Lately I've been seeing almost exclusively all clients I've known and enjoyed for years. I've been having an issue lately where SEVERAL of them have been done the same thing at the end of the session. We schedule the session for say 4 pm. They come by at 4pm, stay for a couple of hours (or even more), I check the donation after they've left and they've only paid for an hour. Now when I scheduled the appointment, I never asked the expected appointment duration. These are great clients I've known forever. If they stayed an hour and 15, even, I'd be cool with payment for an hour session, but I don't understand why clients keep doing this. It seriously hurts my feelings. Of course the clients always make it right once I explain that they didn't leave enough donation.
 I bring this up to let clients know-even if we ABSOLUTELY adore you, this is still our job. You gotta pay us. I love spending time with you, but please respect me and my time and pay me accordingly.
 On my end, clients and other providers please feel free to give me advice about what I should be doing to prevent this happening. I want to provide a true GFE but it's tough when I'm counting donations and asking how long clients are staying and talking money. But my method obviously is causing me problems.



-- Modified on 6/28/2011 8:22:59 AM

This is your business.  When a client calls or emails to set up an appointment there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking him how many hours he wants to book for.  If they say an hour there is also nothing wrong with you wrapping things up an hour into the appointment.  If they want to stay they need to book you for another hour.  There is also nothing wrong with telling them this.

They are not "great" clients if they are taking advantage of you...

This is going to be an ongoing problem with you until you put a stop to it, You need to ask the guy ahead of time how much time he wants so you know ahead of time what to expect, I'm sure they know your rate  so there shouldn't be a problem. This will  hopefully be a hint hint clue clue to the guys about how much should be in the envelope.  Granted some guys are slow learner, so it may take a few time and whack up side the head for them to understand what your asking for

If the guy only wants an hour and has the habit of hanging out a lot later, then you need to scoot them out the door after and hour and 15 min. Tell them something, anything but you need to get them out the door. They will get the clue or ask why your asking them to leave so soon. Then you can  explain it to them in a nice way.

But on a side note that may not apply to you if you end just sitting around talking, and you have no other plans, may not be a good idea to ask your client for extra money for just talking. I have had a couple of ladies who had no plans after seeing me and we have ended up talking for a hour or so. I can guess it gets lonely sitting around a hotel room by yourself and having someone to talk to is a nice.

Just my thoughts

My issue is with full-blown sessions that go on for two hours or more and a one hour donation paid.

I know I'm being sensitive. For me, after I've seen a client 10 or 20 times or more, there's an air of romance that I loathe to spoil by discussing money and "appointment times". I feel like, "I've seen you a million times, we have fun, let's act like lovers and I'll not spoil the illusion with provider jargon that reminds us that this is a business".

I can't get inside my clients' heads with this issue. I can't figure out why they don't pay me for our extended session in the first place. It's a steady, on-going issue for me, so obviously I have to change my ways. Maybe they think since I don't bring up duration and donation that they aren't on the clock anymore and that the one hour donation they gave me is a tip?

And if you're a client and have been in this situation, I'm not complaining about you. You had this issue with some other provider

That being said, I DO NOT hold it against my clients that this has happened. Our brains work differently and there's a communication gap here. It does hurt my sensitive little girl-feelings, though. Boo.

One last rant: A-level. Some people do not put it in their donation. If it's a last minute decision and the client didn't tell me they were looking for it specifically before our session starts, is the etiquette that no extra donation is required? I charge for that service. Am I supposed to remind them at the end of the session that extra is required for A-level fun?I find it very embarrassing to ask. But I'll do what I gotta. Anyone with 2 cents on the A-level issue also feel free to let loose!

-- Modified on 6/28/2011 11:46:06 AM

Then if your playing, they should be paying, not even a question about that.

You should be talking about time, $ and A-level service well before the appointment not right when it starts. That way when the guy gets there, he knows what need to be in the envelope and you don't have to worry about it and can just enjoy the appointment.

The only way this is going to stop for you and make your life easier,  is for you to stop this from happening, these guys are not going to change there ways unless you tell them they need to.

Sounds harass I know, but if they truly enjoy their time with you then they will be more the happy to change for you.

A couple of things...  I would never have a problem sorting things upfront.  I don't think it ruins the romance.  I respect the person I'm going to meet otherwise I wouldn't meet them.  And as such I want to make that person gets everything out of the situation that they expect.  I start to get uncomfortable when we run past time even if I suspect it's fine.  Out of respect they should be there on time and leave on time.  It's simple.  

Since you asked for advice I'll give it to you.  I don't think it would ruin these guys sense of romance if you were to sort things out in advance.  I think it might ruin yours though.  I also think these guys are either taking advantage of you or they think you like them a little more than everyone else and are confused.  If they are repeat offenders it's more likely the former than the latter.  In any case I don't think it's your fault but you need to take ownership of the situation.  If they normally just pay for an hour and then pay up later assume they only want an hour of your time and make sure they leave within the hour.  You're in control.

Thanks, you guys. It's probably true that the "spoiling of romance"by talking time and money is really just on my part. Since I've known these guys for a while, I thought I could let go a little and that keeping up the provider jargon was insulting to long-time clients. Clearly that's not the case.

I also thought taking donation upfront was insulting to old clients.

So... based on your advice I will be more assertive than I thought it polite to be. While scheduling I'll ask duration, ask if A-level is desired and then ask donation up front. If they decide on A-level halfway through, I'll remind them it's extra. That may take away from the mood for me at the time, but better that than have my feelings hurt again and again at the end of the session when I see that my dear client has shorted me.

I'd love to know how other providers bring up these things in a way that is polite and not insulting to their clients.

simply require that it is requested ahead of time. If a client asks for it in the spur of the moment, politely decline. A simple "I need advance notice to prepare for it" should be all what you have to tell a respectful client.