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

Oh my god.. what are people talking about on this thread!??! NO she shouldn't have to pay 😂 i find it hylerious that people are saying yes!!! And to the pp who said that if they cancelled a meal they would have to pay half of the meal 🤔 what on earth!? Well i wouldn't be booking at that restaurant....

These are different times! If someone tests positive for covid they should not be charged for missing anything... like another pp said... this could lead to people going to places even though they have tested positive.. covid is an exception to all rules at the moment and maybe hairdressers should charge a deposit that is non refundable.. that would make a lot more sense!!

And like OP says.. her hairdresser cancelled her appointment at an earlier date due to having symptoms, it cant be one rule for one and another rule for another, the OP couldve booked a day off work for that appointment or payed a nursery for childcare

@WidowTwonky

With a screenshot of your positive result I think they should waive the charge

Why? If you cancelled because you had D&V would they ask for a doctors note?

@Joyfulmummyofone

Wow, so many selfish people here who have no idea how hard it is running a business. If I was the hairdresser I’d be delighted if the likes of you (saying you’re shocked by a completely reasonable cancellation policy) never came back

Until covid I'd be hard pushed to find someone running their own business who was hard up. They all seem to have kids in private schools.

Things are different now. However, my point from further up the thread stands. Why do I have to take a financial hit if I cancel, but they don't take a financial hit if they cancel?

Like this: And like OP says.. her hairdresser cancelled her appointment at an earlier date due to having symptoms, it cant be one rule for one and another rule for another, the OP couldve booked a day off work for that appointment or payed a nursery for childcare

@BlueMoonRising

The OP told the hairdresser as soon as she knew. I'm sure she would usually abide to any cancellation policies as would most people I'd like to hope.. however, having a positive result for covid-19 I'd say is an exception for a last minute cancellation unfortunately for businesses

Not going to lie, I'm reading some of the responses on here and it's apparent that people are just shitty, self entitled and clearly not having to worry about their finances as they have zero empathy for an industry that was shut down for 4 months, minimal financial support while having to cover salon costs, many having to manage with reduced numbers of clients while, again, covering 100% salon costs and rely on each and every appointment to earn a wage.
When an appointment is made that slot is reserved for you, last minute cancellations make it practically impossible to fill that slot which means that stylist loses income.

Absolutely agree that OP couldn't attend the appointment but having developed symptoms that made her believe a test was required she should have cancelled her appointment then and not wait until the result came in.

I will wait for the condescending responses from all members of the "I don't owe anyone anything including common decency" club but before you type put yourself in the same situation as many stylists/salon owners and imagine how should destroying it must be.

I can also guarantee the same people finding it obscene that OP should pay anything at all have had plenty to say about losing up to 33% of their wage due to covid - imagine being told that, through no fault of your own, you're not being paid at all.

Oh to be so privileged that you have no understanding of the worry of losing a wage.

@Duemarch2021

Why are you aiming your post at me? I'm not sure why it's relevant to me especially.

@JBEM4 she said earlier she called them as soon as she realised she needed a test.

In that case the salon/hairdresser didn't cancel her appointment and took the risk on herself that the client may not be able to attend.

The hairdresser could have canceled and rearranged the client at that point freeing the slot.

Not arguing - just a well meaning comment as you may not have read her reply there 😊.

No one seems concerned OP has been given a positive covid test! OP I hope you are ok and feel better soon.

I was just replying to your post earlier @BlueMoonRising

I understand what some of you are trying to say but it's not the general publics fault if a business starts to fail due to covid 19 is it?! Sorry if i sound shitty but that's my opinion.. you chose the career that you chose and its awful that covid has put many people in bad situations where their businesses may close but again, that doesn't mean that general public should fund you... they pay for a service and if they cant receive it then why shouls they pay just because you "need the money" ... maybe they NEED the money too??? Maybe thier business is going down hill and they can't afford to pay for a hair cut they never recieved??? ..

Like i said.. its different in normal circumstances ie... they cancelled as they changed their mind etc but getting a positive covid test means they CANNOT attend and they probably really want to vut the government have told them they CANT or they could potentially kill prople... its not the publics responsibility to keep your business running unfortunately... if tou want to moan, moan at the government guidelines and the stupid virus not your customers who have covid!

My point is, many people are in the same position.. its shit.. people have died.. its not a nice time and unfortunately people who chose to open their own businesses are at the recieving end of this... during these times certain services are not essential.. hairdressers as an example. It's just unfortunate. And i hope that in the worst case scenario, people can find another job in a supermarket or something similar until these horrible times are over

I was furloughed for 3 months and lost 20% wages... and im not privileged either so im not a snob just for perspective...

Just don’t pay don’t think they will send the baliffs, ring and say fine if I have to pay I will come then it will be then that refuses.

The OP had the decency to call to ler the hairdresser know. She could've just not bothered and not turned up full stop. If it were a hairdresser that she doesn't use regularly, she could've just never spoken to her again to avoid a fee. If it is so important that the hairdresser gets paid for a missed appointment then she/he should be taking non refundable deposits not charging for the haircut that hasn't happened.. sorry its just ridiculous however you look at it

A late-cancellation fee is totally normal - my hairdressers and dentists have them. The reason for cancelling is irrelevant - a late cancellation incurs a fee.

kiKatastrophe no because it’s not the law to cancel for D&V

So you wanted them to hold the appt when you rang them day before and said you would ring them back next day with results of test. So you wanted keep the appt held, in case your test came back negative? That's kinda having it both ways though really. Had you cancelled day before, regardless of your impending test result they had a chance of someone else taking that slot.

