Cancelling service- do I need to pay

[Ploddingalong679]

Hi, looking for some advice on whether I am legally obliged to pay a callout charge if I'm cancelling the day before a service was booked.

It is a service for the house which I no longer need. I booked on Saturday for work to be done on Tueaday, it's through a national company so not an individual trader. I haven't been given a timeslot for the work and the callout fee is £149+VAT.

I emailed to cancel today and was told that I have to pay the callout fee as its within 24 hours as the company's terms and conditions. Nothing was said in my communications when booking, but I've now noticed that at the bottom of the email of the person I booked with, there is a line which says "we operate under these terms and conditions" with a link.

Am I legally obliged to pay the callout fee if I don't need them to attend?

Yes, as they have sent you the Ts and Cs

Absolutely yes

Yes. Cancelling with less than 24 hours notice is standard for most companies to still charge for.

You also emailed instead of called, which has delayed the message getting to them I'd imagine

Yes, because it’s in their terms and conditions.

Maybe. But I wouldn’t tbh.

Thanks for your replies everyone!

@Mummame2222 especially yours 😉