The IRS and LE will have an easier way tracking any suspected and alleged wrongdoing.Also directly tying in names and dates. Please keep it cash and quiet.
Just my $.02I have always considered this a "cash only" business, however, I am getting more and more requests for payment by credit card. Does the ability to pay with a card make booking more convenient for you? Does not having cc capabilities perhaps cause some clients to look elsewhere? If you know me you know I'm all about making booking as smooth and painless as possible and I am seriously considering adding this option.
Thank you in advance for your input, experiences, pros&cons.
Happy Friday
Jenn
Discretion is imperative. And cash offers the most privacy. You may lose some convenience but get to stay a lot safer.
-- Modified on 10/24/2014 12:05:21 PM
In my case I am "blackmail proof" and frankly don't give a fuck who knows my "real name" etc.
Now I would NEVER give out a debit card as the safeguards regarding debit cards are woefully inadequate, but I have no issues from a safety aspect using a CC. There are plenty of safeguards built into CC's and it wouldn't bother me a bit using one to pay a hooker. That said, "hooker money" or sometimes what I refer to as "Charlie Harper" money is usually petty cash that I simply have lying around or I get from the ATM machine, so I doubt I will be using CC's anytime soon, but not because I am afraid to do so. I just don't have the need.
IMHO its just asking for trouble. If you're going to see a provider you have access to a drive through ATM machine. You can get a cash advance on your credit card if your'e desperate ( but thats another story). From a "consumer" perspective, you're leaving a permanent electronic paper trail with all sorts of information readily available for prying eyes - again, permanently. Multiple charges for several hundred dollars to an unknown or obscure merchant is going to raise an eyebrow at some point to some one.
From a store owner perspective, you have to pay up to 5% (AMEX) in fees, charge-back issues, and you're leaving an electronic paper trail - if you don't get in trouble for the business you will on the tax issue. Speaking of, the IRS doesn't care what you do for a business, they just want their percentage. So figure about 25-35% of your or your employees income going to taxes that may not have been as a cash only business. Remember, electronic paper trail.
Then you have issues of stolen credit cards, stolen Identity (yes, I'm Steve Smith - see its on the credit card - also known as the just paroled on battery and assault charges Fred Simpson using said stolen card).
Don't think its worth it IMHO.
there is much, much more to this from a business perspective than there is from a client convenience and discretion perspective.
I would say that from a single provider/sole proprietor perspective it could be managed fairly easily; but from an enterprise standpoint, where there may be employees or contractors, etc... the complexity would certainly be exponentially greater.
That being said, I know there are agencies that accept cc's.
I have used it on several occasions with indies I trust. However, I don't think I will use it with agencies. Nothing personal as I really enjoy working with you, but LE mostly target agencies so I want to leave as little paper trail as possible.
You must be collecting a lot points lol.
I use a card attached to a brokerage account specifically for this purpose.
Only with those that I know and trust.
I know their real name, info... No one else.
......I love being able to accept credit cards, especially if I have an outcall date, and the gentleman wishes to extend his date, but does not have the cash.
Credit cards also can be used for deposits, or extended dates, when a gentleman does not want to travel with a lot of cash.
Many gentlemen have their "own" credit cards, and love earning frequent flyer" miles!
Hugs and Kisses,
Kelly
I wonder if providers would accept like Visa or Amex gift cards that you buy at the grocery store instead? That way mongers could use their cc to buy them for the respective amount, not have to lay out cash (or could earn points), and then the vendor (grocery store) would not look fishy to any prying eyes. The gift cards only cost five bucks I think. Seems like it might be win-win but I don't know how the ladies would feel about getting gift cards all the time instead of cash...
I think that's the whole point of those gift cards... That they're basically good as cash, right?
How do you know how much is on that card. How do you know the guy hasn't written down the number or has an accomplice ready to empty the card electronically during the session.
I just see lots of problems with gift cards.
You wouldn't initially be able to, so there would have to be some level of trust there... Probably wouldn't be a good idea for first-timers, but once the trust level has been established, I don't think it would be that problematic.
The IRS and LE will have an easier way tracking any suspected and alleged wrongdoing.Also directly tying in names and dates. Please keep it cash and quiet.
Just my $.02
that's what taking CC would equal in my mind. A Provider can't defend herself against visa saying she didn't provide such and such services, haha. Or a dude could simply say it was an unauthorized transaction.
there's a stature of limitation in DC and VA...maybe a paper trail may be bad for certain people. But CC transactions can be disputed...cash transaction are final in this game.