A client's bounced check cost me two weeks of work time

A regular client sent payment for a big project, but the check bounced. I had to call my bank, then their bank, then send them three emails with proof. It took two full weeks of back and forth before I finally got the real money in my account. I was stuck not being able to pay my own bills while I waited. Has anyone set up a better system to avoid this kind of delay?

4 comments

4 Comments

abbyp612mo ago

My friend's client did that, so she switched to bank wires only.

thea6023d agoMost Upvoted

Is it really that serious though? I get that bounced checks are annoying, but switching to bank wires only seems like a huge overreaction @abbyp61. I've had maybe two checks bounce in five years, and both times it was just a bank error that got sorted out in a few days with no fee. Unless your friend works with some super sketchy clients, it feels like she's making her whole workflow harder to avoid a problem that barely happens.

kimw572mo ago

Ugh, that's the worst feeling. Did you start adding a returned check fee to your contract? I slap on a fifty dollar fee now, and I make sure clients know about it upfront. It doesn't always stop it, but it sure makes me feel better when I have to deal with the hassle. For anything over a grand, I insist on a wire transfer or an online payment service that clears fast.

kai_chen22mo ago

Charge a deposit upfront for big projects, that way you're not left holding the bag if the final payment bounces.