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getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
I worked for about 3 weeks at an upscale new york city club, commuting from my home in massachussetts, then quit in late december because my knees were bothering me. During the whole time i worked, i didn't cash out my accumulated $2000+ of funny money b/c i didn't have my social security card. On my last night, I asked if the funny money would still be good after the new year, since i wasn't planning on working over the holidiays. The house mom and the manager both said I had 10 days after the new year, and one of the cash out guys said i had two weeks.
i attempted to cash out the money that night, in spite of not having my ss card, b/c the same manager said that i could do it with just two forms of picture id, but i was refused by the aforementioned cash-out guy.
so i left for the holidays and came back on the 8th and attempted to cash out with my passport, which still didn't work (but which i had mistakenly thought would, due to a misunderstanding).
Tried again on the 9th, with a form from the ss office saying that i had applied for a replacement card. this time it worked and i got an employee id. but when i went to give him the cash, he said it had expired on the 7th. "one week after the new year."
I said that i had been told i had 10 days. the manager who said that denied having said it and said he didn't think the house mom would have said that, and the cash out guy denied having ever seen me before (which might not have been an intentional lie b/c i was in my street wear and looked considerably different).
the manager said that he was not empowered to cash out the money and gave me the number of two big wigs, who have passed me on to another big wig, whose call i await (it is overdue so i've been attempting to call him as of this morning). and that's where it is right now.
does anyone have any suggestions as to how i should handle the situation?
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
make yourself a pleasant voice pain in the ass.
you made the money, you get the money. continue being a pain in the ass until they give you the money.
Privately approach the manager and ask why he lied?
Try to get the housemom to stick up for you.
Remind the bouncer that you did ask him and that you just looked really different.
Consult with a lawyer if you can-- ask for the typical club contract to look over and see if it states it there-- if it doesn't and you HAD to go by someone's word, then I think you've got a shot of convincing the bigwigs that you are entitled to the money.
I just have to say though...wow-- you've got a lot of trust in your club. I wouldn't trust them with more than a week worth's of my money-- and actually not even that. I know you didn't have a SS card, but the club will always try to screw you if they can-- this is the rule no matter if you're in the ghetto or up at the nicest club ever. It's like House advantage in Las Vegas-- if there's any tossup on meaning, club screws you. club wins. club keeps your money.
good luck!
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
and, btw-- the jackoff who refused you on the 8th is also involved in this, plus whoever told you the passport was okay to use.
Why didn't those people tell you about the 7 day rule?
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
you still have the funny money though, right? That's essentially a receipt, so you can at least prove they owe you the money. They charged the guy so they got paid on your behalf. It's essnetially no different than you doing IC work for a coropration and you are waiting for your check.
and what kind of funny money expires in a week?
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
I'm with Emily, that doesn't sound right legally.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
it isn't legal. You got the money so there for you earned the money. Go in there and say that you want your money or you are going to have your lawyer get in this, and truly act like you have a lawyer.
Now , the funny money at my work expires within 30 days I believe. I'm still not sure how they would know when I got the money ., because they don't scan it or anything.
I bet if you never said anything, they'd have no way of knowing. Is there anyone at your work you trust who would do it for you? In other words, turn it in and cash it out then give it to you, and you give her the money she'd have to tip out on ?
I would do that in last ditched effort.
My question is more in terms, of why the hell did they let you work if you didn't have a ss card to start with ? That's b.s. impo.
I would fight this shit tooth and nail . Fuck them. Cause a stink about it. Man i'd pull out no stops to this. That is your hard earned loot, they get enough of your money I'm sure.
greedy fucks.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
I had a problem with funny money when working in MIA a few yrs back. I called the club's corporate offices immediately upon business hours the following morning and kept calling relentlessly until someone made me happy. Don't give up, you worked hard for that money for some degenerate mgr to play around with you.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
Also if they are trying to report that as wages paid and issue 1099s for their funny money it would definitely be illegal for them not to redeem it. I would call continuously, being nice, and if that doesn't work, mention that to them.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Emily
and what kind of funny money expires in a week?
a club i worked for stamped and dated them, and if they weren't cashed that night, you didn't get the money.
shady.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
In my club, funny money expires every 6 months...the last expiration date was on the 7th and they warned the girls weeks in advance to make sure that everything was cashed in by that date...now, if you were given the run-around because of ss card problems, they should take that into account and you need to keep pressing to get your money.
