Had to cancel hairdressers appt because I tested positive... they are trying to charge me

[MyWeddingFund]

Had a hairdressers appointment for today. Had symptoms yesterday and test which came back positive. I phoned the hairdressers to let them know I had tested positive and would not be attending and would call to rearrange when feeling better as didn't know when that would be I didn't want to rearrange right now. They told me because it is short notice...I have to pay half the price of the service. Fair enough if I had to just cancelled but there is no way I can go

With most hairdressers putting prices up, it should cover this, I wouldn't pay.

Don’t pay and find somewhere else!

You didn't get your hair done therefore you shouldn't pay. Unless they are only going to charge you half if you rearrange. But I'd not be paying and going elsewhere in future.

@coldwinds I totally agree with you, and people on here will be wondering why places go bust! People have no compassion or thought for others nowadays.

There's no way you had symptoms, a test and results the same day! You should have cancelled when you had symptoms, they may have been more flexible that way. As it stands, you made an appointment and in doing so agreed to the cancellation policy so pay up or don't go back there again.

It’s not their fault you’re unwell (not yours either) but if they didn’t charge at least half for cancellations they would make a lot less money

I had to cancel seeing the podiatrist recently but it was only £10.

I really can't understand why they would charge you and risk loosing business. It is much easier to keep clients than get new ones.

Do they have a cancellation policy and was it drawn to your attention. How long have you been going to this establishment?
If there is no policy then you do not have to pay anything. If you have been using them for some time then you may have to pay something. However if they were able to fill the slot then you do not have to pay.

Hairdressers are taking deposits because of this. They are constantly losing money because of short notice cancellations.

This is ridiculous, no they shouldn't charge you. It's not like they are missing out completely, you would have rebooked. But probably not now!

just don’t call back and find a new hairdresser. They cannot enforce payment and considering many hairdressers make lots of money from the blue rinse brigade they should be protecting their clients!

Mine have always had this policy and on the rare occasions that I had to cancel I was happy to pay. I need these to stay open if I want to keep my hairdresser (and beautician who does the same).

For those stating the op should pay half does this mean that if the salon had had to close at short notice due to a hairdresser testing positive, they'd be paying the op half too?
These are definitely challenging times and we're all pretty much learning a new way of life together, nice to see all the Karen's on attendance!!!

@Baxterbear pay the OP half of what? Until her hair is done, her appointment hasn't cost her anything so what a daft response

As someone who works in the hair and Beauty industry I don't think many of you have any idea the struggles we are facing at the moment. We are literally depending on the income that each appointment creates and if cancelled with little notice the liklihood is it's a chunk of time wasted. These salons are still having to cover 100% of their salon costs with a large drop in trade due to covid and very little support.

OP you could have cancelled the appointment as soon as your symptoms developed and not waited until your test results. That is just common courtesy.

I wonder how many of you would go into work to be told there's actually nothing for you to do so you're required to stay but they won't pay you for it.

Oh my god!!! Absolutely no way would I pay half if I'd given a days notice !!! I wouldn't pay and just go somewhere else !

YANBU. Would they rather you go to your appointment and give them Covid 19. They're being ridiculous.

If you told them you had symptoms the day before, they had adequate notice, they could have asked you to reschedule at that point and not lost the appointment time. You owe them nothing, I'm sure they're struggling, but 24 hours before, you warned them!

It's standard policy for all "pay by the hour" services - dentists, hairdressers, physiotherapists you name it. They set aside the time for you - why should they lose income because you cancel. Whatever the reason, it's not their fault and they shouldn't be penalised.
You should pay up and be grateful at their generosity at only charging you half.

Hairdressers lost many months of income this year and are struggling now because they have to take fewer clients per day than normal, to allow for social distancing, increased cleaning etc.

At my hairdresser, for example she used to time appointments to have "colour taking" with one client, whilst blow drying someone else. Now it's one client at a time - which means much reduced income for them - after many months of zero income during lockdown.

The self-employed grant didn't benefit everyone in the same way.

Those who lost out most were new mothers. The grant was worked out as a (reduced) % of the average of the previous 3 years income. Anyone who had a baby/maternity leave during that 3 year period got a tiny grant. Many hairdressers are working mums.
As many have said, you should have rung to cancel as soon as you got symptoms. They may have been able to fill your appointment.

How about instead of being so selfish you consider being kinder and more supportive of someone struggling to earn a living offering a vital service and putting their health at risk serving others?

I’d offer to go in. They’ll presumably say no and then it isn’t you who’s cancelled, so they can’t charge you.

It’s a goddamn pandemic and we all lose out one way or another. No way I’d pay 50% for something that’s beyond my control. So go elsewhere from now on and the hairdresser loses out or they can keep a loyal customer abs bite the bullet this time ffs!!! I know my hairdresser would rather keep me! I spend £100 a pop.

I have never heard of that. Just don’t pay its unenforceable unless a written contract es signed and I bet they didn’t tell when you booked it over the phone, which if they even want to consider charging you legally have to advice you off!
Oh and if it’s a chain name and shame

Don't pay.

Did they have to buy in colour or particular products? My son is a hairdresser and he loses £££ if people don't turn up to colour appointments