to wonder if this charge is fair?

[Littlebitletdown]

I have a weekly appointment.

I cancelled one 4 days before I was due to attend. 1 day later (3 days before) I asked if I could attend after all. The appointment time was no longer available. Fair enough.

However I was still charged for the appointment as the charge is only waived in an emergency (I didn't have an emergency).

(At the time I gave notice this was because last minute cancellation seemed rude, it wasn't to avoid a charge.)

I can see that the policy was followed and if I wasn't charged then I could cancel willy-nilly which wouldn't be fair on the professional managing a business. This is what I thought at the time and was happy to pay.

On reflection I'm wondering - is it fair to think if I'm going to be charged then the allocated time should be kept free? I can't quite make my mind up if that is reasonable or not. On balance I think IABU.

(Did anyone follow that?! )

Ava's post makes sense thanks. Maybe being offered an alternative time given they were intending to charge me might have felt nice. But that's nit picking.

I feel incredibly disloyal in hindsight to post about someone who has been very helpful. I wouldn't normally question things, I'm generally feeling unreasonable!

Was the appointment definitely given to someone else? 'Not available' could mean that the therapist, believing she had that slot free, arranged something for herself which she couldn't then cancel.

DrE, no, could have been using the time for anything.

It all depends on what the appt was for.

Example 1. Beautician working by herself out of her own home. No costs incurred by cancellation. Can get on with other stuff anyway. Nothing lost.
Example 2. Private swim school employing other staff. Costs already incurred months previous / pool hire/lifeguard/insurance/swim teacher. Will cost the business if you cancel and don't pay. But you are paying as you should in this instance. But what's the point of Teacher, needing paying, just stood around waiting for x minutes if they don't refill. Might as well fill space if can. That's added stress and time to the business owner. Possibly juggling around someone from end of shift. Still have pool hire to pay. Etc etc you should have to pay if you mess someone around, it's their time.

Chalet School! Trying to remember where your name came from.

I don't cancel budget hotel rooms for the same reason. Becuase they resell and still charge!

Is there any small print on their website? Many places charge 100% if cancelled with less than eg 24 hours notice, and a sliding scale for differing time of notice. I'd check their T&C and see.
I organise something voluntary where participants pay, and we charge a cancellation 'unless someone else can fill the slot'

I told nursery we would be away for a few days but then had to change our plans. They had resold the space which meant we couldn't put the kids in nursery even though we still had to pay for the time. We never told them again. There was no benefit to us in letting them know the DC would not be there and considerable downside if our plans changed.