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

@Sexnotgender same here. DD's bf started coughing in the night, she got a 8am appointment and result was through that evening, it's a bit pot luck depending on demand where you are but the issues in early September seem to be partly eased.

Presumably you had symptoms in order to be tested (if you didn't and got a test that's a different issue) so at that point you should have cancelled the appointment. All hairdressers/beauticians etc are asking if you've had symptoms or a positive test or someone in your house has that you shouldn't come in so 50% is very reasonable as it will have been much harder to fill the appointment on the day than the day before. If every customer did what you did the hairdresser would go out of business and others who want to make appointments will struggle even more than they do to get them now.

@theteenageyears read the thread

I once had to cancel my hair appointment at short notice as my cat was very poorly (sudden onset) and I was waiting to hear from the vet. As it was I got a call to go and say goodbye. My hairdresser was fab and no charge. But then again, my hairdresser values long term clients and knows they'll get more recommendations etc this way.

@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.

So by your logic, people would think

“Well, i could spend £25 and miss my apt and sit at home feeling poorly, or I could spend £50 and risk killing someone, or one of their loved ones. Bonus! I’m totally doing that second thing!”

I would say if they don't have your payment details then ignore them, what are they going to do, send the bailiffs?

I think you did the right thing by cancelling and they should be grateful that you didn't go anyway. Some people do!

How are they going to charge you? They don’t have your card number and can’t just take money from you

Did they explain when you booked that if you tested positive for Covid19 you’d have to pay for your appointment if you couldn’t attend? What Covid measures did they tell you about?

@TheTeenageYears

Presumably you had symptoms in order to be tested (if you didn't and got a test that's a different issue) so at that point you should have cancelled the appointment. All hairdressers/beauticians etc are asking if you've had symptoms or a positive test or someone in your house has that you shouldn't come in so 50% is very reasonable as it will have been much harder to fill the appointment on the day than the day before. If every customer did what you did the hairdresser would go out of business and others who want to make appointments will struggle even more than they do to get them now.

And if they cancel my appointment because one of their stylists is ill (or perhaps has a child who is ill - with covid or otherwise) what compensation do I get when they phone me on the day to cancel my appointment?

YANBU and I would change hairdressers.

I'm now dyeing and cutting my own hair (and my famiy's) due to all the uncertainty and test and trace.

Well, i could spend £25 and miss my apt and sit at home feeling poorly, or I could spend £50 and risk killing someone, or one of their loved ones. Bonus! I’m totally doing that second thing

Well yes because if you spend the £50 you get your haircut and if you spend the £25 you don't get anything. And you may not be feeling ill, you might just have tested positive with a slight (but persistent/continuous) cough.

Rubbish no way do you pay for a service you've not received. Half a haircut around here would still be ££££ I would tell them NO and take my business elsewhere.
If the boot was on the other foot and the stylist tested positive, would they offer a free or half price haircut for them cancelling the appointment? I doubt it.

@crumpet

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.

But why are there two sets of rules? I cancel, I have to pay. They cancel and I just have to live with it. It's not ok. People take annual leave and arrange childcare etc and then they blithely call and say the stylist isn't in and you have to wait x weeks for another appointment or go elsewhere.

Crazy! you did the responsible thing and it's not like they will have trouble filling the slot. It's hard to get an appointment so there is a strong possibility they could charge you and still get somebody else in.

Just NEVER go back, I live in a town of 35,000 people and there must be 10 hair dressing salons. More perhaps.

That is bad. Personally I would ignore it: will they call the police on you? Come round demanding payment? I doubt it to be honest.
You didn't receive a service so why pay?
I would go elsewhere when you feel better and covid free in many weeks time.
If they keep this up then they will get covid in the salon as people will still go along with the virus which is bonkers.

On the one hand, charging could encourage people to go in even though they are ill

On the other, it's not their fault you're ill and if you called to cancel because you had flu it's still fair for you to pay.

They are charging you half so you both are slightly out of pocket but neither of you take the full hit.

I think it's perfectly fair for you to pay half and those saying go elsewhere because they can't enforce it are morally wrong.

I just saw that they cancelled an appointment before. On that basis I would say you shouldn't have to pay.

I used to go to a beautician regularly and they would charge for cancellation but once she had to cancel an appointment and so when I cancelled a few months later she said she wouldn't charge as she cancelled on me last time.

@eatprayyoga it's covid, not flu

I'd be upset with that charge, its covid?! Its double standard when they've cancelled you for covid!!! Honestly I wouldnt pay it, look for a new hair dresser. Hope you feel better soon.

Don't pay and just go elsewhere next time
I get charging half price in normal times for just cancelling but if you are a regular and re scheduling good business sense would be to allow , hair appts aren't that easy to get round here so they would always get someone to fill the space
But how did you have symptoms yesterday and then a result now , thats quick turnaround

Yes @EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide that's why I said "if". I'm saying i think it's the same thing. Not their fault she's cancelling

But they cancelled on OP due to covid and presumably didn't compensate for her time so I would say no to the charge in those circumstances

Also i had hair appt woke up with a sore throat and rang to advise as not a covid isolation symptom and they asked me did i mind not coming in as they wanted to take no risks and asked me to re schedule , they know times are unsual and want to keep their staff and clients well , and like others said my hair appt could be camcelled last minute if sylist is sick and i have to book time off work for appts but would understand

Don’t you think they’ve lost enough of their livelihood to Covid? Do the decent thing and pay up. YABU

I’ve just checked the terms on both the hairdressers I use and they’re different:

Feeling unwell
If you or someone in your household is felling unwell, please get in touch as soon as possible. We will re arrange your appointment. Please don’t come to the salon as we have full authority to decline your appointment if you are showing any signs of Covid-19. We would appreciate at least 48 hours notice where possible.

Vs

50% deposit to be taken for every appointment.
Please cancel 48 hours before your appointment if you have any symptoms.

So first one they’re not charging, second one they are.

It depends on what you agree to as a customer. Neither is right or wrong, but they’ve taken different views of what good business sense is.

If I really liked my hairdresser I’d pay. If I was not bothered I wouldn’t and expect to go elsewhere next time.

But why are there two sets of rules? I cancel, I have to pay. They cancel and I just have to live with it.

It does seem unfair. But it’s a bit like a childminder’s standard contract, I guess - if your DC is ill then you still need to pay because the service was open for you to use a d they’d reserved your place; if the childminder is ill then the service is not open and you don’t pay because you didn’t get the service. You also have the inconvenience or lost wages to deal with, but no one suggests you should be compensated for that.

It’s really common to lots of services.

If you fell ill with something else at the last minute, like food poisoning, you would also have to pay, as you have booked the hairdresser's time. Same as if you had booked a cinema ticket and then felt unwell at the last minute.

Half price is a very reasonable gesture from your hairdresser.