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

[Katypyee]

No you shouldn't have to pay! These are unusual times. Imagine if you hadn't cancelled and then ended up spreading Covid-19 to staff and clients. They would lose more than 1 client's custom. You did the right thing cancelling.

Recently I had possible Covid symptoms the day before my hair apt. I went for a test. I contacted my hairdresser and my appointment was cancelled, no charged. They thanked me for being cautious. My test fortunately came back negative the next day and I cannot get an appointment for another month now. But I did the right thing and my hairdresser keeps my custom.

I wouldn't pay and look for another hairdresser.

Hope you feel better soon.

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

@boarboar

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.

Now, that is bit crappy tbh. They should have a weekend allowance for this. I wouldn't be happy either with that.

[WhereamI88]

Say OK, I'm not cancelling anymore and will come in for my appointment regardless. They then have to refuse to take you in and can't charge you.

This is not the same as cancelling for any other reason - the government is making you cancel because it doesn't want you to spread it. I've been to the hairdresser with a cold pre-corona, you would never cancel for a mild cold or illness, life just had to go on.

[S111n20]

First of all hope you are ok ??? Just don’t pay it and find another hairdresser.

[RedMarauder]

I wouldn't pay as it was a situation out of my control. I would share the results with them though to prove I wasn't lying.

Then if they still insisted on payment, write a review online pointing out they are encouraging infected people to use them spreading the disease and then take my business else where. If you are long standing customer they lose out by charging you and the realistic review.

[Staffy1]

I wouldn't pay. I bet they could get that space filled no matter how short notice it was. There are always people trying to make appointments and they could even ring some of the already booked future appointments to see if anyone wanted an earlier one.

[Love51]

You missed a trick by cancelling. You could have rang them to inform them that you have Corona virus and asked if they want you to still come. Then they say no, so they have cancelled. Semantics.

[Chloemol]

Unless he clearly advertise the fact you will be charged if you cancel within xx hours of the appointment they don’t have a leg to stand on

Where have they advertised that fact? And they should be advising everyone when they call to make an appointment, are they?

[Roundtoedshoes]

If they have a deposit then I guess they’ll just take it (I’ve never been to a hairdressers where they take one). But they can’t make you pay it. If you want to go back, then consider it as a good hairdresser is worth it, however if you are a regular who brings in money and usually keeps your appointments then I’d push back. You weren’t feeling great, but you did the right thing when you got the results.

Hairdressers have no shortage of customers - people were desperate to get back (everyone on MN shaved their heads in despair in week one of lockdown it would seem!), so don’t sweat it.

[rawlikesushi]

Would they still have charged you if you'd rescheduled?

You make a point about not wanting to reschedule and I wondered if this might have been what got their back up.

[radioband]

This is bonkers, yes they may lose income but it won’t happen all that often, do they really expect her to come in with Corona 🙄

[IdblowJonSnow]

How much is half out of interest? If it's not much then I'd pay it I think.
But they cant make you pay it. Honestly I think it would come down to how much money I had and if I wanted to go back at some point, if it were me.

[chopc]

Forget corona - if you were ill with something else and had to cancel, you would still have to pay right?

[RedMarauder]

@chopc

Forget corona - if you were ill with something else and had to cancel, you would still have to pay right?

IThis is a pandemic so unless the OP was ill with something else that is suppose to be more infectious e.g. measles, I would pay up.

[Bikingbear]

@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.

That's what I was thinking.
I get it that hairdressers are struggling with every other sector but it doesn't take long for word to get around. The next person might say "I'll wait until after my hair do before I book a test, saves paying for a missed appointment"

[Hippee]

nimbuscloud I tested my son's temperature at midday, got a test at 12.30, results back by 9.30 the following day (I was amazed).

[Roselilly36]

Seems harsh to me OP, have you cancelled before? Or is this a new policy? Either way I don’t think I would return to that particular salon.

[Lowkee]

I just wouldn't go back. Unless you had to give your card details to book! You're not going to cancel everything pending the outcome of a test when you don't know whether it's a sniffle or covid.
Btw, how are you feeling OP? Bad dose or not so bad?

[cologne4711]

No you shouldn't have to pay! These are unusual times. Imagine if you hadn't cancelled and then ended up spreading Covid-19 to staff and clients. They would lose more than 1 client's custom. You did the right thing cancelling

This. Do they really want infected people coming to them? I know they take your temperature but not everyone has a fever.

[Tellmetruth4]

I’ve had symptoms, tests and results within 24hrs.

[cologne4711]

I always think these cancellation policies are cheeky anyway. If they phoned me to cancel my appointment they wouldn't pay me. Yet you might have arranged childcare etc. It's very one-sided.

[surprisebabyshower]

What does their (unenforceable) cancellation policy say?

[MaeveDidIt]

You did the right thing by cancelling it.
I wouldn't have paid and they would have also lost a customer.

[MyWeddingFund]

I let them know the day before I had symptoms and was having a test. Results came the same day of the appointment and I let them know.

[MyWeddingFund]

@user116439526896

"There are loads of reasons why you might have had to cancel that were beyond your control. Doesn't mean they have to waive their cancellation policy for you."

Bit different to any other reason when i have actually tested positive