Who is the CF, me or the beauty salon?

[superdelooper]

Last week my DM was talking about getting powder ombre brows done. My friend had them done, and they are lovely, so asked friend for the salon details so I could contact them for DM.
I reached out to the salon via WhatsApp on Friday (there is no online booking or website) and someone responded immediately with details and an appointment time for this week (Thursday).
All good, fairly reasonable pricing and DM was happy to go ahead and get me to book. There was a £50 booking fee, which I paid, with the balance to be paid at the appointment.
Within an hour of making the booking DM realised she had forgotten about the blood thinners she takes and after a bit of google searching, we realised she needed at least a week off the thinners before she could safely have her eyebrows done. I reached out to the salon again and they assured me she would be fine to continue with the booking, even while still taking the thinners. DM is in her 70's and we didn't want to risk it and requested to cancel the booking. Salon again said it would be fine (these messages have since been deleted by salon) but I insisted we cancelled and apologised. Fine, booking cancelled. I then asked for the booking fee to be refunded. Salon refused stating this booking fee was 'non refundable'.
When we made the initial booking she sent a message with bank details and a note about things to do/not do prior to the appointment. It also stated there was a £50 'booking fee', no mention of this being non refundable.
Who is in the wrong here? We tried asking politely for the fee to be refunded as it seems like a lot to be charged for an appointment we booked and cancelled within an hour, DM would have been happy to pay a small admin fee but £50 is a quarter of what the eyebrows would have cost to have done.

Could you have major moved the appointment to a week later?

I don't think they should have to refund you. That's the point of a deposit. There was another thread recently where a woman cancelled a party and complained the deposit had not been said to be non-refundable but that's what a deposit is?!

I think it would be U to refuse to move it to a later date and keep the deposit but not U to refuse to refund.

You lost me at "reached out" and I think you've lost your money as well.

Some people are being very rude about OP's mother wanted ombre brows. As someone with alopecia and no eyebrow hair to speak of, they're the difference between whether I can set foot outside or not. I wouldn't be giving this place my money though, they sound dodgy - there's no way a tattoo parlour would ever recommend someone on thinners to get a tat

tthey should be asking for medcial history an do a test first-tell them you screen shot their message an will be taking it further

Reaching out just means contacting though

Why are people clutching pearls about £200 on brows ? If that's why she wants to do then so bloody what .

No, it doesn’t. The implication of “reaching out” is something more; like after an argument, offering an olive branch, asking for something big etc.

Then corporate speak took over and instead of saying “contact X” people started saying “reach out to X.” It’s ridiculous. You “reach out” over something serious or after a fight. You don’t “reach out” when you’re making an appointment.

She contacted them.

Who are you to define "pointless" for others.

Women in their 70s haven't all given up on their appearance.

No it doesn't 😂

Oh sorry , you probably work in middle management somewhere in 2015...so yeah it does mean that.

Doesn’t absolve them of their responsibility to do a pre treatment consultation to check there are no health issues which would preclude the client. And the fact that they deleted the WhatsApp messages is concerning. Seems to suggest they know they’re in the wrong, so I’d just threaten them with small claims court.

Ouch!

What's wrong with having beauty treatments at 70? Do you think there should be an upper age limit?

No but there should be a common sense limit. If you're considering pausing life saving medication for neater eyebrows then it's time to stop and think.

I agree about the blood thinners. Just not the age.

It does though. Not sure why you’re so worked up about it

Because its nonsense, but I'll leave you to peel back the layers of that onion so you can move those metrics forward. Utter gobshite.

This is honestly the strangest, silliest thing I’ve ever seen someone get annoyed about.

What a very sheltered life you must've lead. Bless xxxx

That’s cheap for good ones - they’re about £300 where I live!

@superdelooper

Legally, as its a booking FEE and not a deposit then it's not refundable.

As its a medical reason the procedure needs to be delayed then the company should allow you've change the date.

I'd be very concerned about any company willing to carry out a procedure against medical advice though and wouldn't want to rebook.

I'd also be a negative review online to let others know they value profit over safety.

Ok

A woman I know has a salon in London and one in Ireland also, she charges £975 in London for the eyebrows. Not as much in Ireland but is booked out for the rest of the year.

It's permanent micro tattooing. Of course it will cost. £200 is cheap tbh

It's not just a bit of plucking

Age is a feature of medical care, hence geriatrics being a specialty.