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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Been banned from my local nail salon

347 replies

alittlebittiredallthetime · 14/12/2025 11:21

I started going to a new salon a few months ago. I went three times and to be honest, I was never totally happy with the service I had been receiving. The atmosphere wasn't as welcoming as I liked and the results weren't what I was happy to pay for. So I decided to just do my own from now on.

My mum goes to the same nail salon, and the owner asked her why I had cancelled my appointments. Because she was put on the spot, my mum told her that I was now working Saturdays as well, so couldn't go anymore.

Yesterday I was getting my hair done and the owner of this old salon walked in and sat down next to me. She clocked it was me, sort of looked me up and down in surprise, and turned away from me. It was a bit awkward but it's not the end of the world, in my view.

This morning I've woken up to this email from them:

"(My name),
This message serves as formal notice that you are prohibited from booking or receiving services at any of our nail salons across the (local) area, effective immediately.
This decision has been made at ownership level following a review of your conduct. We have concluded that you provided false and misleading information regarding your availability and intentions as a client. On that basis, we believe your actions amount to a misrepresentation of circumstances and may be considered fraudulent in nature.
As a business, we reserve the absolute right to refuse service where we believe honesty and trust have been compromised. This determination is final.
Any current or future appointments made under your name, or on your behalf, will be cancelled without notice. Do not contact the business regarding this matter.
(Owner’s name)"

AIBU or is this really not necessary? I'd understand if I was a long standing client who had been going for years, but I'd been three times. I don't really see what's fraudulent about it?!

OP posts:
Nothingbutstress · 14/12/2025 11:29

What a nutter! I’d be tempted to leave a bad review.

ThreeRandomWordz · 14/12/2025 11:30

alittlebittiredallthetime · 14/12/2025 11:27

Yes, I'm in a small town. She's very much the leading (only) salon in the area so I guess she's a bit put out that someone has dared to go elsewhere (in her mind, I'm actually just doing it at home because £40 for a set of gel nails is insane)

That makes sense. My aunt owns a coffee shop and frequently alienates customers. The only reason the business is successful is that the shop is in the perfect location. Otherwise it would have gone under years ago.

OP I'd just roll my eyes and encourage everyone I knew not to go there.

FrenchBunionSoup · 14/12/2025 11:30

My mum goes to the same nail salon, and the owner asked her why I had cancelled my appointments. Because she was put on the spot, my mum told her that I was now working Saturdays as well, so couldn't go anymore.

The reaction is perhaps a bit OTT but your mum's decision to lie is odder IMO.

alittlebittiredallthetime · 14/12/2025 11:30

Cadenza12 · 14/12/2025 11:28

Sort of wondering exactly what your mum said?

According to my mum, she sat down to get her nails done and the owner walks up to her and said "alittlebittiredallthetime has cancelled the appointments she had booked, why and when will she be rebooking them?". Obviously my mum didn't want to say "she thinks you're crap" so just mumbled about me picking up overtime every Saturday so I couldn't come down and had found somewhere near my work.

OP posts:
TwistedWonder · 14/12/2025 11:30

She’s a lunatic - what a ridiculously over dramatic way to deal with someone cancelling an appointment.

Small local businesses rely on word of mouth an a good reputation, she’s an idiot who has blown her reputation with a hissy fit.

5128gap · 14/12/2025 11:31

I'd email them back and say
"There is no obligation on a customer of your business to continue to use your services, or to provide you with a reason for no longer doing so. I am entitled to give any reason (or none at all) provided it does not falsely represent your business.
I would strongly advice you take legal advice to ensure you understand the definition of fraud before making unfounded allegations of this nature, which I consider to be malicious.
Please note I do not wish to recieve any further communications from you and should you contact me again, or I become aware you are making false accusations against me, I will be seeking advice regarding what may constitute harassment"

alittlebittiredallthetime · 14/12/2025 11:31

FrenchBunionSoup · 14/12/2025 11:30

My mum goes to the same nail salon, and the owner asked her why I had cancelled my appointments. Because she was put on the spot, my mum told her that I was now working Saturdays as well, so couldn't go anymore.

The reaction is perhaps a bit OTT but your mum's decision to lie is odder IMO.

I don't necessarily think so. I'd told her I don't like the salon and so wanted to do my own, she likes the salon and didn't want to tell the owner (and the other women working there!) that and then have to sit there in an awkward silence for the next however long getting her nails done

OP posts:
TwistedWonder · 14/12/2025 11:32

alittlebittiredallthetime · 14/12/2025 11:27

Yes, I'm in a small town. She's very much the leading (only) salon in the area so I guess she's a bit put out that someone has dared to go elsewhere (in her mind, I'm actually just doing it at home because £40 for a set of gel nails is insane)

£40 is a rip off. My local salon (affluent commuter belt town) charges £28 for infills and gel.

Edenmum2 · 14/12/2025 11:32

Had you cancelled or not shown up to any appointments? If not that’s absolutely mad

therewasafishinthepercolator · 14/12/2025 11:34

We have concluded that you provided false and misleading information regarding your availability and intentions as a client. On that basis, we believe your actions amount to a misrepresentation of circumstances and may be considered fraudulent in nature.

🤣🤣🤣

That's hilarious. This is my favourite bit. The only fitting response is either ignore or a row of at least 17 laughing emojis.

Each time you pass take a moment to stop, point and laugh really hard.

