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

[EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide]

I'm shocked that people think it's fine to pay for half of something you've not had, but who on earth would charge someone who can't attend because they've got bloody covid?

[Anon778833]

It’s not tough and you should not have to pay. Don’t pay. Everyone is losing money because of covid. They obviously care more about a few quid than retaining customers.

[Summerfreeze]

Happened to me ages ago when my little boy was sick and I had to cancel a hair appointment. They told me I owed them full price. I told them no, that I had no contract with them and that these things happen when you work on pay per job and no deposits, and went somewhere else next time. It’s not like there’s a shortage of hairdressers!

[Anon778833]

People are such twats on AIBU these days 🤬

[Anon778833]

Exactly @Summerfreeze - if a hairdresser wants to be mercenary they will end up with no clients.

[VenusTiger]

To those saying the OP should've cancelled when they first had symptoms - what if they had symptoms on the day of the appt and cancelled? They've lost a lot more money now anyway as the client will likely walk. Deposits are more the thing with Covid at the moment, not half the cost!

[Diangled]

I’m also surprised at some of the responses. These are very different times & a common sense must surely apply.
FWIW I was a very regular customer at a beauty salon & always turned up on time for my appointments. DH was very suddenly seriously ill & I missed my eyebrow apt as was at the hospital. I explained this later in the day when I realised. When things had calmed down & I went for my rescheduled apt I was surprised to be charged 50% of the missed one. I paid it without any complaint but have never been back.

Not sure I’d have the guts to not pay but i wouldn’t blame you for not!

[nongnangning]

Like others have said, it all depends on if you have an established relationship with that hairdresser and whether you want to go to them again.

If you like that hairdresser, pay up. If you have other choices, don't - and don't go there again.

Something a bit related happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I had a beauty appt but when I got there no-one was wearing masks, which I called out, and the beautician (who I have known for several years and like but also think she is a bit nuts) said 'Covid? do you even believe in that? it's fake'.

I put the ££s on her table and said 'here's the money for this appt but I don't want to fulfil it' - and left. After that I got the beauty treatment somewhere else, where they had masks and full precautions (although at twice the price - ha!)

[seventhrow]

I’ve had to cancel an appointment at short notice before. I asked if I could rearrange and pay up front. Win win.

[butterpuffed]

The hairdresser will lose customers once people find out this is her policy.

Not surprised though at some of the terser 'of course you should pay' replies, this is MN after all

[AnneElliott]

YANBU - esp as they cancelled you a few weeks before. I'd tell them the cancellations on both sides balance it out. I wouldn't be paying and I'd go elsewhere next time.

[Coldwinds]

@SugarbabyMilly

Exactly *@Summerfreeze* - if a hairdresser wants to be mercenary they will end up with no clients.

It’s not mercenary. They have a business to run. They have bills for the salon and bills for their home. They were were closed down for months with very little help of the government, the lady to reopen and only just getting back on their feet.

Just because it’s a ‘hairdressers’ doesn’t mean they should lose out on booked slots.

[fairynick]

Usually whenever I’ve booked any kind of service- hair appointment, restaurant reservation etc if I’m asked for a deposit upfront when booking I would expect to not get it back if I cancelled, especially last minute. If I hadn’t paid any kind of deposit I think I would be taken aback if asked to pay half. The reason isn’t really relevant, that’s your problem not theirs.
Either way, hope you feel soon OP!

[StanfordPines]

I’m amazed at people saying you should pay.

Like others have said it’s not like you’ve cancelled because you don’t fancy it or it’s raining. You’ve got a a lethal virus in the middle of a pandemic. What option do you have?

Don’t pay, what are they going to do.

[marveloustimeruiningeverything]

I wouldn't pay it under the circumstances.

Especially as our local hairdressers easily fills cancelled slots by posting sudden availability on FB; they slots always go quickly. I've grabbed them myself for my children's hair cuts.

