hamilton's? If yes, then eat it and make it clear in the contracts for future bookings that interest will NEVER be refunded if the customer uses a CC and requests a refund. Learn from the mistake and move on. Cost of doing business, yada yada yada. This. Sadly this. It's a learning process sometimes, and sometimes it makes you want to bang your head against the wall, but I think in this case it's just better to eat the damn refund and then fix it in your contract so you are never stuck like this by insane greedy people again. They could cause a horrible amount of bad publicity that could cost your business a lot more than whatever the refund fee is. So while you and certainly all of the rest of us know the answer should be "F NO!" sometimes in business, it's just not that easy. Sometimes the greediness and audacity of people astounds me. Debbie in MD.
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sharlag
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Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Aug 27, 2015 21:25:11 GMT
Everybody is talking about the interest as if it's what the customer had to pay on a late cc bill.
My interpretation is the customer is implying that photographer 'had use of' that money for a month or 2, earning interest on it.
But then, I'm in the minority on this thread, so...
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