Many escorts do not accept cheques from clients.
Here's why...
Stop in the name of... ?
Cheques are a promise to pay. Unfortunately, not everyone wants to keep their promises.
We know of one man who broke his promise at least six times. Each time, he booked an escort for an 'overnight', and paid them several hundred pounds with a cheque. When they paid the cheque into their account, it was returned by their bank as 'stopped' - he had told his bank not to pay the money.
This wasn't just morally wrong of him, it was legally wrong too. By giving someone a cheque you are acknowledging that you owe them money and there are very very few grounds for stopping the payment. It doesn't matter what the debt was for, the courts will say 'pay up'.
We helped the first of the escorts to sue him successfully, but it was a hassle for the escort and he still has not actually received the money (just because you win a case against someone doesn't mean you get the money quickly or at all...) Clearly, it didn't deter the punter, because he continued doing this to other escorts. He started targeting men advertising in Boyz and QX magazines and then moved on to use gaydar.co.uk.
When it was clear he was making a habit of this, we asked the police to investigate - he was 'obtaining services by deception', which is a criminal offence. But to get him convicted required the escorts he ripped off to report his behaviour to the police, and we were delighted that this happened.
All the escorts we know he did this to have recently come to the UK and live some distance from him. We think that this is not a coincidence - he was relying on them not going to the police (even though it's legal to sell sex in the UK) and not coming round to his home to insist on payment.
Update: we were delighted to hear in July 2005 that he's been given an official caution by the police. This means he's now got a criminal record and if he does it again, it will be treated very seriously. The offence carries a maximum of five years in prison.
But just to be sure (!) we still advise in the strongest possible terms that you do not accept cheques from someone in East Sussex, on an electronics company or car hire firm account.
He's not the only one
We know of several other men who have stopped at least one cheque paid to an escort. In some cases, it was for an amount that could have been covered by a cheque guarantee card.
Although it's risky, some escorts have sex with clients before being paid in the hope of being given a large tip at the end. If you're going to do this, our advice is to at least sort out how you will be paid before going to someone. If you do decide to accept a cheque - and remember that many escorts don't - make sure you use the 'cheque guarantee card' the client should have:
Check the card - it should have a hologram of Shakespeare's head along with the maximum amount it will guarantee, usually somewhere between £50 and £250. If the cheque is for more than that, it won't guarantee payment! (It also won't do so if you get several smaller cheques for the same service.)
The bank sort code (six numbers nn-nn-nn) and account code (usually eight or nine numbers) should also match that on the cheque. The card will also have an expiry date, so check that it's still valid.
When the client has written, dated - check the date is right - and signed the cheque, compare the signature with that on the card.
If you're satisfied, write the main number (usually four sets of four digits) on the card on the back of the cheque.
If you need any more advice, your bank should be able to help you.
Even when this is done, many escorts think cheques are too much hassle. They also provide a means of being traced by clients - it's possible to discover which account a cheque was paid into - even when you ask the client to leave the name blank, so you can fill in your name later.
But that's not all
We know of at least
twofive escorts who have been emailed by someone outside the UK who asks for a booking for while he's next over here. A good price is agreed and the client offers to pay in advance by cheque...... then he asks the escort to accept a larger cheque than the agreed amount, with the escort paying the balance into another account (said to be a charity in one case). Some excuse about this being easier for him is offered.
It's a con - don't fall for it!
What will happen is that you will receive a large cheque, and pay it into your bank account. After a day or so, your bank will credit your account. But after you pay the balance into another account, your bank will be told that the cheque was stolen or forged and they will withdraw all of the money from your account.
This will leave you having lost all the money you have paid into someone else's account - which will have been emptied by the conman! Of course, he won't turn up for his booking either...
Be very very cautious about accepting cheques from abroad. Within the UK, banks agree to notify each other if there is a problem with a cheque within a week. But with a cheque from abroad, it takes longer. Your bank may credit your account sooner than that... but they reserve the right to take the money back again, no matter what you've done with it in the meantime.
In another case, the client was based in the UK, and sent the escort a UK cheque (from Halifax bank, this time). Of course, the cheque bounced and, although he hadn't paid out any money to the conman, he's still being charged by his bank for the costs of the bounced cheque.
Had some of those spam emails offering jobs processing payments?
Same thing. You'll receive some cheques, pay them into your bank and send off money - minus their generous 'commission' - to the conmen via a payment service like Western Union. Shortly afterwards, your bank will find out the cheques are no good and take the money back.
But by then, the conmen will have disappeared with the money you sent them.
Oh while we're talking about spam, sorry, but penis enlargement pills and patches don't work either. And widows and orphans of dead African dictators and corrupt bankers do not have millions of dollars to share with you. Neither do lotteries make a habit of awarding large prizes to people who haven't bought a ticket (and real lotteries don't ask for 'expenses' before handing over those prizes). And do you really want to buy your medicines from an illegal website?
Comments? Queries?