For not wanting to pay my therapist when I was sick!!

[Anonymous2566]

So, I’ve been seeing my therapist for about a year and things are going well. I’ve been very dedicated and always attend my sessions and pay upfront. My issue is, the cancellation policy. The agreement stipulates that I must give 72 hours notice for cancellation, otherwise the full payment is due. I was sick a few weeks back and let my therapist know on the day, she wished me better, advised me to relax and then put something about the cancellation policy, but that she didn’t wish to charge me on this occasion. Again, I have been sick and had to cancel my session on the day. She sent a similar message, wishing me better etc, but this time included something like “I’m afraid this is very short notice to cancel
without charge” and then offered a reschedule, which was online and didn’t suit as I was still feeling poorly.

AIBU to not want to pay this? How could I possibly give 72 hours notice when I woke up sick?!! It’s seem a little inflexible.

No worries. I might not have explained it very well initially and the thread was moving pretty quickly.

Another therapist here - my overheads are mahoosive, as are those of all therapists. As pp have said, a raft of added expenses including membership of professional bodies, insurance, room hire, supervision and our own personal therapy. We don’t trouser the whole fee, maybe only half of it on a good day. I appreciate that someone might consider the hourly rate and think it extortionate unless they realise where it all goes. In terms of short-notice cancellations: I’d always use common sense and discretion. Sudden bereavements and things like that, I’d waive the fee to avoid adding to distress. I have also contracted that short notice cancellations aren’t charged where the reason is serious long-term illness or care for someone who has serious long-term illness.

This with bells on!

Are you serious? Why do people have this idea that therapists are just nice people who should do the work for free? Volunteer therapists are awesome and the rest are what? Capitalist bastards making a profit out of other people's miserty? It's a hard job that requires initial training and continuing CPD, therapists are professionals that should be paid for the years they have trained, the experience they have, the room hire, insurance, CPD, membership fees etc that are ongoing business expenses. And the idea that somehow only rich people who don't ahve to charge should be therapists is incredibly priviledged and means that the profession is seriously lacking in diversity as it is.

And what, exactly, is a "lifestle business"?

Your very lucky she didn't charge you first time.
The lady has bills to pay hence the cancellation charge

Imagine if all of her appointments that day were cancelled last minute - who pays her?

She was very kind the first time - be grateful.

I find your comment about you 'agreeing to the terms in the contract that say you would pay if you give less than 72 hour notice, but that you didn't think this applied to illness', quite interesting.

Perhaps you should do some work on boundaries with your therapist. She made her boundaries quite clear from the start. You seem to think they don't apply all the time or when they don't suit you.

99% of people think you're being unreasonable. Perhaps just accept that you are?

She cannot fill the session at such short notice so she loses an hours wages. I can't see how else it could work. Everyone bailing at the last moment would mean she has no income. She waived it once and you agreed to it when signing up presumably.
Just know that if you're too sick suddenly then you'll have to pay the fine. Most people would either accept the cost or force themselves to do the session. I doubt you'd find another one who wouldn't have this type of stipulation, unless it's NHS.

Do you still pay her when she cancels?

No of course not.

You cannot expect her to lose out because you’re ill. Honestly the entitlement.

If you can afford to pay a therapist you can afford to pay when you cancel. She stilll has to pay for her supervision, insurance, ongoing training, professional registration, advertising, accountant, etc, not to mention put food on the table and a roof over her head. She will also have paid tens of thousands for her training. It's a professional relationship, she is not your mate.

She’s already bent the rules for you out of kindness . It’s a contractural arrangement , you can’t expect her to keep losing out !

Mine doesn’t charge for illness or emergencies and will try to re arrange whenever he can.

Absolutely this. You're in effect expecting her to pay because you say you are ill. Why should she?

I sometimes get it with my clients. "I can't help it if my child is ill!" No, but neither can I!

What she could do - and this is what I do - is have the cancellation period. If I get a late booking and fill spaces if they have cancelled in that cancellation period, they receive a refund. I advertise the spaces. During busy periods, this often works. During quiet periods, often it doesn't. But the policy is clear.

Someone once demanded a refund because traffic was bad and they were late, meaning they missed their appointment. I refused and they wrote a damning review on Google. I defended myself robustly, and had 100% support. Most people are reasonable.

She was very generous the first time.

It’s not a punishment or anything like that its just the way most businesses work, how people can still be paid and overhead costs continue to be met. If my child is off sick from nursery I still have to pay for the day. I get sick and can’t go to a concert, it’s usually non refundable. This is no different.

How would you feel OP if every time your manager at work was ill and therefore couldn’t pass tasks onto you - you didn’t get paid for that day?

YABVVU
Of course you should pay. You have booked a slot, and it is too late for her to fill it with someone else... so she loses money.
She sounded kind to let you off the first time.

I get it, it's annoying but she cannot then fill that slot with another paying client as it;'s too short notice. It's pretty standard in lots of industries to charge for late cancelation of appointments

How would you like it if you turn up to work expecting to earn £100 that day but your boss says not today I will give you one less job to do but you’re only getting £70.

it’s basically the same thing

You are absolutely being unreasonable. She gave-up her fee (I.e. her pay) the first time to be kind. However, as others have said, she has to pay her bills. She cannot put someone else in the time with so little notice. You have budgeted for your sessions. She has not budgeted for not being paid!

Further to my previous point and speaking as a Therapist, I do think 72 hours is an excessive and unusual notice period though.

You used the slot. You have to pay for it.

YABVVU OP. Pay up

She’s running a business and is clear in her T&Cs about the cancellation notice. She was kind not charging for the last late cancellation but unfair to expect her to do twice. I’m self employed and people pay for their sessions upfront. My cancellation notice period is 24hrs. I have leeway of the odd late cancellation for sickness but find if you do it too many times people then expect it for everything (kids sick, etc).

Absolutely being unreasonable

I had to cancel my teenage babysitter the other night...... I paid her anyway!