Quick question on cancellation etiquette -- a sore subject, I know.

If one has to cancel with a lady with whom you have arranged a weekday afternoon appointment, and work obligations prevent you from making the meeting -- Is an early morning mail/text/voicemail sufficient to provide (pun intended) reasonable notice -- I'd hate to never make weekday appointments, but they're always a little dicey where they require absence from work for several hours...

What say you -- ladies?  gents?

Canceling on the day of an appointment is not a good idea. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, on both sides, but I don't think it's acceptable.

to be pissed off, and rightfully so. I'd be pissed off if she cancelled on the same day as the appointment, so I really couldn't expect her to just take it in stride. You might consider trying to re-schedule, rather than just an outright cancellation. If that works, perhaps bringing a little gift, or a little extra in the envelope would soften things up a bit.

Same day cancelations are unacceptable for both parties. If you're concerned that you can't keep a midday appointment, perhaps you should wait until early in the day to confirm you can actually meet someone that day. Then, contact a provider who offers last minute meetings and see her midday. Getting in the habit of scheduling appointments and canceling them same day is never ok. I will only reschedule with a gentleman who cancels same day with a 30% deposit or until six months has passed (see my cancelation policy below). In the event I inconvenience a friend by canceling same day, I offer an incentive if he chooses to reschedule. It’s only fair that way.

Good luck.

Cancellation Policy:
I expect cancellations be made with at least 24 hours notice. If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice, I reserve the right to refuse future bookings to you. I do not entertain no call no shows.

...that way, when you confirm at 9am that you will indeed be able to slip away from work at 10:30am, you will already be screened by a few ladies you can contact to see if they are available short notice.

Xoxo.

The way I look at it is:

At least they had the balls to let me know opposed to the NCNS. . . Lol.

On a serious note, If you have even a 1% chance of not making the appointment, please save everyone the time and just not book or perhaps call last minute to see if she is still around when you know you can make it. It is really a shame to eat the incall expense with nothing in return. Furthermore, if this is your first time, it is probally going to be ok. . if you are a repeat offender your history may decrease the chance that she will see you again.


Good luck!

-- Modified on 5/14/2010 12:30:09 PM

ouch!

I get it!  AND learned my lesson...

In this day and age when you can be found so readily via cell phone, blackberry, etc., there will be a situation that will arise that will result in a cancellation -- both provider and client.  Not only work issues, but family or health issues may cause such a situation.  It happens.  While one party might not be happy, life will not come to an end over one canceled appointment.  Someone who cancels chronically is a whole different issue -- that person should not be in the hobby -- both provider and client.  IMHO, you should let the other party know ASAP by all available means.

No worries, not all are as strict as me.

I have time waster, same day cancellation and NCNS policies. But not all providers are as stringent. Hopefully you find what works best for you, while trying your best not to same day cancel along the way. Some people simply won't tolerate this behavior...ever. Some others are more flexible.

All professionals who work by appointment endure cancellations & cancellations made the very same day of the anticipated appointment- our doctors, our lawyers, our mechanics, etc.

However, unlike those service professionals who typically have cancellation policies and fees, independent providers cannot assess and enforce cancellation fees which can make these events frustrating.  
Agencies can enforce cancellation policy and fees which an independent cannot because it may mean that a client will no longer have access to multiple companions, present and future and he is thereby more inclined to honor commitments made with the service.

I think that in order to avoid conflict with an independent miffed by a cancellation and lack of recourse it is smartest NOT to book in advance if you are uncertain of whether you will be able to keep your requested time.

Consider that a touring companion has limited time and will likely book as many appointments as possible over the course of her brief stay; your tentative or "soft booking" will cost her another appointment.  For locals consider that they may very well be low-volume (whether they appear to be or not) and may book an incall location specifically for you.

I think that if you know that your work or familial obligations may complicate your ability to play you should contact the provider you are interested in, pre-screen/verify and be as honest as possible about your schedule and your anticipated free time.  You may not be guaranteed an appointment BUT that is better than the alternative- booking an appointment which you are not certain that you can keep.

I don't have to deal with cancellations often, but when I do they are only grossly offensive to me when I book a location specifically to see one guest.  Cancellations are simply a part of business that all professionals must accept or plan for; even so less than 24 hours is extremely disappointing when I'm plavnning for a guest and I prefer that someone tell me that they may be interested in seeing me at a particular time and call last minute than plan to see me at a certain hour and cancel because they can't honor it when they knew that could be the case.

I would say it depends on the situation,i got into a car accident on my way to see a provider but she understood my situation and one other circumstance a very good friend of mine was killed in a motorcycle accident 4 hrs prior to my appointment so when a provider comes on here and says a no show no matter happens is unwaranted then i would say you have no compation (probably spelled wrong).

As always, Ms Moore is accurate in her assessment.  There are, however, similarities and dissimilarities with other professions...

1. Doctors do not charge cancellation fees. They eat the lost time just like providers.
2. Lawyers do not provide a GFE. They fuck you and you don't expect to get kissed, except with the bill for their time.
3. Mechanics...short in-calls for only lube, oil and filter...

In summary, Older Gent was most correct.  In this day and age, cell phones are handy and all should communicate ASAP in notifying of a cancellation. I have been on both ends of this. Provider calls 2 hours before an appt and claims she is "sick".  I call 2 hours before because of an emergency  work obligation.  I work on the assumption that we are all trying our best to participate safely and in a cooperative manner in this little adventure.   Cut each other some slack, no one is trying to screw someone else over.  Black list the guys who don't call to cancel.  Don't see providers who similarly don't act responsibly.

...I admire some of your local talent from afar, so I stopped by. And I just happened to be in a chatty mood, but it's out of my system now. So carry on everyone and I'll just keep lurking.

Peace and love.

A few points:

1..  Doctors absolutely do charge cancellation fees.  At least they do in my area.  I've been to several doctors in the last year and they've all had signs up stating that if you cancel with less than 24 hours notice, you will be billed the full cost, and that the bill won't be covered by insurance.

2. Lawyers do charge for cancellations if they are currently working for you, or will in the future. When you get the bill later, you will see that you were billed for an hour for your missed appointment.  I can pretty much guarantee that since most lawyers will bill you for a full hour if you just call them on the phone to ask them a question.  Greedy sons of bitches.

3.  Mechanics may not charge you for a missed appointment but then they get you later.  If you're just going for maintenance (oil change, etc.) then it doesn't matter to them - if you don't get the service done and your care breaks down later, they can get more money out of you.  In fact, most mechanics probably think that it's to their benefit that you do miss appointments with them - more money in their pocket later.

But, we're drifting from the purpose of this board.

As for cancellation with providers, yes, it's only common courtesy to give as much advance notice of a cancellation as possible.  But, shit happens.  I remember once on the way to a provider I was caught in a huge traffic jam because  of an accident ahead on the highway.  I was stuck on the highway for over 2 hours while ambulances, fire, police, and a helicopter evac did their jobs.  I called the provider on my cellphone and cancelled because there was nothing else I could do.

I think providers have to deal with these things individually - that is, each instance of a cancellation has to be treated individually from every other and the provider needs to look at whether this is the first time, whether it's a reasonable reason, or whatever.  I think canceling because you're stuck at work is definitely something that  would piss-off a provider because ****SHE'S**** stuck at work too, and she's waiting FOR YOU.  But, there are times when both the provider and the client must be flexible.

excellent. you got the last word.

Please Come To Boston Gia, we promise to play nice with your midwestern sensibilities.  

Seems pretty clear that the best approach is to do one's best not to mislead, or mistreat, and be as considerate as the circumstances permit.

Thanks for the feedback.