To think it’s cheeky to charge a ‘travel surcharge’

[Bilingualistic]

Attending a family wedding next Friday which we’re travelling for, it’s DH’s brother so thought it would be nice to get my hair and makeup done properly, as with a 3yo DD it’s been a long time since I went anywhere remotely special. Someone else messaged me and said they wanted to tag on.

Found someone with a salon based just down the road who said they would come to the hotel - happy days. Both paying £70 each for makeup and a hairstyle which I think is fair.

She has now messaged to say since we booked in, she’s taken on another booking which means she will now be travelling back from somewhere in the morning and we need to pay a ‘travel surcharge’.

She hasn’t said how much it is yet but I think it’s a bit CF to charge a fee to come back to somewhere you were coming back to anyway, as you are based there!

Not really a lot we can do now at such short notice other than accept it, or say no and do it ourselves but do you think IABU?

That is really cheeky
I would say nothing and then when I pay the invoice I would pay the original amount

I'd reply saying that the reason you chose them was because they were local - they should charge the other client a travel surcharge if they are travelling for their booking!

@DysmalRadius I imagine they probably are! I have messaged to ask how much it’s going to be, but no response yet. This is a good point though, I’ll say that when she responds.

Glad others agree though!

I’d also tell them that the booking the new person in is what’s incurring the charge, not your original booking, so the second person should be paying it not you.

Absolutely not your responsibility to pay their travel back! But as mentioned above I wouldnt say anything and pay the original quoted price when you made the booking rather than this made up price after youd agreed.

Cant just change the quoted price because they decided to travel somewhere before your appointment!

She quoted you a price and you accepted. Her logistics and costs are not your problem.

Can you find anybody else at this short notice?

I would guess that she has been offered a booking that pays more than yours does. She’s sent you that request for an additional charge to either match her earnings or in the hope you’ll cancel,

I would make the case that it is the other party that should be paying the surcharge.

If they stand firm I would prefer to cancel and do my own hair and make-up out of principle.