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

But if they do make people pay half they run the risk of people going in symptomatic and potentially losing more. I think charging half is a lose lose situation.

If they lose future custom, then it's people that don't value their service providers time. That's a risk worth taking.

Nobody wants clients that think it's OK to cancel at short notice. Most hairdressers I know only charge cancellations when its someone that has done it more than once.

So the hairdresser gets paid a portion of what they were due (which helps cover premises rent and electricity that they need to pay despite the client not turning up) and they lose a client that thinks its OK to book their time but not pay them for it if they can't make it. Time that in future they can fill with someone that will turn up and pay.

I think it's a win win.

How’s this for cheek?

Had to cancel a hairdressers appointment as advised to self isolate due to a colleague testing positive.
Gave FIVE days notice, plus I volunteered to pay for the lost appointment. (Been going for quite a few years)

Got an email a few days later trying to tick me off for cancelling and they wanted to make ‘special arrangements’ for my next appointment where I confirmed a few days before that I would be definitely coming!

As I am unimpressed with their commitment to covid safe arrangements and social distancing, I think I will take the opportunity to go elsewhere.

Echoing pp's you should have cancelled when you had symptoms.
They've a waiting list. They could be closed next month. like they are here

It depends how much notice you gave them I guess. I have cancelled appointments and never been charged. They often have someone who is waiting for a cancellation so they can get an appointment, otherwise someone else is sure to phone for an appointment and they can give them yours. However, what are they going to do if you don't pay and move onto another hairdresser?

I don’t think they can enforce it. I wouldn’t pay it!

That you can’t legally leave your house means the hairdresser is being very unreasonable. I would refuse to pay.

I am quite shocked at the number of people who say they wouldn’t pay when cancelling at such short notice. It’s really astonishing.

Why didn't you just rearrange the date for a few weeks time.

I dont see why covid is a get out clause for non payment when payment is expected, you could have any number of test results come back that mean you cannot make it, why is covid different?

you could have any number of test results come back that mean you cannot make it, why is covid different?

Because it’s the law???

OP might be feeling fine and if it was any other illness choose to go rather than cancel. She’s now legally obliged to self-isolate.

Personally I’d pay in this situation if I wanted to go back in future. It’s in everyone’s interest that it is as easy as possible for you to make decisions that do not risk spreading the virus, though, so I suspect over time this policy might come back to bite them when someone who isn’t sure if they have it or not comes in because they the fee puts them off cancelling and they later test positive.

Don't pay it. That's stupid of them. If they took your card details beforehand then that's very different.

If they didn’t tell you at the time of booking they can’t enforce it, so it just depends whether or not you want to return really.

It would be good customer relations if you paid half now for cancelling, but they then take the half off your next visit.

I hate people charging loyal clients cancellation fees for the odd unavoidable cancellation. Fine to have a policy and use it for piss takers, not fine to use it for loyal clients.

Service providers should have a pricing policy that factors in the odd cancellation.

I would pay and let them know you will not be returning and will be looking for a hairdresser who knows the meaning of ‘customer’.

It would be good customer relations if you paid half now for cancelling, but they then take the half off your next visit.

I like that idea

Many businesses are waivering their usual cancellation policy because they know it deters customers from booking if there’s a risk they’ll be charged if they need to self-isolate. The financial damage that does to a business is worse than the odd genuine cancellation.

Unless you indicated that you would pay half on cancellation (by them furnishing you with a policy that said so and you going ahead with the appointment) then no, you don’t owe them any money.

I'm a hairdresser and I'm very strict on my cancellation policy! However I'm waiving it for anything covid related at the moment.

Can you call back and say - 'I'm coming in after all, so don't worry... I'll pay full price'. Because surely then, they'll tell you not to come because you've tested positive for C-19, and maybe if they cancel your appt, you don't have to pay?

No I’m sorry another hair appointment will soon be filled. Before Covid hairdressers would have had cancellations a lot and late hair appointments. I would be willing to re book again but I definitely wouldn’t be paying anything

@autumndream

I'm a hairdresser and I'm very strict on my cancellation policy! However I'm waiving it for anything covid related at the moment.

Absolutely OP could be seriously ill so it’s a bit bad to charge!

There is zero chance I would pay. Especially in these circumstances. I can't believe this is a thing! I'm glad I don't go the hairdressers if it is!

I was going to say yabu as you should have cancelled as soon as you knew. However, having called the hairdresser the day before, I would have presumed (as they didn’t say otherwise) that they were accepting on the day cancellation for this reason. Were they not, they should have been clear at the time and you could have cancelled.

They should be grateful that you have cancelled it.

No you shouldn't pay. Now you've said they also cancelled for the same reason, even more reason not to pay.