Why I charge you, even though you didn't show up at your booked session

Situation 1: You wake up in the morning, go to work and are there at 9am as usual. You will work until 6pm but at 9.15am your boss shows up and says that you unfortunately not going to get paid for the next 2 hours because you are just not needed during that time.

Situation 2: You show up at work and start todays tasks. At 11am your boss shows up and tells you that you will not be paid between the hours 2-5pm, but that you are needed again between 5-6pm, so you just have to sit and wait. But that’s okay, right?

Situation 3: You where actually planning to spend some quality time with your family and go see a movie on Friday afternoon/evening but your boss called you up and asked if you could come in and work, so your family just have to go without you. Later that afternoon your boss calls you up again and says that he probably won’t need you this evening after all and you will not get paid for planning to stay extra, the movie has just started so all that is left for you to do is to go home.

Do I need to continue? Is this usual at your work place? At mine it is.

As a professional who offers booked appointments, I understand the value of time. Unfortunately, there are times when clients cancel their appointments without considering the impact it has on me as a service provider. This article is a plea for respect and understanding towards me as a service providers who rely on booked appointments to make a living.

If you book an appointment with me, I expect you to show up at the scheduled time. I have committed to holding that time slot for you and I expect you to honor your commitment to show up. If you are unable to attend the appointment for any reason, please let me know at least 24 hours in advance so that I can try to fill the slot with another client. Cancelling or rescheduling an appointment at the last minute puts me in a difficult position because I have already set aside that time for you and may not be able to fill the slot with another client in such short notice.

I am aware that emergencies and unforeseen circumstances may arise, and I am willing to work with you in such a situation. However, I ask for your understanding that I may still need to charge a cancellation fee in such instances to compensate for the time and resources I have invested in holding the slot for you.

It is important to understand that my business is not a hobby or a side hustle. It is my livelihood and I work hard to ensure that I can provide quality service to my clients while also making a reasonable income. When you book an appointment with me, you are not just paying for the time we spend together, but also for the time and effort I put into preparing for the appointment, as well as the time and resources I invest in holding the slot for you.

In conclusion, I urge you to show respect for the time and effort I put into my work as a service provider. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please do so at least 24 hours in advance. This will enable me to fill the slot with another client and avoid any inconvenience or financial loss on my part. Remember, my business is not just a hobby, it is my livelihood, and I rely on booked appointments to make a living. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.