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.

Absolutely.

Not her problem in the slightest. She has already waived the fee once. More than generous of her. How does she know you're actually sick and not just doing something else.

You've missed a session twice now in a few weeks. She was extremely generous the first time in not charging you. But like others have said, she will have a mortgage and bills to pay and relies on her scheduled appointments as her wages.

You have booked an appointment and then called on the day to cancel it - she can't offer it to anyone else at that point. Of course you'll have to pay for her time, whether you turn up or not that hour. It's not inflexible, it's perfectly standard for most people who are self employed like this. You are very unlikely to find a different therapist who doesn't have exactly the same terms and conditions.

She is not a charity I presume?

It's quite normal so you do need to be aware of the T&Cs. 🌹

She also seemingly offered to reschedule online. She's been more than reasonable. I wouldn't be surprised if she declines to continue working with you.

It was really decent of her not to charge you the first.
No-one likes paying for appts they can't attend. However, whilst it's not your fault you're ill (again), it's really not your therapist's fault OR problem, is it?!
If you don't like the cancellation policy, find another therapist. Or, don't get ill so frequently?! 😁😇

It sounds like she's been incredible helpful, caring and flexible and given you support beyond the contract you agreed. But she's self employment and can't fill the slot at short notice and needs to earn a living

There are two things here.
Firstly, different therapeutic schools have different approaches to this. My therapist charges me whatever happens, if I can't come. There is no amount of notice I can give that changes whether or not I have to pay. It is a way of reinforcing the commitment they make to hold the time, and the fact that the time they hold for me is held regardless of my choices or circumstances (be it going on holiday or being ill). So in one sense, count yourself lucky you have any option to cancel and not pay at all, even if it's a minimum of 72 hours' notice!

Secondly, from a purely financial perspective as others have said, if the slot can't be filled it's a loss on their part. Restaurants who take deposits are the same, for instance. If you don't cancel within the given timeframe and are a no show, you'd be charged for the deposit regardless of the reasons for that no-show, for simple reasons for economics.

Ok, who voted YANBU?

Come on - speak up!

Made me giggle 🤣. No it wasn't me btw

There's always one I suppose.

No, she isn’t, she’s a private therapist. I get that she has bills to pay and if I was doing it from the start and for no good reason, I can understand the need to charge. It was just unfortunate I had two bouts of illness quite close together. For holidays etc, I’ve always given plenty of notice. I’ve also been very understanding when she has been sick and emailed in the morning.

I also think she has been very reasonable not charging the first time. It is standard. She wouldn’t have had time to fill your slot.

YABU

This her income. Pay her.

I am a Therapist. I had to unfortunately toughen up my T's and C's after a client cancelled on me SEVEN times on the day. Back then I used to charge after the session.

Now I charge upfront for a block. I allow three late cancellations in the last 12 months to reschedule, but after that then it's full pay.

Yes, I agree that seven times is way too much. I think I would just leave therapy after that amount of cancelling. But, I have to stress this, before these two occasions, I had never cancelled, in a whole year. And my therapist had been sick twice before I was (obviously I know this is unavoidable).

Did she charge you for the sessions she couldn't attend?

It's tricky especially if Therapist cancels at times and you've previously had a good history of attending. I don't think there's an easy answer to this. I allow anyone to reschedule up to midnight day before, but on the day it's impossible to fill the time with something else.

I also don't want clients turning up sick so that's why I do three late cancellations for last 12 months. I think that's very generous. It's easier to cancel one than catch something and cancel a week.

You've mentioned her being sick. Do you still pay when she's ill and can't attend? Does she offer an alternative date? To do it online? A refund? What are the terms and conditions from her end?

No

No I don’t pay and she does offer an alternative date.

I charge at the time of booking to secure the session. This is due to first time clients cancelling shortly before and leaving me unable to fill the slot. Thereafter I have a 24 hour cancellation policy and if people are ill on the day the session is still chargeable. If I am ill on the day (it's only ever happened once) the client's next session is free. My supervisor models the same policy.

I have on occasion allowed one illness without charge but only for long standing supervisees I've been working with for a long time.

I also work for an agency and if the client cancels less than 48 hours in advance they lose their session and I still get my fee.

If I am ill on the day (it's only ever happened once) the client's next session is free. My supervisor models the same policy.

This I think is a really good policy.