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

I never heard anything so ridiculous OP
Of course you shouldn't pay! Never heard of having to pay for a cancelled hair appointment
Hope you feel better soon

@Sakura7

Surprised by the replies here. This kind of attitude would lead to people going to their appointments while ill and spreading the virus. Think the hairdresser needs to apply some common sense here.

I think that's a good point. While the hairdresser shouldn't have to lose income enforcement does risk this. I normally have a 24 hour cancellation policy but have suspended it at the moment.

The OP didn't cancel because she couldn't be arsed, she has the bloody coronavirus. Would the hairdresser prefer for her to turn and give them her business, then infect everyone and force them to close for several weeks? Not to mention the health risks to the staff and their families.

The hairdresser needs to have a bit of perspective here.

@nimbuscloud

So you had symptoms and a test and a test result all in the last 24 hours???

That’s entirely plausible. My daughter had symptoms a few weeks ago. Started feeling ill around 4.30pm Saturday. Test was at 7pm same day and results before 2pm Sunday.

Yanbu

The hairdresser is scoring a massive own goal here. By still charging, they are encouraging people with symptoms, or who should be isolating, to come in. They are also discouraging people from booking, and alienating customers.

Also, as pointed out up thread, it's unenforceable. Don't pay, and go elsewhere.

Pretty normal here. 50% deposit required for hair/massage/tattoo these days.

It's not your fault, but it's not theirs either, and at short notice they can't book out the slot, so they'd be losing money too. It's just how it is.

Businesses have to revise their cancellation policies. I would not pay and I wouldn’t use them again because I won’t trust a business that incentivizes people to attend while sick

@PanamaPattie

You entered into a contract to get your hair done. You cancelled with short notice and so you haven't given the hairdresser enough time to fill your slot. Not your fault of course, but most hairdressers are self employed and during these interesting times, many hairdressers are barely making a living. Pay up - you are lucky you weren't charged the full price.

Is that the actual law? Is phoning up and making an appointment legally binding?

It's a no win situation but slightly shor sighted of the hairdresser maybe, if you decide to never go back they've lost a lot more than one cut.

For comparison, a tutor I used suspended her usual cancellation policy, as she said she would rather sick children are not sent.

I definitely wouldn't pay!

Well the op wouldn’t have known when she was going to get the results so she could have called when she had symptoms.

Did you know their cancellation policy before?

And if they don't have your card details they can't enforce it.

Why are people implying op is lying because her results were fast? My daughter started coughing in the night. I booked an appointment for 10am the next day and had the results by 6.30am the following morning so she went back in school after one day off.

I'd pay up, but I wouldn't go back there again. You've got a majorly good reason for cancelling.

@nimbuscloud does that not sound plausible?

My partner started with a cough just after lunch, booked a test at 3pm as he had coughed a good few times, went to drive thru test centre at 5pm time slot and had results at 8am next mornings this was 2 weeks ago

Half price is fair. She’s lost a slot now = loss of income.

My friend is a hairdresser. She is in panic mode incase they get closed down again. Christmas is around d the corner and she has bills to pay.

Yeah. If you cancelled yesterday, but on a day... I would pay.

My hairdresser takes a small deposit, maybe 10% or so and I would expect to lose this if I cancel. But having to pay 50% which would be about £80 for a missed appointment seems excessive. I don’t remember ever signing such an onerous contract when booking a hair appointment either.

I don't believe you should pay.
Let's hope it wasn't an expensive hair do.
Hope you're feeling ok

I wouldn’t pay. They could keep any deposit but I wouldn’t give them half.

Well i would have rung her the day you got ill to tell her but i could understand waiting to see if it was covid, but i’d not be happy paying this,

So you had symptoms and a test and a test result all in the last 24 hours???

And? Ive had my test done in the afternoon and results back the next next lunch time,

I had this very conversation with my hairdresser on Tuesday. He had two no shows on Friday, both regular clients and as a result lost a days pay. It's really unfair for him. He wondered about starting to charge a late cancellation fee but was worried about the reaction. In your situation he wouldn't have charged you. At the beginning of Covid I had to cancel him last minute as I had symptoms but I still paid him. It wasn't his fault and I didn't feel it was fair that he missed out on money although technically no one was at fault. If your hairdresser is self employed I definitely think you should still pay.

I can see the hairdresser's point of view, but as a customer, I'd be taking the view that they could have the 50%, or they could have my continued custom.

Hope you're feeling better soon OP.

I had this this week with a beauty appointment. 48 hours cancellation policy. It became apparent I'd need to cancel over the weekend but they're shut Sat -Sun. Called 9am on Monday to cancel a Tuesday evening appointment and was charged. Not happy. I understand there pushed but they physically werent open to give notice. So basically a Monday or Tuesday appointment requires notice on a Friday.