I try to cash my money the next day whenever I can...but this is just ANOTHER reason why I hate funny money so much...don't even get me started on the fees. ::)
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
Call these guys; NY labor department
Then call the press, if you still don't get any resolution. The club owes you money in the form of commissions, and they are refusing to pay it. Turn up the heat, and they will likely cough up the money.
Don't expect to be able to work there again, though. I bet you aren't just dying to go back there after all this crap.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
^^^ better yet, threaten to call the New York City Income Tax office. After the shit that was uncovered re club finances / taxes at Scores, those folks would be more than happy to be given a reason to subpoena another NYC Club's books ! Of course, the aftereffects of a NYC income tax audit might not be pleasant fo the clubowners, or for other dancers working at this club - which is why the club should 'roll over' on the funny money issue without much hesitation.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
Threaten to turn them in to IRS, and if that doesn't work, sue them.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Emily
and what kind of funny money expires in a week?
Our funny money expires that day. If we don't cash it in the same day, we lose it. Same with my clubs in SF.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
Soundsl like you were working at Scores West to me.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
How utterly fucked! They know you earned this money and won't give it to you? This stinks of all kinds of illegalities to me. I agree with everyone else- don't give up until they fork over your money!
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
I can't imagine why they have an expiry date on funny money - unless they have a problem with girls all saving it and then cashing out at the same time.
I would be as uncontentious as possible. Try to elicit cooperation and agreement. If you threaten them you will get their backs up, and contrary to what some girls are suggesting, very few club owners will tremble in fear of dancer threats (even in instances when it would behoove them to). They will get irritated and uncooperative, and you will have to see the threats through, and that is a bigger problem for you than you need. Instead of threatening them with tax officials, mention that you are taxed on that income. So you are kind of putting it on the table without being threatening. Tell them that you had a misunderstanding, that was not entirely your fault, that it won't happen again, but that you really do need to be paid. Call often. Apologize for being a pain, and don't stop. If it comes to it you can try "You know, I'm not working right now so I ACTUALLY have nothing better to do than call you repeatedly until we've sorted this out." But remember - be persistent but keep in mind that getting them to cooperate is what you want to do.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
Our vip bucks are supposed to be turned in daily. However, I know that you can wait and use them to tip out on as long as you dont tell anyone. I"ve stood right there when they have cash out for us girls, and the front desk chicks just count them and cash them. I've never seen them scan them.
However I think our "gold " says 30 days or so on them.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
I should probably add that we can't cash in "odd Numbers " So if I have say 250 I take that 10 out ( Each bill is 10 bucks ) I either tip the girl cashing em' or I save it .
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
funny money is a bane to dancers' existence!
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
I'm so glad we don't have funny money here in Montreal
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
hmmm, in a last ditch effort could you sell it to a customer? i dunno..put it on e-bay for $1900 or something...
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
Sounds like some normal NY funny money BS to me. You have to cash that in right a away. Don't wait a week or a month. That same night or the next. Don't sleep your blood and sweat money.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Emily
and what kind of funny money expires in a week?
ours expires the next morning.... but they pay it out before we leave.
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Re: getting screwed out of $2,000 by my club
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tart
Our vip bucks are supposed to be turned in daily. However, I know that you can wait and use them to tip out on as long as you dont tell anyone. I"ve stood right there when they have cash out for us girls, and the front desk chicks just count them and cash them. I've never seen them scan them.
However I think our "gold " says 30 days or so on them.
There's no way that they can track the date on it. Even if you held onto it for 9 months (like I did, LOL)...they cannot prove that you didn't earn it from some guy that night, who didn't use up all his funny money 9 months ago. I held onto the VIP bucks for months at a time (using it to tip out as opposed to using my cash). And, even on the nights where I made a lot of money in VIP bucks, I would cash it all in except for $100-$200...stashing it away for using it for tip out later. No one ever gave me a problem with turning in funny money I stashed away for a few months... :shrug:
I still think that whole "odd number" change out is stupid. Why not just cash out the full amount? And, I was always of the thought that there is no way in hell Iwas handing my "excess" money to the front desk just for counting my money. I hated that.