To think this surely isn’t entirely my fault….

[sunrise16]

Ok hard hat on and will expect a flaming…to be told I’m a total idiot etc. Which I know! But I am totally in shock about this.
At the start of this year I signed up to a (local business, not a chain) beauty salon offer to pay a subscription every month - as part of that you got money off treatments and monthly facials as well as gifts a couple of times a year.
I went a couple of times and both times there was a bit of confusion with the system - finding me on there etc, and the last time (March!) the girl working there said she couldn’t find the subscription at all and wasn’t sure it existed. I asked them to call me to sort then to be honest it entirely went out of my head (unwell parent and usual busy life with three children etc….)
Fast forward to today and I went in there for another treatment. When I went outside to pay the woman said - ah you actually have this subscription already. I checked my account and they’ve been taking the money out every month - it came up as something else on the statement and I thought it was something to do with my DH. (Yes I know I’m an idiot, yes I know I should have checked sooner.)
I said to the woman - I’ve now missed seven months of these - did you never think to call to ask if I still wanted the subscription/to book in etc? This is a small local salon with maybe three rooms so I wouldn’t imagine they have unmanageable numbers of clients?
She said ‘oh we tried to call a couple of weeks ago but there was no answer…and it’s our policy not to give any refunds/credit etc’.
She’s not the manager and the manager’s not back in til next week - I appreciate I’m at fault for not realising this money was going out but do I have a leg to stand on with regards to them keeping it all?! At the very least it seems incredibly dishonest on their part and not a very sensible idea for a local business that relies on goodwill?

But they didn’t say she wasn’t a member, she said the woman wasn’t sure and fheir tills were down, likely part of the issue. But not sure does not mean you’re not a member,

But she didn’t say that, and the op never said the woman said that.

There is no subscription service that I can think of that would encourage you to use it. To renew it sure, but it's in their interests if you don't actually use what you've paid for up front.

Did you try to cancel at any point prior to the seven months? As you were acting as if you thought the subscription had stopped. It wouldn't have unless you told them surely.

Anyway it is sadly fully your fault. As a goodwill gesture they could chuck in something to try and encourage you to stay I guess.

If it's any consolation I booked a block of sunbeds sessions and then didn't go back, it's now been three years and I've wasted about £60. Not even because I forgot, just cba to walk there!

the girl working there said she couldn’t find the subscription at all and wasn’t sure it existed

Is what I read in the OP

If I was told by a company I didn’t have a subscription when I knew I’d set it up I’d make more effort to work out whether it was set up on my account, you can easily search payments by value, even with a different name it wouldn’t take too much time or effort to figure out.

Yes. Which does not mean the definitive you have no subscription. Being unsure one exists means she is unsure if one exists. It may, it may not, she can’t find it, if she said there was no subscription different words would have been used. Ie she was sure one didn’t exist.

it is basic language,

I actually don't think they're being unreasonable here

I think this is your responsibility here

I actually don't think they're being unreasonable here

I think this is your responsibility here

Just to update in case anyone else finds this - I had a very civil conversation with the owner and she’s agreed to credit the full sum. Very much appreciated but also she admitted it wasn’t entirely my fault.