Money orders?

Just had a client ask if they could pay me several hundred dollars for multiple sessions they are wanting to do over the next year (maternity & babies first year package).

I honestly don't have any experience with moneyorders or know anything about them.

Whats the difference than them paying check or cash? Should I say no, or are they ok?

thanks.

Since they're paying you in advance, take the money order, deposit it, don't start work until it clears or bounces. (4 business days)

Money Orders can be canceled just like a check, even a bit easier in some cases. If you are going to take one, try to take a Postal Money Order.

Never take a foreign money order, or one in a foreign currency.

They are wanting to pay me the money order on the day of the first photo-session, which is her maternity session.

So, I should ask her to send me a postal money order about a week before to give it time to clear?

You're fine, because you won't just give them product that day, right?

Well yeah, of course if it didn't go through, I wouldn't show them any of the images or give them their products!

But I was just making sure that their wasn't anything about these that I was missing!

People usually assume that money orders are safer than checks -- not true, because they can be canceled, and until they clear you do not know that.

Congratulations on getting paid!

There is NO WAY to cancel a POSTAL MONEY ORDER from USPS.

If you call the post office as the purchaser and give them the numbers the ask for, they will cancel payment of the money order. Who ever is on the cashing end will see it was canceled, when the punch in the numbers.

Yes you can cancel a USPS money order!

It's a riga maroll to get your money back but, it is doable.

Do the shoot but, don't make any prints or media files till the money is in your account.

yjt wrote in post #11870723
There is NO WAY to cancel a POSTAL MONEY ORDER from USPS.

It is very easy to do.

All paper instruments can be canceled, even a cashier's check -- people just lie and say they lost it.

(I used to see this and other frauds all the time)

SnapsbyPoteat wrote in post #11869844
Just had a client ask if they could pay me several hundred dollars for multiple sessions they are wanting to do over the next year (maternity & babies first year package).

I honestly don't have any experience with moneyorders or know anything about them.

Whats the difference than them paying check or cash? Should I say no, or are they ok?

thanks.

if they have time before shoot, tell them to cash the money order themselves and bring cash. why would people tell you in advance about an odd transaction. if it is odd, and time allows, tell them to make it less odd.

money orders can take several weeks to clear receiving and issuing bank, so ask your bank what period is required (probably 15 or more days)

The shoot isn't until March 5th. I don't think it makes any sense that they want to do an MO. Which is why I was posting on here, to maybe get some enlightment.

Don't you have to give cash to the bank in order to create an MO? I don't know.

Maybe I'll just tell them I'd prefer check or cash and that there could be issues and a delayed time from which they would be able to see their proofing gallery with an MO as opposed to check or cash.

SnapsbyPoteat wrote in post #11871081
Don't you have to give cash to the bank in order to create an MO? I don't know.

Sure, assuming it's not counterfeit.

-F

I would guess they don't have a checking account and used to paying their bills with a MO. They feel that in case they get a vibe that your ripping them off, they can stop payment yet if they give you cash, they will be the one getting screwed if your a bad businessman/woman. That's just my guess. It's their form of protection for themselves.