[Anon778833]

So.., how far would you take it @Coldwinds? They’d have to pay if they were dead by the time of the appointment?

The U.K. has become a fucking selfish place to live. I guess we can thank 10 years of Tory rule for that. And FYI I’m a beauty / massage therapist and if one of my clients came down with Covid I’d be mainly concerned that they get better and simply reschedule for when they were better.

[throwaway100000]

My hair salon is premium, popular and highly expensive, they can essentially overcharge and get away with it as they are in that high demand. They asked for a 50% non-refundable deposit to secure appointments post lockdown which amounted to £150 for me. Even they said this could be rearranged if you test positive for COVID!

I think the salon owner needs to give her head a wobble as she’s essentially punishing you for being cautious and diligent. I’m sure she doesn’t want her salon to become a COVID hotspot, what else does she expect you to do? You can’t really help the timing because had you tested negative, you would be allowed to attend the appointment. Things like this may make symptomatic people who can’t afford to take the financial hit continue as normal and “hide” that they’re unwell.

[throwaway100000]

The reason isn’t really relevant, that’s your problem not theirs.

Yes it is. Most businesses operating post lockdown have exceptions for COVID-19.

[MintyMabel]

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

If they advise you of the cancellation fee, and it would be deemed fair and reasonable, then yes, it is the law. And they can enforce it if they wish.

People here being so blasé about not paying should recognise how much lost business there is through no shows or late cancellations.

One hairdresser in our town took bookings way back for when they first opened, and in the first week, 50% of the customers just didn’t turn up or called to cancel. She went on FB to make the point that at this time, when they had lost so much money during lockdown, she couldn’t afford to have empty appointments she could have filled with customers. Her estimated loss was nearly £1000.

[RideaCockHorseOfCourse]

Its absolutely ridiculous for them to say they will charge you, would they rather risk infection!!!!! Tell them you won't pay and go elsewhere.

[MintyMabel]

Most businesses operating post lockdown have exceptions for COVID-19

Ridiculous statement. You cannot possibly know what most businesses are doing.

I’ve seen a chiropractor, massage therapist and hairdresser and all still have their cancellation policy in place.

[buildingbridge]

How much notice did you give them? I've never come across this before. If I can't make my original appointment my hairdresser would just rearrange a next one. I wouldn't go back to this hairdresser after this.

[Coldwinds]

@SugarbabyMilly

So.., how far would you take it *@Coldwinds*? They’d have to pay if they were dead by the time of the appointment?

The U.K. has become a fucking selfish place to live. I guess we can thank 10 years of Tory rule for that. And FYI I’m a beauty / massage therapist and if one of my clients came down with Covid I’d be mainly concerned that they get better and simply reschedule for when they were better.

Don’t start with the bollocks of Tory rule. It’s about not screwing small business out of what they are due. If your willing to make a loss then that’s on you but not very good business sense. Maybe you don’t need the money - where as in the real world most people in the beauty sector are still playing catch up from being left out to dry for months.

If you booked in to a hotel then cancelled on the day you would lose your money

If you booked in to an event but cancelled on the same day you’d lose your money.

If you can’t make it to an appointment and you cancel on the same day - you lose your money. It’s not the hairdressers fault you got Covid - she still has to pay her bills and children to look after. They were screwed during lockdown.

I have two very close friends who are in the beauty sector. I’d never do this to them.

[goldenharvest]

I've never heard of this. They can't make you pay. you haven't signed a contract, or been told this as their terms and conditions. sorry but shit happens, you cannot help being ill.

[Coldwinds]

@MintyMabel

Most businesses operating post lockdown have exceptions for COVID-19

Ridiculous statement. You cannot possibly know what most businesses are doing.

I’ve seen a chiropractor, massage therapist and hairdresser and all still have their cancellation policy in place.

This. Obviously it’s at the owners discretion and individual circumstances but seen as this is a pandemic and there maybe be multiple cancellations a week it makes good business sense to put a policy in effect.