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Can client sign contract AFTER I have recieved payment?

by D37
6 replies
I'm offering a service that I'm doing only through the internet. I will have the customer sign up first by paying by PayPal and then I'm going to send them a link to a contract which they can sign ONLINE (with http://signnow.com).

Is it okay and legal for them to sign a contract after they have paid by PayPal?
#client #contract #payment #recieved #sign
  • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
    Originally Posted by D37 View Post

    I'm offering a service that I'm doing only through the internet. I will have the customer sign up first by paying by PayPal and then I'm going to send them a link to a contract which they can sign ONLINE (with http://signnow.com).

    Is it okay and legal for them to sign a contract after they have paid by PayPal?
    absolutely, and its pretty standard also.

    that's just experience speaking, i am not an attorney, nor do i pretend to know law
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  • Profile picture of the author D37
    Thanks for your help
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    Thank you to everyone on WF for all the great information, help, support, and kindness you have all shared!

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  • Profile picture of the author Morphius
    Of course. Payment is a contract as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tsnyder
    Yes... but keep in mind that if they object to something in the
    contract you'll have to renegotiate or refund their money.

    They're entitled to full disclosure before being fully committed.

    Are you dealing with actual business owners? I can't imagine many
    of them paying you before reading the actual agreement. That screams
    scam to me.
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    If you knew what I know you'd be doing what I do...
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    • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
      Originally Posted by Tsnyder View Post


      Are you dealing with actual business owners? I can't imagine many
      of them paying you before reading the actual agreement. That screams
      scam to me      .
      We deal with business owners.

      And we get a credit card on the phone, before they receive anything.

      Nobody has a problem with it, and i have never had to renegotiate.

      However with that said, we do record the sale with a verification process
      where we go over the details of agreement.
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      • Profile picture of the author rbowen
        I'm not a lawyer, either, but from having dealt with contracts as both a Realtor and Mortgage Broker in a former life, I can offer some *general* advice:

        1) My understanding is that one of the key elements of a valid contract is "consideration" - in other words, money ... which needs to be exchanged at the time of the signing of the contract.

        2) If someone agrees to pay you for a product or service *without* a contract, they are (I believe) accepting your product or service "as is" and with no guarantees, warranties or the like.

        3) If your Buyer or Client objects to what you've delivered, they can always sue you - but then again, anyone can sue anyone for anything. That said, the Buyer/Client would need to be able to offer reasonable proof that you offered (and s/he accepted) "X", whereas you delivered "less than X" or "other than X). Generally, a court (or mediation panel) would look to a written contract for that. Absent that, it's (generally) "Buyer be ware" and/or what is "usual and standard" for such transactions. While the proof is largely on them, you'll still be hassled - and likely incur some costs (up-front, anyway) to defend yourself - in dealing with it. But if/when you prevail, they'll (likely) have to pay your costs.

        4) PayPal has an Invoicing feature. I have yet to look into it, but I would think you could type into the invoice you send your Client something to the effect that, "For services to be rendered, including X, Y & Z, you agree to pay $100 (or whatever) and in submitting this payment in full, agree that no other services (than as described) were offered, nor are there any guarantees or warranties beyond delivering X, Y, or Z."

        Again, I'm not a lawyer, *but*, if you were to do something like that, and if anyone took action against you, I think it would help your 'case' a lot.

        BTW, the best advice would be to consult with a lawyer, but if you can't afford one, you might consider something like Prepaid Legal Services. I've actually done that and was pleasantly surprised with the generally competent-sounding advice I got. I wouldn't use them for any major business concerns, but if you just wanted to "run it up the flagpole", it might be worth a few bucks to check them out. Just sayin'.

        Just my 2-cents' worth.

        Richard
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