Being charged £150 for changing my mind about a procedure

[AbsolutelyGutted1]

I have a small amount of filler and I wanted to have it dissolved so I made an appointment to see an aesthetician I've seen before and paid a £50 deposit. Her social media contains what i felt was a reasonable amount of info about the product used to dissolve, hyaluronidase. I clearly didn't do enough research.

The appointment was for tomorrow.

Unfortunately (or fortunately - depending on how you look at it) I was reading up about it today to prepare myself and came across some disturbing accounts of what hyaluronidase can do to you when it goes wrong, and I decided I didn't want to take the risk for such a small amount that will probably be undetectable to the eye after a year or so.

I sent her a message today and told her I'd had second thoughts about the dissolving and why, but said I'd keep the appointment and just get something else (a facial or something)

She can't/won't do that and now wants me to pay the full £150 charge for the original procedure I booked for and I'm absolutely gutted. I don't have a lot of money and had saved up for this especially.

Do you think it's fair or unreasonable? I didn't expect to see the deposit again, obviously, but the whole cost?

I've NC.

As PP have said, a facial would take longer and then her appointments would overrun, so it probably wouldn't be possible to do that.

But I agree, if OP could have an alternative "same length" treatment then that should be accepted instead.

I highly doubt that this would happen. I would remove the card details/cancel the card.

It was me who suggested keeping the appointment and having an alternative treatment, but she didn't want to do that, probably as like a PP suggested she will have already got the dissolved ready or something.

I'm about to ask whether the remaining £100 can go towards a future appointment on another day. I'll report back.

Why do you "highly doubt it"?

I run a small business and if someone tried to stiff me for £150 that's exactly what I'd be doing.

I feel very sorry for small businesses. It must be really difficult to keep going with people like the op and others trying to worm their way out of paying what they owe.

Don't be ridiculous they have her deposit that's all that should be lost.

24 hours is pretty standard, it tells you that on Fresha when you book (clearly, not hidden behind a long T&C doc) If she was to give you a facial instead charging you for the original appointment she would be down the amount of money between the dissolving costs and facial.

What on earth are you talking about? The remaining £100 is going to be paid regardless of how I feel about it.

The thread is asking for opinions on whether people think it's reasonable, not asking for suggestions on how to get out of paying.

She’s probably ordered it in for that appt, with less than 24hrs to go, I think yabu

Don't be ridiculous they have her deposit that's all that should be lost.

Imagine if your employer said to you today, oh actually we don't need you the full day tomorrow, we just need you for 2 hours, we won't pay you for the time we won't need you for now, obvs, and then imagine you were down £150 because of that. And now imagine that happened on a regular basis. Last minute cancellations cost self employed people money, 24 hour full fee booking rules are standard and entirely reasonable. And would have been made very clear on booking.

I wouldn't pay the remaining £100. I'd just cancel my bank card and not go there again.

You are paying for her time as well as the product. If what you suggested takes more time then she can't probably fit you in.

The deposit is to secure the spot. If her terms say if you cancel within say 48 hours you pay in full so be it.

She is unlikely to have a replacement booking this late. You have learned now research first then book. Harsh as it seems this is her livelihood and no doubt she has set this cancellation policy to prevent no shows and to ensure she covers her overheads, mortgage etc

Not with less than 24 hours to ago when the product will already be ordered ready for the appointment.

Being charged in full for last-minute cancellations is absolutely standard in many industries, and for bloody good reason.

Surely this is what deposits are for though? To cover her costs for last minute cancellations? Life happens. People have to cancel. It's a cost of running a business. I have to deal with it myself.

You've done the right thing cancelling, OP. Hyaluronidase destroyed my face. Plus it literally costs pennies to purchase, it's not the same price as filler. You offered to take another treatment in its place. She declined. Let her keep the £50 and forget about it.

That's why she paid a deposit and op wanted to use the appointment for something else so everyone wins

If you did this to me, I'd be taking you to court for the remaining balance.

Except OP wanted a facial and that would take longer, so it wouldn't be an option.

Sorry op its not clear, do the ts and Cs state payment in full for cancelled appointments?

Perfectly said.

@Megifer if its booked through Fresha it will be very clearly stated.

YABU. It's bloody hard working in an industry where people book you up then cancel at the last minute. You should take it as a lesson and do your research BEFORE booking in future. When you're looking at something you're injecting into your body, why the actual hell wouldn't you?

Surely the deposit is the fee for no shows/cancellations to cover costs incurred? I would delete your bank details from the app op

No everyone doesn’t win.

A Facial isn’t the same. In terms of time or money. And will require another consultation.

and doesn’t help the woman with the product she has that Op won’t be using.

@AbsolutelyGutted1
There are several posters telling you to cancel your card and not pay.
You knew exactly what would happen when you started your thread

No, the deposit is to reserve the slot in advance. It's not there to cover all the costs of the appointment.

If OP deletes her bank details she should expect a letter from small claims.