Bride/Groom won't pay....

[Dubsta]

Coles notes:

Was hired to do a wedding, did it...processed the pictures, had them all printed, bought the album, set it up, did the whole deal...the full package...

I have been calling for weeks, leaving messages, and talking to the babysitter, they will not return calls, and the past two weeks I didn't even get the babysitter...

I think they got their wedding video and said, screw the pics...what the heck do I do now!

The wedding was a small one, I got $200 up front, and now they owe me $400...besides the fact I already paid for the prints and the album....is there anything I can do?

[Dubsta]

Oh, they have not received anything from me yet, no pics or proofs or anything....

[bachscuttler]

Keep the $200 and photoshop the rest and put them on every forum you can find?

Or more sensibly, write to them in the first instance.
Did you draw up any sort of contract with them or get any written proof of your agreement to carry out the assignment?

[guitarman]

Originally Posted by bachscuttler

Keep the $200 and photoshop the rest and put them on every forum you can find?

Or more sensibly, write to them in the first instance.
Did you draw up any sort of contract with them or get any written proof of your agreement to carry out the assignment?

I don't know exactly what that would accomplish putting them on all the forums, but I wouldn't. If you had a contract I would just go after them that way. File it with the credit bearu. If you had no contract then there might be nothing you can do. You could take them to small claims court. Used to see small stuff like this all the time on Judge Judy. According to those courts, even verbal agreements are legal.

[BDM]

Originally Posted by guitarman

I don't know exactly what that would accomplish putting them on all the forums, but I wouldn't. If you had a contract I would just go after them that way. File it with the credit bearu. If you had no contract then there might be nothing you can do. You could take them to small claims court. Used to see small stuff like this all the time on Judge Judy. According to those courts, even verbal agreements are legal.

Most verbal agreements (with a few exceptions) are legal (i.e. enforcible) but there are two potential problems: without something in writing it is your word against theirs and (2) collection may be hard even if you get a judgment.

So, in the future always have a written agreement spelling out your responsibilities, their responsibilities, what money is due, when, what penalities will attach (interest) if payment is not timely and, of course, never do anything without first having a deposit that will at least cover your expenses. Otherwise, you are simply financing a part of their wedding. You can't do that and stay in business. If they balk at paying a reasonable deposit invite them to go elsewhere. If they won't pay a deposit imagine how willing they may be to pay the rest of your fee. You don't want customers like that.

You could try small claims court but first check to see how much the filing fee is. It could approach or exceed $100.00. If it does, you will have to decide whether it is worth your time, trouble and additional, out of pocket expense to file a case. You would probably be awarded the filing fee as costs in the judgment but again, that is only helpful if you can collect.

Good luck.

Bruce

[bachscuttler]

Originally Posted by bachscuttler

Keep the $200 and photoshop the rest and put them on every forum you can find?

I hasten to add that was a joke...don't try that at home folks

[blue_max]

Hey fella, take it easy - they are probably on honeymoon!

I am sure if you go round and show them the pics, they will love to see them and hopefully buy.

Good luck.

Graham

[Dubsta]

No, this was on of my first weddings and I actually just finished doing up my contract recently.

[Dubsta]

Well, I do have proof that I was their photographer! I have all the pictures!

[guitarman]

Originally Posted by Dubsta

Well, I do have proof that I was their photographer! I have all the pictures!

You would probably win in small claims court then. They would most likely have no good explanation why they didn't atleast call to tell you that they were unsatisfied for whatever reason. People like this can't just go around stiffing people that they have hired for a service.
Perhaps if you file in small claims and they get the notice, they will just end up paying you out of fear of going to court. It might cost you a bit to file but atleast you would recoup something.

[robertwgross]

If there is no witness to a verbal agreement, then it is tough to make that stick in any court.

It is for this very reason why it is vitally important to have some type of written agreement, and that lays out the deliverables (by the photographer) and the payment (by the client).

It is equally necessary for the payment schedule to be constructed so that you are not exposed on the cost of prints.

I would chalk that up to a few hundred dollars worth of education for the photographer.

---Bob Gross---

[guitarman]

Originally Posted by robertwgross

If there is no witness to a verbal agreement, then it is tough to make that stick in any court.

It is for this very reason why it is vitally important to have some type of written agreement, and that lays out the deliverables (by the photographer) and the payment (by the client).

It is equally necessary for the payment schedule to be constructed so that you are not exposed on the cost of prints.

I would chalk that up to a few hundred dollars worth of education for the photographer.

---Bob Gross---

As well it would be very hard to get a judge to beleive that someone that was a total stranger to the bride and groom, would photograph their wedding for free. I am sure he could get some kind of settlement out of it. I would have at the very least, when I was paid the deposit made a simple invoice in excel (template already there) that stated the $200 was a deposit and would have documented the remainder to be paid. Then I would have had them sign it. Very easy to do.

[robertwgross]

Originally Posted by guitarman

As well it would be very hard to get a judge to beleive that someone that was a total stranger to the bride and groom, would photograph their wedding for free.

Maybe. But that does not apply here. The photographer got part of the money up front. The clients might claim that the money was for the entire job. With no written agreement, or without any email record, this is almost impossible to prove.

A verbal agreement isn't worth the paper that it's not written on.

---Bob Gross---

[guitarman]

Originally Posted by robertwgross

Maybe. But that does not apply here. The photographer got part of the money up front. The clients might claim that the money was for the entire job. With no written agreement, or without any email record, this is almost impossible to prove.

A verbal agreement isn't worth the paper that it's not written on.

---Bob Gross---

I knew you would say that. But there again such an easy thing to disprove. Just go and get estimates from 3 or more wedding photographers and see how many of them are any where near $200. The judge would see that the evidence would show what the likelihood of a photographer doing a job for that little would be. In small claims court there doesn't always have to be beyond a preponderance of a doubt like criminal court. Sometimes its based on the most believable side.

[DocFrankenstein]

Originally Posted by guitarman

I knew you would say that. But there again such an easy thing to disprove. Just go and get estimates from 3 or more wedding photographers and see how many of them are any where near $200. The judge would see that the evidence would show what the likelihood of a photographer doing a job for that little would be. In small claims court there doesn't always have to be beyond a preponderance of a doubt like criminal court. Sometimes its based on the most believable side.

It's his first wedding... he could've charged just 200...

But then there's too much evidence against them. If you ring up the phone company, they'll give you a list of incoming/outgoing calls. You called them, they stalled.

They refused to take the pictures...

Sue them. They deserve it.