To Take Hairdresser To Small Claims Court

[JediJim]

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?

The point is by their on rules the appt was cancelled giving 24 hours notice so they should have rfunded not kept the deposit

I’m quite surprised any reputable salon would hold a deposit unless they were within their right - eg; cancellation was made with less than 24 hours notice. This is why deposits are taken - lots of beauty salons etc are doing it now too.

If it’s a salon that takes deposits and has bookings online then it’s most likely to be a good one, has records etc not just written in a book ,so I’m sure they wouldn’t hold it if it was their mistake. I think it’s good they called to tell you asking you about it - hopefully you have a positive outcome.

I don’t actually think £200 for a hair appointment is that extraordinary. I pay around that for highlights (inc toner and root stretch) with cut and blowdry/style. Most highlight/balayage services cost around £150 at reputable salons. I doubt she was intending to get a £200 hair cut.

Last post in this. The matter was resolved, the refund was given. Wow I got quite a kicking from being accused of being controlling and OTT. Fair enough, your opinions. But slagging off a random bloke on the internet who asked a bit of legal advice??.. Does it really warrant giving such a hard time? Sorry I asked!
I was given a pension payment from a previous job. I was given a cheque for £1500. DW said she’d like to book a new hair style, it cost £195 in actual fact.
She booked the appointment thinking it was a set date, but the salon booked another date. Two months ago.DW may have been mistaken fair enough. But she actually gave 23 hours notice and 45 mins to cancel, after having found out the appointment they booked. Straight after getting the text. This is according to the salon, DW believed it was 24 hours. Anyway she was annoyed she lost out on £50 quid, paid using our bank account.
That’s why I asked them to investigate and look at refunding the payment.
Was I wrong to? Maybe .Just I wanted to atleast try and get the deposit back. Humiliating for her? Well she doesn’t plan on going back anyway after the way the salon acted so doesn’t really matter.
Most of you would be mortified if your husband stuck their nose in? Fair enough I understand that. But she was a bit upset she’d lost the money and I just said I’d speak to the salon. The salon probably thought it was odd, but I got my refund back and will never meet the people I spoke to so not the end of the world.
As I said all resolved and done with.

So for all the negative posters on here, let's flip this around - if the OP was the DW & came on saying I've been ripped off by hairdresser etc & DH won't help or support you'd all be calling DH useless & unsupportive!
BTW, I supported OPs view about supporting fairness & glad it's resolved.

As a salon owner l'm sorry you were treated like this, this was a clear misunderstanding and it could of been fault on either side, l have a 24 hour cancellation policy and l waiver that if it's genuine, l don't ask for a deposit unless it's a serial no show. Im glad you got your money back and l think it's lovely that you were just standing up for your wife.

Well done!

@Jooleigh Nah, she'd definitely be told to give her head a wobble and sort it out herself.

Anyway, all's well that ends well!

No sorry Jooleigh I wouldn't be saying that at all

Nice one jedi good on you for pursuing it

Why why why does ANYONE ask for legal advice or opinion on Mumsnet !!! Why ??

So she didn't give 24 hours notice. I'm glad the salon made a goodwill gesture, but they would have been within their rights to keep the money. If they let your wife off with 23 hrs 45 mins, what about 20 hours, 17, etc.

I’m glad you got it back. It was unfair that originally the salon didn’t let your DW re-book with the original deposit. That is what I would hope most businesses would do.

@JediJim

Glad you got your deposit back. I think it was lovely of you to pay for a new hairstyle for your DW from a cheque you received from a previous employer. I didn't think you were controlling at all, this is an
insult thrown about on AIBU regularly often without reason, in your case I thought you were being supportive. I wish people would not jump to conclusions.

Good for you OP, glad this has been resolved.

I believe you were in the right and I would have felt exactly the same as you. The salon were being ridiculous not offering the other apt without a further deposit!! Unbelievable! Definitely bad business practise imo and now they’ve lost a potential long term client!

You’d dw is better off going elsewhere.

Oh and I didn’t think you were being controlling either!

I thought the salon sounded like twats. Shitty customer service.