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.

For any appointment ie dentist,physio etc it is fair for them to charge cancellation. They have bills to pay.

Well it's only fair to put myself under the same T&Cs as I expect from the clients.

So she doesn’t charge you if she cancels

She didn’t charge you the first time you canceled even though she could have

She did charge the 2nd time you canceled because that is her policy

Exactly how many times should you be able to cancel without being charged?

She’s running a business OP.

This is how she pays her bills.

It’s not her problem you’re sick. She offered a reschedule and didn’t charge the first time, so she is more than reasonable.

I also have a private therapist, however hers is 24 hour notice so yes if I cancel on the day I still have to pay - they’re not doing it for fun or spare money you know, this pays their bills and is their actual job.

She let you off once , she didnt have to do that !

See if from her point f view. If everyone let's her down, she loses work and money she needs.

You say why should you pay but why should she suffer ?
Its to late notice to book someone else in, so she has lost out on that money

I think it's quite reasonable because she did not charge last time.

I had a therapist who kept cancelling on me last minute (on the morning of a morning appointment) and then when I was ill and informed them the night before, tried to charge me. I felt this was unreasonable but they did ultimately agree not to. Even then I would have expected to be charged if I was ill a second time despite the fact that I kept dealing with last minute cancellations from my therapist.

You obviously don’t work in a paid professional service sector do you OP? Her policy sounds very fair.

Yes, along with a reminder about her cancellation policy. So it shouldn't have come as a surprise that you'd be charged the next time. She even tried to fit in a free reschedule for you! Pretty reasonable I think.

Is this a reverse??

There are risks on both sides

Her risks not being able to sell every time slot.

Your risk is not being able to attend a prebooked session.

The cancellation policy is a compromise

She was being nice the first time. Nice doesn't pay the bills, though.

therapist has been incredibly reasonable. You are not. Pay for the time you’ve cost them. They can’t fill that appointment time in such short notice. This is a very normal term and condition.

I really hope this is a reverse. Otherwise, you are being very unreasonable.

Your therapist has been more han reasonable. It’s not her fault that you are ill. She didn’t charge the first time and even offered to reschedule the second time. If you complain, your therapist would be well advised to find a less difficult client.

My 15 yo dd does and still gets charged for things, when she is totally incapable of going. Due to the nature of the condition, it falls under the Equality act as a disability. It’s annoying or rather frustrating due to the unpredictability but I understand why the rules apply to everyone. Shit happens.

Surely you must have come across other similar cancellation policies?? They have the same thing at my dentist and my beauty clinic and my leisure centre. It’s not a new thing and YABU. Can you imagine how many people must not turn up due to illness during the winter?

Yabu.

She sounds very reasonable. Of course you have to pay.

Your therapist probably has a waiting list, but she is holding the slot for you. If you don't want to pay for the slot when you're unwell, then let your therapist know so that she can contact the next person on the waiting list and fill the empty slot, so that she's not out of pocket. If, however, you want to ensure that the slot remains reserved for you, then I'm afraid you need to pay for it. Why should your therapist pay for it for you?

You are being extremely naive to expect your therapist to make another exception for you. It seems her mistake with you was to make that exception in the first place. Instead of feeling grateful, now you're resentful that she's not doing it again.

🤣

So you want a free session when she’s sick but don’t want to pay when you’re sick?

You’re being very unreasonable and hypocritical, please pay her.

I bet you wouldn’t pull this shit if she was a man.

If you weren’t happy with the cancellation policy I guess you should have found another therapist before signing up. That said, it’s pretty standard.

YABU.