right or wrong?

I would really like to know other opinions on this matter, providers and members. I'm sure other providers can certainly understand. Is it wrong to want a cancellation fee from a hobbyist that cancels on a regular basis?? By regular basis, I mean 2 times. Any other provider would know that when someone books an appointment, sometimes we get other inquiries for that time that was booked which we would naturally tell the people to try and reschedule for another time in which a lot of cases they don't and just go off and find someone else. When a client cancels, we lose not only the money that would have been received from them, but the other potentials as well. When clients cancel last minute, as both of these times were, it's almost impossible to fill that time. So my question is is it wrong to keep a cancellation fee even if the guy didn't want to give it, but didn't have a choice because I decided that I was keeping it?

And further more, if we, as providers, were to cancel on a client last minute and he had spent money on say a hotel room for the appointment, he would be just as upset and looking to possibly be reimbursed for that money. I think this is pretty much the same scenario only I was out a whole lot more money than the expense for a hotel room.

Depends on whether he NCNS or if he gave you proper notice?

What was the time factor on both occasions?

. . . When clients cancel last minute, as both of these times were, it's almost impossible to fill that time. . . . Originally Posted by Charisma Creams

Does that answer your questions?

I see your point, but how do you collect if no show?

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.

I suppose it depends on how many last minute cancellations constitute bad luck coincidences... or questionable behavior.

If the tables were turned, and this was a two time, last minute cancellation on one guy, by one of the girls.... I do believe we could predict some of the opinions being posted here!

But since this guy was already called an asshole... I guess all is fair.

I hear you Mr. Giz, but to me there is a huge difference between the business owner cancelling and the customer cancelling. If I schedule with a client and cancel last minute, I already know there will be reprecussions, it is part of the biz. More than likely they will seek services from another person and I am out the client and now I have this potential client out there bad mouthing me, not good business IMHO.

Every business has its obstacles, it is never the clients responsibility to over come obstacles in my business, just me. In the hobby clients can be assholes (an obstacle to financial gain) in my business I have to evaluate can this potential cleint even afford me. And sometimes my analysis is wrong and I am stuck with not making as much (an obstacle to my financial gain). I deal with it, because if my initial upfront fees are too high I lose business, if too low I lose money. It is all a part of business IMHO.

Give the client the benefit of the doubt, it will pay dividends in the long run is my philosophy, but that's just me.

IDK maybe I am looking at this all wrong, I certainly respect your opinion Mr. Giz.

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.

Does that answer your questions? Originally Posted by MrGiz

Not really as last minute is not a time frame.
Same as just around the corner is not a distance.
I was just trying to get a grasp of the actual notice period before the call to cancel.

Why dont you set a cancelation fee in your ads and see how much work it gets you. No matter what bussiness your in you cant tell your customers to pay for somthing they dont receive . The old saying time is money well in your line of work u get paid for your time if your customer cancels you lose . Hell i guess you could report him to the better bussiness bureau.

So my question is is it wrong to keep a cancellation fee even if the guy didn't want to give it, but didn't have a choice because I decided that I was keeping it? Originally Posted by Charisma Creams

So did the guy give you a cancellation fee?

What were the circumstances for him giving it to you?

This statement is a little confusing.
Did you steal the money from him and you don't want to give it back?
If that's the case then Yeah you are wrong.

Did the Guy give you money?

If that is the case then it is yours and fuck him if he don't like it.

Could you clarify?

Depends on whether he NCNS or if he gave you proper notice? Originally Posted by bodilly

No, both times were last minute. When I say last minute, I mean same day within the hour of supposed minute time.

No, both times were last minute. When I say last minute, I mean same day within the hour of supposed minute time. Originally Posted by Charisma Creams

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 cancelling 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?