Just as the "blank check" client put her trust in your honesty, we do owe our clients some latitude in these situations. I'd say you took the correct approach. If a check isn't in the mail in a few days, you can send a bill for the balance.<div> Having "the party present" sign an invoice is a good idea if it's a studio, theater, school, bar, etc. Followed up with a bill in the mail.</div><div>Patrick Draine<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, May 31, 2008 at 3:42 PM, Matthew Todd <<a href="mailto:toddpianoworks@att.net">toddpianoworks@att.net</a>> wrote:<br> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><div>I had a client today who had to leave for an appointment so her brother was there to make sure I got paid.  Besides tuning I had to fix two notes.  She left for my tuning fee with her brother and that was it, so when I gave her brother the bill, he was short on the cash.  She didn't plan on my extra work or the tax.  So I took the bill and wrote what was paid, and the balance due.</div> <div> </div> <div>Is that the right way to do it, or next time should I have the party present sign it?  Should there also be a due date?  Then there's the situation where there is no one home and a check is left on the table.  I did have one client leave me a blank check!!  I was like "hmmm, let's see, I need new tires on my car, maybe a new tuning hammer...."</div> <div> </div><font color="#888888"> <div> </div> <div>Matthew</div></font></blockquote></div><br></div>