To ask for non-refundable deposit back

[Roundgreysoft]

I know mumsnet hate tattoos but please put that aside the the sake of the question.

I had a tattoo appt booked for 7 months. I got very poorly and was hospitalised. Knowing I may still not be well enough to attend (in fact the tattooist probably wouldn't have been able to go ahead on medical grounds), I cancelled the appt with 6 weeks notice and asked to reschedule when I was definitely well enough, as I may not be by the appt date. Was upfront when originally booking that I could only do Saturdays due to childcare. The shop is a long way from me and I can only do a weekend because of people being around to basically help for the whole day.

Tattooist will now not rebook for a Saturday at any point in 2024. They haven’t said they're fully booked, just said they can't do any Saturdays now. They also didn't mention that this would be impossible for them when I asked to reschedule. They are 2 hours drive from me and I've used them 3 times before (did not have the childcare to worry about then). It is a 4 hour round trip to get there and back without the time it takes to do the tattoo.

I paid a £70 non refundable deposit at the time of booking. Should I ask for them to return this? Am I being unreasonable expecting them to rebook for a Saturday if they did before - I don't care if I have to wait months for this, or even if it is next year, but they don't seem to understand I can't magic up childcare for an entire day.
With 6 weeks to go they filled my cancelled appointment and hadn't done my artwork. Still haven't as I don't actually have an appointment yet. So the deposit isn't being held against anything.

I work in an industry where I actually ask for payment in full to secure dates in my diary, but if people cancel with at least 3 days notice then they are refunded in full, and I only keep the money if they cancel on the day (50% if less than 3 days). If I originally offer one week day for somebody and we reschedule, then I will always give them the opportunity to reschedule for the same day I agreed to to start with.
I hate having to ask for a refund when it clearly states non-refundable but...

Interested in opinions.

With 6 weeks to go they filled my cancelled appointment and hadn't done my artwork.

@Roundgreysoft Taking this from your OP, and the info from the above link from @Geebray , along with your very good reason and lengthy notice you gave them, I would have thought that you are entitled to your deposit back in full (or mostly in full, if they want to deduct a quid for their admin time) because they didn't actually lose any money (or very minimal).

, I would have thought that you are entitled to your deposit back in full (or mostly in full, if they want to deduct a quid for their admin time) because they didn't actually lose any money (or very minimal).

it is irrelevant as to whether the business lost money or not when it comes to non-refundable deposits

Why can't you take a day off and do it midweek?
If you work don't you normally have childcare?

I agree if they rebooked they could refund but if you have been waiting 7 months and paid 70 deposit I am guessing it was a fairly big job/appointment so have they managed to fill it all or just part of it?

I do really struggle to understand prioritising booking something like a tattoo so far away when childcare is apparently so difficult.
So many people expect everyone else to compromise because they don't have childcare.

If its that important then whoever would normally help on a Saturday could flex their schedules to help on other days?

No sure I would want a tattoo so soon after sepsis....surprised its not a mandatory question that would stop going ahead.
Seems like a big risk to take. I would wait a year.

🤣🤣 love you too! ❤️

It's clear that you are more concerned about losing £70 than not being able to get this tattoo done in the near future. Just ask and tell them what you have told us. If they say no, you could arrange to rebook at a much later date, when your baby will be older or in nursery.

Or, get over it. When I get bothered about having to spend a sum I don't want to (e.g parking fine type of thing), I think about how much my loss would be across, say, a year. If you paid them one pound a week for 70 weeks, it would be the same amount, so if you lost one pound a week out of your purse for 70 weeks, would you care or even notice?

And maybe it is OK to lose it given you now have your baby and your health back, when things could have been very different. In other words, you could think differently and just let it go.

Teachers have regular school holidays. There surely are some in the next 6 months....

Do you live in the middle of nowhere that there are no other competent tattoo artists within a 2 hour radius?

By the time you factor in the travel, childcare and possibly accommodation you will have spent more than your 70 quid deposit...

Why not cut your losses and go elsewhere?

@BlondeAussie It's best to travel for the right tattooist for the job, than go to a local artist just because they're local. Different artists specialise in different styles, too.

I'd ask if you can have a refund, OP. Six weeks' notice and they haven't done the artwork yet? Otherwise, are you able to wait until 2025?

Nah man. Once you find your person, you tend to favour them. Like your hairdresser.

Just wait till partner is on annual leave then go during the week

I don't understand why anyone is questioning the age of your baby or timeline of sickness haha

I would certainly ask: if they cannot offer a Saturday, could they refund your deposit. See what they say. I don't think asking is unreasonable, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask what the next Saturday they can do is either. If they can't offer the day you need I don't see how they can hold back your deposit.

Could you try and get hubby to book a hol from work when you can get an appointment? Maybe make a day of it so that after the tattoo you go for a walk and lunch or something? Also ask if opening hours have changed x

*Why can't you take a day off and do it midweek?
If you work don't you normally have childcare?

I agree if they rebooked they could refund but if you have been waiting 7 months and paid 70 deposit I am guessing it was a fairly big job/appointment so have they managed to fill it all or just part of it?

I do really struggle to understand prioritising booking something like a tattoo so far away when childcare is apparently so difficult.
So many people expect everyone else to compromise because they don't have childcare.

If its that important then whoever would normally help on a Saturday could flex their schedules to help on other days?*

I work in the evenings and weekends when DH is home. It isn't a huge job, maybe 2 hours. That is just their standard deposit. If you were getting something that would take 30 mins you'd still pay £70.

Childcare wasn't a problem at the time of booking because I booked for a weekend...I've been using this person for a while and always gone on a weekend. I'm not expecting them to compromise if they can't offer that now, because they have changed their hours I'd just want my £70 back, it is a lot of money.

Nah man. Once you find your person, you tend to favour them. Like your hairdresser.

This! That's why I'm driving so far to get to them. Or would be if it took place.

Made me giggle. Serendipitous as I needed to hear that somebody loves me today. Even if it's anon.