But probably just ignore. 😂

madaboutpurple · 14/12/2025 11:35

Totally weird message from the salon, a message like that is just not needed. Avoid going to the place.

saveforthat · 14/12/2025 11:35

alittlebittiredallthetime · 14/12/2025 11:31

I don't necessarily think so. I'd told her I don't like the salon and so wanted to do my own, she likes the salon and didn't want to tell the owner (and the other women working there!) that and then have to sit there in an awkward silence for the next however long getting her nails done

Why didn't your Mum just say she didn't know why you had cancelled?

CheeseWisely · 14/12/2025 11:35

alittlebittiredallthetime · 14/12/2025 11:31

I don't necessarily think so. I'd told her I don't like the salon and so wanted to do my own, she likes the salon and didn't want to tell the owner (and the other women working there!) that and then have to sit there in an awkward silence for the next however long getting her nails done

I mean she could have just said ‘I don’t know, we haven’t discussed it’. The behaviour of the salon owner is bizarre but so is the lie from your Mum. You keep saying ’appointments’ plural though, how many did you cancel? I’ve only ever booked nail appointments one at a time, attend that one and then book the next.

FrenchBunionSoup · 14/12/2025 11:36

alittlebittiredallthetime · 14/12/2025 11:31

I don't necessarily think so. I'd told her I don't like the salon and so wanted to do my own, she likes the salon and didn't want to tell the owner (and the other women working there!) that and then have to sit there in an awkward silence for the next however long getting her nails done

But it's a bit of a weird lie isn't it because then she might be expecting you to try and book on a different day? I would have said, she's decided to give it a break or she's decided to skip the gel and just paint her nails at home without revealing your thoughts on the skill level at the salon.

Won't it be awkward for your mum now the next time she goes? I imagine the owner might ask her about you and whether you had lied to your mum about your work plans or whether your mum had lied.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 14/12/2025 11:36

alittlebittiredallthetime · 14/12/2025 11:27

Yes, I'm in a small town. She's very much the leading (only) salon in the area so I guess she's a bit put out that someone has dared to go elsewhere (in her mind, I'm actually just doing it at home because £40 for a set of gel nails is insane)

You'd never catch Kim Tate stooping so low 😭😭

Just tell your mates what she said and leave it at that 😄😄, the madwoman

MossAndLeaves · 14/12/2025 11:36

Your mum should've just said youd decided to do them at home for cost reasons, and the owner is nuts - you could've had the day booked off for all she knew!

Huckleberries · 14/12/2025 11:37

ThreeRandomWordz · 14/12/2025 11:30

That makes sense. My aunt owns a coffee shop and frequently alienates customers. The only reason the business is successful is that the shop is in the perfect location. Otherwise it would have gone under years ago.

OP I'd just roll my eyes and encourage everyone I knew not to go there.

Edited

How does she alienate them? What does she do?

Honestly @alittlebittiredallthetime I would think that email had been sent to you by mistake. It might be meant for someone else.

alittlebittiredallthetime · 14/12/2025 11:37

FrenchBunionSoup · 14/12/2025 11:36

But it's a bit of a weird lie isn't it because then she might be expecting you to try and book on a different day? I would have said, she's decided to give it a break or she's decided to skip the gel and just paint her nails at home without revealing your thoughts on the skill level at the salon.

Won't it be awkward for your mum now the next time she goes? I imagine the owner might ask her about you and whether you had lied to your mum about your work plans or whether your mum had lied.

She doesn't open Sundays and I (usually) work Monday-Friday, so I guess my mum thought that if the owner thought I was working Mon-Sat it would make sense. I really don't blame my mum

OP posts:
NormasArse · 14/12/2025 11:37

I’d reply.

”No worries- best regards.”

😂

alittlebittiredallthetime · 14/12/2025 11:38

CheeseWisely · 14/12/2025 11:35

I mean she could have just said ‘I don’t know, we haven’t discussed it’. The behaviour of the salon owner is bizarre but so is the lie from your Mum. You keep saying ’appointments’ plural though, how many did you cancel? I’ve only ever booked nail appointments one at a time, attend that one and then book the next.

I had booked December, plus my January and February ones as I was wanting to make sure I got in at the best date for me ahead of going on holiday. I cancelled them all at the end of November.

OP posts:
alittlebittiredallthetime · 14/12/2025 11:38

Edenmum2 · 14/12/2025 11:32

Had you cancelled or not shown up to any appointments? If not that’s absolutely mad

Nope, never. Always early, always paid the full deposit before etc

OP posts:
MolkosTeenageAngst · 14/12/2025 11:39

This email is batshit. That said, your mum shouldn’t have lied and it was a strange thing to do. I assume she won’t be going back either as would be even more awkward to explain why she lied!

Gettingbysomehow · 14/12/2025 11:39

Haha thats the most puffed up, absurd rant I've ever seen. Email back and say you left becsuse her work is crap and the atmosphere in her salon is horrible. She sounds deranged.

Fupoffyagrasshole · 14/12/2025 11:40

Bloody hilarous 😆😆

meganorks · 14/12/2025 11:40

It was already a bit batshit cornering your mum - not her business is it if/when you get your nails done.

Honestly, I'd ignore her completely, ie don't respond to the email. A person doesn't send something like that without planning for the fight. She wants an argument. No response will be by far the most upsetting thing for her. Don't give her the drama. Maybe walk past the window in a few weeks with very extravagant nails 😂