To try and avoid this problem as best is possible (salon owners) get a text reminder system in place - there are some free softwares out there that you can just load credit on (texts cost about 5p each) and then at the click of a button you can send a reminder to everyone for the following day, at say 4pm the day before. The clients absolutely love the service, and you get less no-shows (in theory).

Pelican text is one, and im sure theres loads of other programs out there ... anything we can do to try and minimise the problems like this!

But on a side note : how they treated you is disgusting, we've never charged a deposit, as people generally rebook anyway as it is a genuine reason. We have a no-show rule of 2. If they do it twice, then they are forced to pay deposits etc to show they are actually going to come in. It seems to me that the salon is probably not doing all that well in the downturn, and they are getting angry at any missed income - which is uderstandable, but it is not your fault! Go to the small claims court - when you wi the case (which you would id guess) they refund the fee (which is 25 quid).

To be honest I was fuming about the whole thing, but other events in my life at the time took over and although I am better now I was very low and seriously didnt need the hassle and decided against taking it further, it was only a tenner afterall. Yes there is the principal but other things in my life that were not great were just too overwhelming, luckily things are much calmer now and I have moved on. Thank you to everyone who took time to answer this thread

anne xx

I actually booked in to have my nails done once & paid the full ammount on the phone. On the way there my car broke down & I was late getting there, I did phone the salon & explain but when I arrived they said that I was too late and my therapist was already doing someone elses nails.
They wouldn't refund my money- the whole lot not just the ammount of the deposit, I was livid!!!!