Well done for getting test result so fast. I know someone waiting for two weeks...🙁 As for hairdresser, I’d probably go angry sigh to the booking and hope you come back soon. Business is hard.

I was just replying to your post earlier @BlueMoonRising**

I got that. I'm just not sure what your point was in relation to my post.

@BlueMoonRising

I'm not a hairdresser, but I'm in a not dissimilar business (service industry).

Every appointment that is cancelled at short notice costs me £14 in rent and travel and minimum 90 minutes of my time. If I charge half price, my profit is £11. That is £7.33 per hour maximum, or less than minimum wage. (That doesn't take into account other necessary business costs like insurance and cpd, that aren't on a per client basis).

So yeah, if my clients cancel at short notice and don't want to pay a cancellation fee, then they are welcome to go elsewhere. I don't see why I should subsidise their poor time management.

The OPs issue wasn’t exactly a time management issue though was it. There are plenty of people who are struggling at the minute. It’s completely different to someone cancelling on the day a year ago. I wouldn’t pay a cancellation fee in the explained circumstances. Why are the cancellation fees one way? I’ve had an instrument teacher cancel on the day and felt like being shitty as I expected your tule response if the shoe was on the other foot. I’m glad I was totally reasonable as they were totally understanding when we had a similar issue and rescheduled.

@JBEM4

Not going to lie, I'm reading some of the responses on here and it's apparent that people are just shitty, self entitled and clearly not having to worry about their finances as they have zero empathy for an industry that was shut down for 4 months, minimal financial support while having to cover salon costs, many having to manage with reduced numbers of clients while, again, covering 100% salon costs and rely on each and every appointment to earn a wage. When an appointment is made that slot is reserved for you, last minute cancellations make it practically impossible to fill that slot which means that stylist loses income.

Absolutely agree that OP couldn't attend the appointment but having developed symptoms that made her believe a test was required she should have cancelled her appointment then and not wait until the result came in.

I will wait for the condescending responses from all members of the "I don't owe anyone anything including common decency" club but before you type put yourself in the same situation as many stylists/salon owners and imagine how should destroying it must be.

I can also guarantee the same people finding it obscene that OP should pay anything at all have had plenty to say about losing up to 33% of their wage due to covid - imagine being told that, through no fault of your own, you're not being paid at all.

Oh to be so privileged that you have no understanding of the worry of losing a wage.

Most of the country is in the same boat. You’d like people who are also financially struggling to pay for a service they can’t receive and then magically find money for it again when they can receive it.

A year ago I would have agreed with you, especially for a frivolous cancellation. Today when nearly everyone has in some way been affected financially by the current situation I think it’s short sighted. People will stop booking appointments, many of the mums on my school run are already talking about not bothering with hairdressing appointments moving forward.

I think you are guilty of the thinking you are accusing others of having.

The OPs issue wasn’t exactly a time management issue though was it

I didn't say it was. I also didn't address my post to the op. As I've already said, it is not the only scenario mentioned on this thread.

Well why you've cancelled isnt really their problem. Say you gave birth a couple if weeks early you could argue then that you didnt just cancel but theres no way you could go, or if a relative died same reason, so absolutely everyon could start coming up with elaborate reasons. However they can't actually make you. But if you want to keep using them you might need to pay up.

My hairdresser would never do this and would simply postpone the appointment by three weeks or something.

Don't pay and don't use them again. Their policy would not stand up in court anyway.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-to-investigate-concerns-about-cancellation-policies-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-consumer-contracts-cancellation-and-refunds

Oh, so the OP dud actually ring the hairdresser the day before to say she was feeling ill. I think that changes everything.

Normal cancellation policies don't apply in covid times.

People who say you should pay are representative of a world gone mad. It's a hairdresser appointment. It's not a holiday cruise you booked! I have never, NEVER in my entire life heard of such a thing for a hairdresser charging a cancellation fee, especially if it is just an ordinary cut and not a huge formal doo/wedding.

Contrary to what a previous poster said, you did NOT enter into a contract with them, you signed nothing. You simply rang up to get a hair appointment, and then had to cancel. It's as simple as that. What next, pay a school fine if you couldn't make it to parent/teacher interview? Have to cancel a Doctor's appointment? Pay a fine! The amount of people suggesting you owe the hairdresser shit is deeply concerning. You owe them NOTHING. People often have to cancel or postpone. That's it. It happens. It's part of the job of being a hairdresser - cancelations. If the hairdresser can't deal with that basic fundamental concept that LIFE happens, then they shouldn't be in business.

DO NOT pay her a red cent! She has a CHEEK, considering she cancelled on you the first time, and I bet you didn't bill her half of that for your time. Besides, logically, HOW can she actually enforce it? She can't force you to enter her premises or pay her. You signed no contract. There were no signs or warnings on the premises, I presume? She doesn't have a single leg to stand on. Not one. And she is a CFer. Don't pay, you owe her shit! (meaning nothing). You owe yourself the courtesy of finding a better hairdresser, not an extortionist.

The more I think about it, the more I think she is dodgy as fuck. Maybe she is not legally registered as a hairdresser? Because no normal hairdresser would even do such a thing, so maybe she keeps her dodgy practice afloat by charging illegal fees? What she is doing is illegal (especially if you were given no warning, there are no signs stating this policy on either the shop front or inside, and you were not given a receipt or something on booking which stated the policy). I'd dob her in to Fair Trading or whatever it is you have there, it's a fairly good bet she is trading illegally and getting cash under the table. More than a good bet.