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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Take Hairdresser To Small Claims Court

192 replies

JediJim · 08/09/2019 22:15

So this may seem like I’m being uber petty but here goes;
A few months ago DW went to a hairdresser salon for the second time and booked an expensive hair style a few months in advance. The price was about £200 ,maybe a bit more. So the salon wanted a deposit of £50. Fair enough, so she paid it. She wrote in her diary the appointment time and date, the 13th September ( next Friday).
Anyway last Thursday, she received a text from the salon confirming her appointment for the next day ( Friday 6th September). So bit confused, she immediately rang the salon and told them she believed her appointment was the following week and that she couldn’t go on the 6th September as she was picking DD up from school ( her first week at school). The salon told DW that she would lose her deposit and if she wanted the appointment on the 13th she would have to pay another deposit. Either way she has lost the initial £50. DW had a lot on that particular time so just let it go and wanted to forget about it. The salon said that they have a 24 hour penalty notice for cancelling appointments.
Now in my opinion this is unfair. She rang the salon after receiving the text and stated that she thought her appointment was the following week. And even with the 24 hour notice for the cancellation policy, she fulfilled this because she rang them the day before.
I know it’s a relatively small amount and they are a business but £50 is a lot to us and we could do with not losing it. DW now stating that maybe she got it wrong and maybe her appointment actually was booked for the 6th. So not sure who is in the wrong. But she did tell them 24 hours before,as I’ve said.
Anyway DW doesn’t want the embarrassment or confrontation of going in to explain and wants to let it go. I on the other hand have a good mind to pop into the salon and explain what happened and ask for a refund. If not, can I tell them I’m going to take them to the small claims court? Would it sway them at all?
I’ve checked the salon website. There isn’t an email address that I can send an email to and there is nothing on there about any cancellation policy. Anyone had a similar experience?

OP posts:
Justaboy · 08/09/2019 23:43

200 sheets on the barnet!?,

Blimey my crimper charges a tenner!,and dont exect a tip! you wuz robbed unfair and square guv!..

Sunshine93 · 08/09/2019 23:47

Could she go to another salon and get the same treatment for £150 then slate them on social media?

Sunshine93 · 08/09/2019 23:47

Also .. just thinking... Could she prove she gave them a deposit. Does she have a receipt? Couldn't they just deny it?

yumyumpoppycat · 08/09/2019 23:51

Do you think she has decided the hairstyle is too expensive and is looking on it as saving £150?

I think the salon is being unreasonable though if she has met the 24 hour cancellation policy especially as your wife wanted to rearrange - I am sure there are occasions when they have to cancel or are running late so helps to be a bit flexible.

However as she is the person who booked it, it would ALSO be unreasonable for you to go in there or on social media and sort it all out, especially if your wife doesn't want you to.

In her situation I would first go to or ring the salon again, and ask to speak to the manager and explain in the hope of rescheduling and if they were inflexible I would no longer use their salon and would be looking to book elsewhere a bit cheaper to save the £50 lost on the mistake- if the hairstyle worked out then bonus as money will be saved on future visits. I guess if the salon is amazing she might feel it is worth £50 to maintain a good relationship rather than feel awkward when going there and that's her call really.

nettie434 · 09/09/2019 00:25

My hairdresser is like *Halloumi2019’s salon. You get a printout of your appointment when you make it and have to give them 24 hour notice to cancel or change an appointment. They send an automated email a couple of days before the appointment and a text at least 24 hours before.

To me, it is unreasonable not to rebook your wife’s appointment using the deposit she had already paid as she did give them 24 hours notice. Actually, I have never been asked to pay a deposit before a hair appointment. That seems unusual to me.

I don’t have experience of the small claims court but I suspect a carefully worded review would work better.

PickAChew · 09/09/2019 00:26

There's a salon in Sunderland that does the £50 deposit thing. Terrible google reviews.

IsobelRae23 · 09/09/2019 00:52

But what tine did she cancel the day before?

If it was 3pm and her appointment was 9:30am the next day then it is not 24 hours is it? So that’s the important part- the exact time she cancelled and the time of her appointment to the next day.

Cohle · 09/09/2019 00:52

The salon have behaved poorly but YABU to hassle your wife about taking them to court when she doesn't want to do so.

This is your wife's problem not yours, so unless she's specifically asked for your help or input I think you need to take a step back.

Sunflowers211 · 09/09/2019 00:56

Oh fgs you are being petty yes, your wife wrote the wrong date down. Simple but now costly mistake. Move on and find something else to be petty about !

