Return of a deposit

I never had an issue with deposits or no shows. My models are well known and they won’t risk a bad rep for a bit of cash. So I have zero problems paying a deposit. With models I have no prior contact whatsoever it could be a different story but at the moment I‘m working with an ever widening circle of models and their friends so if any of them ask for a deposit I‘ll gladly pay one.

“ My question———-“ essentially it could be extremely difficult/impossible to get a deposit back as much of the problem eventually comes down to costs of effort, including, time, emotion, angst versus the monetary sum involved. So yes unless the sum is very high it boils down to writing it off galling but that’s life sometimes.

An established model with lots of good references is obviously a lot less risk.

Models of course have a related problem with no shows and late cancellations especially on ‘tours’ where they have often  had significant costs with eg studio hire and/or accommodation so asking for a deposit is understandable.

For small sums of money, and a mere deposit of less than £100 would be considered a small sum, there is no way that I know of that would enable the recovery of a deposit from a model who no-showed or cancelled.  Having said that, I have never tried to recover any figure paid by Paypal, but even then, that option would only be available provided that the funds weren't sent as a 'gift' which I know some models have required to avoid paying charges.

I believe the minimum figure to allow a chargeback on credit card is £100, though I don't know many models who accept credit cards, and if the money was sent by bank transfer then it's pretty much a done deal.  I also believe there is a minimum figure if you try to pursue it through the small claims court, but I can't remember what it is.

It's been a while since I worked in the finance sector (long before Paypal was even a thing) so I stand to be corrected if I am in error on any of the above points.

Never pay deposits to people you don't know on the internet. ;-)

PayPal business, and you pay the charge of a few percent.
After all, you are the one who benefits from being able to get the money back, not the model.

Or you take the risk.

It’s like any risk, if you can’t afford the loss, then insure against it.

waist.it said

Never pay deposits to people you don't know on the internet. ;-)

precisely.

references work both ways too.  Check the tog's, are there any late cancellations or no shows?  then maybe relax your deposit policy.

If I am touring or travelling or it's for one of my events I have to take a deposit.

Often tours are booked around one major shoot, for example I have a mini tour to mid Wales with my main shoot a full day and a

Few small ones and accommodation based around it. It was recently cancelled and I'm having to try and fill the day to make the tour worth while. I take a small deposit to cover a deposit on accommodation for example but only a hour or two and if it'd cancelled in good time I usually say 7 days before for a tour or event I will refund, within that time frame I can't as I then have to try and fill a usually bespoke day and in a area I'm not from.

I've had a few home shoots that have paid deposits and have had to re schedule but we transfer it to the new date. I'm always happy to refund deposits if its within good time or if iy is because the shoot has to be amended.

I've never had any issues with people not paying deposits if I'm travelling pretty far or touring.

This is my final year of modelling and organising 3 great events a waterfall workshop and 3 tours to Scotland Cornwall and Suffolk and a few studio weekends , all of these I have to take deposits for as I have alot of costs to outlay, styling, fuel, accommodation, studio or venue hire etc.

I'm always happy to provide a invoice to the photographer.

It’s quite simple, if one party requires a deposit then the other party needs to make sure they have a full name (not an alias) and their correct address should things go awry. If that party is not prepared to supply those details then the deposit doesn’t get paid

If it’s a bank transfer though you couldn’t claim it back as you have had physically sent it yourself. Unless there is fraud on an account it’s just a civil matter. And would likely cost more money taking the party to court than the actual deposit amount. Illd defiantly ask for a receipt to be sent over first before the deposit when out

If anyone is paying in advance or paying a deposit I would always supply an invoice which includes my full name and address. This is usually only if I'm travelling though so I can cover the costs prior to arriving to the shoot. To be honest though I've never had an issue with cancellations for paid shoots, only tf...

Rob Simpson said

It’s quite simple, if one party requires a deposit then the other party needs to make sure they have a full name (not an alias) and their correct address should things go awry. If that party is not prepared to supply those details then the deposit doesn’t get paid

+1 

I made the mistake of paying a deposit last year, to an established model on here, but the shoot wasn't organised through PP. Model cancels on the morning of the shoot, followed by several weeks and sob stories about why she couldn't repay the deposit. It was for £100 as well, but in the end it was playing on my mind so much that I just wrote it off and tried to forget about it.

The_pixel_plug said

If it’s a bank transfer though you couldn’t claim it back as you have had physically sent it yourself. Unless there is fraud on an account it’s just a civil matter. And would likely cost more money taking the party to court than the actual deposit amount. Illd defiantly ask for a receipt to be sent over first before the deposit when out

Not sure that you are right on this.  Charge back on debit cards is available if goods or services are not up to standard or not provided and theinitial payment would have been made by the cardholder.

https://www.visa.co.uk/how-you-pay-matters/chargeback-purchase-disputes.html