Duuuuude.

This tale begins at the beginning of every inquiry.

In this case I get a text message,

"Hi my name is, (Let's call them Mr. Willoughby)"

They sent the description of the event they wanted help with and a date and timeframe and general location with the request for a quote, NOTHING wrong here!

I seriously love new inquiries even if they aren't great fits because it means people are hearing about my business! (Always a good thing!)

I respond as soon as I can (as always) and go ahead telling him the quote, then asked if Mr. Willoughby had the pleasure or chance to look over any of my work... (I always wanna hear a "heck yes! " here)

He responds briefly with a stoic, "Yeah sure Lady Catherine de Bourgh, recommends you."

I don't know who this is in the slightest but to be honest? oh well? I don't hardly ever know who I'm working with.

The next text comes quickly tell me that the price is fine and they would like to proceed with the contract, GREAT love a quick turnaround.

NOT GREAT now they are asking for my address to pay in full and send me a cashiers check. ew.

I really don't have a huge issue with checks as a whole but I have never gotten a cashiers check or even heard of people paying with them so it's a tad odd already, coupled with the fact that we have not spoken on the phone and this has all been over text it's only getting weirder from here on out...

I asked for his address and email for the contract and gently try to suggest that he pay online, quick response asking for my address again and giving an email only.

My fair reader I just wanna drop in here that I was not raised to even open the door for a stranger, let alone meet multiple groups of people in random parks before sundown by myself for money.

I've come a long way, lol I'm not the most cautious person but I still have my roots.

Mr. Willoughby didn't want to send me his address till right before the session but wanted mine 2 months out, sorry I just don't love that, haha I also actually need his address for my contract, which after some more posturing he gave, I went ahead and gave my business address for the check he insisted on paying with early on, sent the contract, marked the date, moving on.

Two days later I receive a humorous text asking if I can arrive early to the session with my camera equipment to look over the food for the event, not really my thing but always happy to help! I go ahead and let Willoughby know I always show up early so no prob bob!

(I do the same for literally every session, cause I gotchu!)

Great, again moving on...

two more days pass and then I get yet another weird text,

"Hey, the payment is on the way... But somehow my son sent the payment with the food persons fee along with yours... can you deposit it and once it clears go ahead and send back whatever is extra past your fee? You'll just need to pay the food person then."

Huh? I need to what now?

Yeah I let Mr. Willoughby know that I wasn't comfy with such an arrangement and I would love to chat quickly with their son about the check and also if I could chat with him just so I can get an idea of who I'm dealing with that would be great because this request makes me super uncomfortable.

No response at first, then I get a poorly written one saying basically "Sure, whenever it's needed."

So I double down, "I don't think I've made myself clear..." and then go on to explain that DUDE I need to know this is a real human being in the nicest way possible, for me lol

Mr. Willoughby asks when we can talk over the phone then, still not giving out any additional information, cool. today should work since he is in such haste, ANYTIME TODAY.

Radio silence.

It's the weekend and there's a holiday so I let it go till I am "back in office" but over the weekend I asked a few professionals and to be honest everyone is screaming SCAM, I literally HATE to think that this Mr. Willoughby is just some rando trying to steal from me and waste my time, but I really have no choice after a full three days go by with out word, I went ahead and sent a text followed by a word for word email and canceled the contract since I was "disinclined to acquiesce to their request."

SEE YA! I really hate wasting time so at this point I'm just like, why didn't I drop this sooner? but the sad reality is that for every policy I have to put in place I literally have typically a MUCH worse story behind it, so yeah, that was a new experience!

And I don't accept checks or communication solely through text. haha