FairyDust92 · 09/09/2019 01:28

No you can get that £50 back.
I don't work in a salon but where I work we take deposits for certain treatments BUT you have to sign a form which states if you do not give us 24hr notice of cancellation we take the deposit. Did your wife sign anything? If she didn't, where is the proof in the salon which states you cannot get a refund? Also if she gave a days notice they have to give it back.
Ask to speak to the manager/owner and discuss it with them. I would bypass the other staff in all honestly. That's what most do to us and 90% of the time get the deposit back but then we're not that strict on it!

YellowArdvsrk · 09/09/2019 01:57

I'm suspicious of the Salon here. I go to a fancy salon too and if I get a date wrong or have to cancel there is no way I'd get the time I wanted for the following week, especially for the sort of procedure at that sort of price it would probably be a long appointment. I would likely have to wait weeks, if not longer. They wouldn't co-incidentally have an appointment available at the time I thought I had booked.

mathanxiety · 09/09/2019 03:02

Go on Yelp and a few other review sites. State the facts.

Going to court is not the way to go here. Iwouldn't be as effective as 'spreading the word'.

shearwater · 09/09/2019 04:26

Why didn't they just agree to move it back a week? Silly people

Yes, quite.

Jesaminecollins · 09/09/2019 04:47

@JediJim

Why would your wife waste her money? (as for the deposit I wouldn't pay that) I would look around for a cheaper hairdressers. I used to pay hundreds for my haircut and color but I found a local hairdresser who is just as good or even better than the expensive one and I pay £80.

melj1213 · 09/09/2019 04:59

Considering your wife has nothing (beyond her handwritten diary entry) to prove she had her appointment booked for next week whereas they have her appointment in their system and even automated a message YABU to be putting the blame on the salon when it could just as easily have been your wife who was in the wrong.

I would write off the £50 on this occasion as the deposit was for the specific appointment last Friday not for any Friday in future. A £200 appointment sounds like it it is either complex, long or both so it is not unreasonable that they dont just have that specific appointment available at the time your wife wants it.

In future I would make sure your wife gets an appointment card/receipt to show her appointment details. At my salon as soon as I book my appointment I get a text confirmation and then the day before my appointment I get a text reminder and they still offer me a paper appointment card with the details.

daphine2004 · 09/09/2019 05:04

If salon sent reminder text, did they not text confirmation of appt at the time? My place send emails to confirm booking and reminder shortly before.

BlackCatSleeping · 09/09/2019 05:25

Check your wife's phone that they definitely didn't text to confirm the appointment at the time she made it.

Jesaminecollins · 09/09/2019 05:35

Why don't you name the hairdresser on here so we know not to use them or give them bad publicity on your local website.

speakout · 09/09/2019 06:18

If money is so tight why is DW spending over £200 on a trip to the hairdressers?

speakout · 09/09/2019 06:20

I went to the hairdressers last week. Cut and blow dry cost me £20.

Aridane · 09/09/2019 06:22

I really don't understand the pile on here. OP - YANBU (though I'm not sure I would have the energy to pursue a claim).

I've had the GP's surgery book an appointment for the wrong date.

Hairdressers / their receptionists are no necessarily the Absolute Pinnacle of Flawless Perfection!

Aridane · 09/09/2019 06:23

Blimey my crimper charges a tenner!,and dont exect a tip! you wuz robbed unfair and square guv!

Maybe OP's wife was also having highlights?

Kellsbells67 · 09/09/2019 06:29

For future reference.... As any salon asking for a deposit (thats is not for hair extentions - shade has to be bought in) don't go there! No professional salon should ask for a deposit. These only started for Facebook hairdressers and shady salons. I would avoid, as anything could of happend that morning, your kid m ay have woken up with a tummy bug and wife wasn't able to go. Salons have slots they can fill with last mins and cancellations if a reputable salon.
Regards to the 50 cut your losses and d ont ever book somewhere that requests deposits again.

msmith501 · 09/09/2019 06:31

I'd turn it around on the Salon OP in the form of a question. "My wife is thinking of having her hair done. If I pay a deposit and she has to cancel, what's the cancellation policy?" Then if it fits your understanding, ask why you couldn't have the £50 back as you fulfilled the criteria. Make them do the work of explaining. The only place they can go, having told you about their policy, is either to refund or tell you that you / your wife did not give 24 hours notice.

hazell42 · 09/09/2019 06:35

Your wife's hair
Your wife's appointment
Possibly your wife's mistake
She wants to let it go
Why are you sticking your nose in?
If my partner went to my hairdresser threatening to sue, I'd be livid
She's a grown woman.
Let her sort it out herself he way she wants