right or wrong?

I am sorry for the inconvience this client has caused you. I think each and every one of us providers have been in your shoes. I have never charged a cancellation fee. I am not sure how I would get them to pay it in the first place. I know it is frustrating and makes you see red when you feel like your time was wasted AND you lost money. But men do it to us all the time. Unfortunately, we can not do much about it. The bright side is he was not a NCNS, he did at least call and cancel. Put him on your DNS list and forget him. Originally Posted by LilRed

good answer! +1

IMO, this is a business like anything else and I do feel you are entitled to keep at least some sort of rescheduling fee or something. I always keep my appointments because I dont call and say I am on my way until I have hit an ATM and on the interstate. For example I got highly upset with a provider last week because I told her I would give her a call at 8 ish to meet up. I called at like 8:10 and she text and said she was unavailable. Damn. Really. Her excuse was I didnt call like I said. If 8:10 is not 8 ish I dont know what is. Mind you this was a PM so it is written down for her to see just exactly what I said leaving no doubt. Your time is valuable just like mine. So yeah I think you are entitled to something. But like someone said earlier I dont know how you would go about collecting this.

The money was given to me in advance for our next "meeting" , which obviously never came. It was a fraction of what I was to be earning and I told him that I was keeping it for a cancellation fee and that IF he was to see me in the future, he would have to pay full price. And he told me to go ahead and keep it but that he disagreed with my approach. And to answer other comments made, the first instance for him canceling was because, and remember that he made this appointment beforehand, his fishing trip ran late. Now that is something that he could have brought it in early since he knew he had prior arrangements with me. The second was work related. I ABSOLUTELY understand that things can and do go wrong at work all the time and wouldn't normally hold anybody accountable for something like that. I guess I was still just really upset about the first time from which I couldn't do anything and this time I could, so I did. This really puts me in a bad spot because on one hand, I feel bad about doing it this time when it was work related and I want to give the money back or continue on with the meeting in the future and give the discount of the already received money, but on the other hand, I want to keep the money because of what he did the first time when I didn't have the option of doing something like this. The fact of the matter is, even if I do give the money back, the guy probably won't see me anyways because of all this so what does it even matter? Originally Posted by Charisma Creams

If tou were up front about it I wouldn.t feel bad about keeping the money.

Thank you for clarifying.

I have never asked for a cancellation fee, I doubt I would accept one. Because most likely it would involve sending it via some media and not in person. Meaning having to share personal information. I did have to cancel a date with a gentleman, and I sent him the money he was out for our room through money gram. But he is a trusted man. Not every guy is going to be trustworthy. I just keeping adding the chronic NC/NS's to my list.

I've never cancelled before, but I'd sure as hell feel guilty if I had to cancel at the last minute for whatever reason. If I just blew off a session, I'd feel responsible for the fee, but I can't imagine finding something more interesting than LilRed (as example).

I am sorry for the inconvience this client has caused you. I think each and every one of us providers have been in your shoes. I have never charged a cancellation fee. I am not sure how I would get them to pay it in the first place. I know it is frustrating and makes you see red when you feel like your time was wasted AND you lost money. But men do it to us all the time. Unfortunately, we can not do much about it. The bright side is he was not a NCNS, he did at least call and cancel. Put him on your DNS list and forget him. Originally Posted by LilRed

good answer! +1 Originally Posted by DallasRain

+2

I have had a couple guys who I gave "2nd chances" to...and they both gave me big tips when we did meet!{and one has become a great client friend}!

{BTW--Charisma....doubles???}

I do not agree with a cancellation fee at all, just me. If a potential client cancels twice it seems to me that he would not ever be able to book again at least with you. I get paid by the hour and clients cancel on me, NCNS. I do not ask nor collect a cancellation fee and I could, but to me that is wrong, I performed no service, that simple.

I am not hurting for clients nor for money, so I decide not to get upset over it and move on, just me. I know other profesionals that operate on appt only basis, they agree and do the same thing - do not charge cancellation fee.

I am wondering how you could keep it? I never pay before session time?

But that aside, if you give him back all his money and explain due to 2 cancellations, last minute, I cannot book with you anymore, he will not go screaming to other potential clients and you will have done a good thing by not being selfish. Trust me, for him to do this something was wrong, he does not need problems expounded upon by charging him.

Good customer service, self sacrifice, and good communication go a long way in a long lasting successful business. I know I have not seen you but I now have to wonder: Does she want me to pay her before I see her? If I get a flat tire on my way over am I screwed if I do pay her? I am a good client and a nice guy but I tihnk the wisest business decision is to let go of you r disappointment and possible anger and move forward to the next client.

I have read some of your reviews and you have gotten some stellar vouches and with that I feel you will do just fine in this business. So, one guy was an asshole, do not let it ruin your day. Just remember the assholes and move forward, my suggestion. Originally Posted by Outdoorsman

Well said. Typically when a potential client cancels more than once, I do not take any further inquiries - sorry that's just me. Why waste both our time? There is no apparent reason to beat it dead. Sometimes a cancellation fee can be used as an incentive to stay committed to a set time - or it can backfire and scare potential clients away.

Someone that repeatedly cancels at the last minute should be put on your do not see list. Same goes with providers that repeatedly cancel at the last minute. It's extremely disrespectful to take someone's time for granted. The amount of cancellations and NC/NS's on both sides is very disappointing. It really should be a very rare occurrence for both hobbiest and provider. A cancellation fee would not discourage me, because if I say I'm going go be there you can count on me showing up.

the right-or-wrong of it is that you are right. when a client books a session part of what that buys is your availability, which is not free and should not be thought of as such.
..in my line of work, if i am dispatched [transportation] i am guaranteed to get something. but the less defined the game is, the more risk you run of games-within-games
lots of reasons why cancellations happen. i think the closer you get to nc/ns, the more insidious the reasons get.
the way things really do happen, i doubt the fee often happens.