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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To charge back my card? (Hairdresser).

207 replies

Tidalwaver · 20/05/2026 15:45

Booked hairdresser for 2pm for a full head of colour (dark brown/black) and a cut and blow dry. I realised at half 12, she’d emailed me at 11am asking if I could come in any earlier. I emailed back and said earliest I could go in was 1, which she said was fine. I’ve been to her before and she’s always been fine.

Get there and she’s incredibly short with me. Seems pissed off that I didn’t come in earlier and she’s been “waiting around all morning” even though I booked a 2pm appointment. Doesn’t offer a tea or coffee or anything and slaps on the colour. Leaves it for 25 minutes, then starts saying she may not have time now to do a full blow dry as she’s busy but could blast it with the hairdryer. I’m annoyed and sense tension but say fine. She then proceeds as she’s washing it to say actually she may not have time at all, and as I’m only going home after can only towel dry it. We weren’t even at my original appointment time yet.

She then cuts it quickly, just the ends and not my usual layers and when I mention it again she says about time. Things are getting tense and I’m getting tearful. (7 months pregnant too). She then wraps my hair in a paper towel and says that I’m finished and I look at her gone out.

She says sorry needs the chair back for next client. I say fine whatever, get up and leave. Issue is I’ve booked through Fresha and they’ve taken the full amount from my card. I emailed the salon once I’ve got out and processed everything and they’re point blank refusing a refund even though I got barely a cut and absolutely no blow dry.

i won’t be going there again but can/would you request a bank charge back? Paid by debit card and it was £85😭 im so upset, money is tight anyway and this was suppose to be a birthday treat.

OP posts:
bittertwisted · 22/05/2026 00:13

Flatandhappy · 22/05/2026 00:10

You are not going to get your money back so all you can do is leave a brutally honest review everywhere you can. If I read about your experience I would never use that hairdresser so at least there should be some satisfaction knowing you will cost her business.

She will
i designed fraud and dispute systems
she has a case that will succeed

bittertwisted · 22/05/2026 00:12

Silverbirchleaf · 21/05/2026 19:31

I’m not actually sure that you’re eligible for chargeback. A quick google suggests these are the situations you can claim for and being dissatisfied with a service is not listed. You did have the haircut, just was unhappy with the result.

she did not receive the service she requested

Flatandhappy · 22/05/2026 00:10

You are not going to get your money back so all you can do is leave a brutally honest review everywhere you can. If I read about your experience I would never use that hairdresser so at least there should be some satisfaction knowing you will cost her business.

TerracottaWorrier · 21/05/2026 23:32

I reported a salon through Fresa once and they forced a pretty instant refund. I was pretty unconfident since it was just an email address rather than a live chat like you might get with Uber, but I sent screenshots and the email was responded to and the issue resolved within an hour.

Get her in trouble with fresa too! They don't want shady characters like her on their app either.

Sam9769 · 21/05/2026 23:14

Why don't you make an appointment to go in and see the manager to discuss this. She may rent and chair and be self employed but the salon and manager can't just wash their hands of this.

Hankunamatata · 21/05/2026 22:44

I would do it without hesitation.

Plus leave loads of reviews

Zerosleep · 21/05/2026 21:57

FairKoala · 21/05/2026 17:35

Why are you having your hair dyed when you are pregnant?

Because they use products which are perfectly safe to use while pregnant. What a ridiculous question.

justasmalltownmum · 21/05/2026 21:34

Yes do a chargeback. It doesn’t take that long. If they ask for proof - send a picture of your wet unblow dryed hair

Zoec1975 · 21/05/2026 21:25

sundaysurfing · 20/05/2026 15:58

I’d go crazy! Take photos and leave a google review, facebook view, twitter review etc. how awful.

Agree

GaIadriel · 21/05/2026 21:23

Yeah, this is a pisstake. You'd have been perfectly within your rights to just turn up at the original booking time. They can't just email a few hours before and expect you to drop everything. You might have been at work or sleeping after a night shift. Any number of things.

And usually they'll expect paid if you cancel less than 24hrs before.

VIII · 21/05/2026 21:21

housepaidoff · 21/05/2026 21:08

She did, she got colour applied, her hair washed and trimmed.

She didn't get the service she had paid for. A trim is not a cut, and a wash is not a blow dry.

GetofIphone54 · 21/05/2026 21:15

Definitely speak to Salon owner she should manage her appointments better- 85 for not even a blow dry! these days a hairdresser is a treat not a chore you should have left looking like a million dollars, not with wet straggly hair what on earth ?

Full refund and a free cut and blow dry on the house with another professional.

You may not be up to complaining when pregnant ( been there ) can you get done one to call on your behalf ? Pm me I will gladly do it!

hope you find a resolution

Timefortea87 · 21/05/2026 21:10

Timefortea87 · 21/05/2026 21:09

Why?

It’s not about voting, it’s about wanting money back for something you didn’t get. You wouldn’t buy thin air in a shop and then just say “I’m never going back there again” - you’d take the receipt and demand your money back!

99problems99 · 21/05/2026 21:09

Tidalwaver · 20/05/2026 15:45

Booked hairdresser for 2pm for a full head of colour (dark brown/black) and a cut and blow dry. I realised at half 12, she’d emailed me at 11am asking if I could come in any earlier. I emailed back and said earliest I could go in was 1, which she said was fine. I’ve been to her before and she’s always been fine.

