Outcalls: First-time appointments prepaid?

[soo stoned]

Hello,

I've seen this pop up in other threads, and I'm considering it for myself to avoid bad situations with first-time clients.

A question for outcall therapists: do you require prepayment of first-time sessions? If so, do you do this solely by taking down a credit card number, or do you request that they pay for the session online when booked?

I was thinking that instead of recording CC numbers myself, a bit of a security liability there, I'd just tell them that they have to send a paypal payment for the session amount X hours before the appointment.

I'd rather not put regular sessions as a shopping-cart option on my website, since that feels like it could get confusing (ex., a client paying for a session on my site before booking w/me, kinda backwards)...

There's always that little voice that says that asking for prepayment is offensive because I should have faith in clients... but that's no business voice. I think I'd be asking for it one day. :?

 

[Voelven]

Considering the standard routine when an escort walks in is to get paid up front, I don't ask to be paid up front so it does not cause any confusion about what they are getting. As far as I'm concerned if I am going to their home, I have their address if need be to send an invoice, if it turns into a bad debt, it's a tax write off.
Since I don't take appointments within 48hr of calling, I hardly do any hotel work at all (they almost always want same day), but if it was a hotel outcall, I probably would get credit card details, there is no way I would ask for payment as soon as I walked in the door.

 

[Cloud 9 with bells on!]

I disagree with Melb. I am strictly outcall (although that is an escort term, and I don't use it, I prefer Mobile or On-Site) and if I don't know the client then I do require pre-payment of the 1st session. I get quite a few clients from my website, and have hooked up with Hour Town for online appointment setting (my clients choose me over others due to this feature). So, when I get their request for an appoinment, I call them to claify what they are looking for, get directions, and tell them I can not confirm and hold their appointment until the session is paid for. I have PayPal's cart and buy it now buttons on my website (http://www.massageexpressaz.com) for them to pay. The shipping is used for gratuity. This protects my time and safety. I have found that asking for payment upfront weeds out the pervs, and the no shows. My Hour Town site tells them my 12 hour cancellation policy as does my website. This way if they flake out, or get inappropriate (sp?), I am paid.