Get there and she’s incredibly short with me. Seems pissed off that I didn’t come in earlier and she’s been “waiting around all morning” even though I booked a 2pm appointment. Doesn’t offer a tea or coffee or anything and slaps on the colour. Leaves it for 25 minutes, then starts saying she may not have time now to do a full blow dry as she’s busy but could blast it with the hairdryer. I’m annoyed and sense tension but say fine. She then proceeds as she’s washing it to say actually she may not have time at all, and as I’m only going home after can only towel dry it. We weren’t even at my original appointment time yet.

She then cuts it quickly, just the ends and not my usual layers and when I mention it again she says about time. Things are getting tense and I’m getting tearful. (7 months pregnant too). She then wraps my hair in a paper towel and says that I’m finished and I look at her gone out.

She says sorry needs the chair back for next client. I say fine whatever, get up and leave. Issue is I’ve booked through Fresha and they’ve taken the full amount from my card. I emailed the salon once I’ve got out and processed everything and they’re point blank refusing a refund even though I got barely a cut and absolutely no blow dry.

i won’t be going there again but can/would you request a bank charge back? Paid by debit card and it was £85😭 im so upset, money is tight anyway and this was suppose to be a birthday treat.

I am a hairdresser. You 100% ANBU. That is diabolical service and I wouldn’t dream of treating a paying guest like that!! 100% try and do a charge back! I’m so shocked and annoyed that hairdressers give us a bad name by behaving in such a way!

Timefortea87 · 21/05/2026 21:09

LlynTegid · 20/05/2026 15:54

I would not do a chargeback, even if it is possible. You are voting with your feet. Maybe contact trading standards as you have not had the service you paid for.

Why?

housepaidoff · 21/05/2026 21:08

VIII · 21/05/2026 20:57

It might have been if she had actually received a colour, cut or blow-dry however unfortunately the poor OP got none of the above.

Hopefully you've issued a charge back Tidalwaver and you've located a new hairdresser who can fix your hair before baby arrives. Flowers

She did, she got colour applied, her hair washed and trimmed.

Scorchio84 · 21/05/2026 21:01

For all those saying 'I would kick off' etc, not everyone feels confident enough to do that, especially when 7 months pregnant.

Exactly this @TheAlertBee I could count on one hand where I've felt "empowered" at a salon, god knows over the years I've been to enough & paid enough including "rented chair" scenarios, at risk of sounding "precious" you are vulnerable unless you have built up a rapport with your hairdresser/stylist & to be honest the amount of money & time it costs I'd expect a certain level of service that frankly I've barely experienced

For my undercut I go to a barbers & for colour/cut I go to a lovely lady who operates from her house & she's lovely, listen & actually does what she's asked, I mean she's talked me down from very lofty aspirational ideas/cuts but the important thing is I trust her, I got her number from my OH when he was plumbing her outside build

I hope @Tidalwaver you can get a refund or even a partial one & the salon should be bending over backwards to keep your custom

VIII · 21/05/2026 20:57

housepaidoff · 21/05/2026 20:47

£85 for colour, cut and dry is insanely good value!

It might have been if she had actually received a colour, cut or blow-dry however unfortunately the poor OP got none of the above.

Hopefully you've issued a charge back Tidalwaver and you've located a new hairdresser who can fix your hair before baby arrives. Flowers

ForeverTheOptomist · 21/05/2026 20:56

OG this is shocking. Who does this hairdresser think she is?

Chase it however you can. I don't understand the way that you paid, but you did NOT get what you'd paid for, through no fault of your own.

Mumtoabeast · 21/05/2026 20:54

@housepaidoff Not if it's not what you wanted, asked for or booked!

Ilovesandwiches · 21/05/2026 20:54

VIII · 20/05/2026 16:35

Fortunately it looks like if you do a charge back the business will be liable for the fees they incur from Fresha. Silver lining and all that.

did you definitely get the appointment time correct? this is awful!

SparklyPyjamas · 21/05/2026 20:53

LlynTegid · 20/05/2026 15:54

I would not do a chargeback, even if it is possible. You are voting with your feet. Maybe contact trading standards as you have not had the service you paid for.

This is b$llpx advice

housepaidoff · 21/05/2026 20:47

£85 for colour, cut and dry is insanely good value!

BeLoyalCoralHiker · 21/05/2026 20:46

Silverbirchleaf · 21/05/2026 19:31

I’m not actually sure that you’re eligible for chargeback. A quick google suggests these are the situations you can claim for and being dissatisfied with a service is not listed. You did have the haircut, just was unhappy with the result.

I successfully got a chargeback from a company who was responsible for our company website because I wasn’t happy with their service. Even though they were providing a website. So I would say it is worth doing. I would also suggest contacting her and saying you are going to do a chargeback, putting it in writing. I have found that this in itself can generate the refund!

TheAlertBee · 21/05/2026 20:45

I work for an online business that is a platform for third parties, so we are a provider. If we get a complaint directly to us we always refund to avoid chargebacks. Enough of those and you can lose your payment facility. It's monitored by Mastercard and Visa.

I would warn the owner of the business if I was going to do a chargeback - I would think they are the ones who have the contract with Fresha, so they're the ones who will be penalised directly.

For all those saying 'I would kick off' etc, not everyone feels confident enough to do that, especially when 7 months pregnant.

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