No Show Policies

[Jessi]

No show is alway a touchy subject, you don't want to lose a regular client by enforcing the no show policy but at the same time you lost time and money and more importantly, the appointment can be scheduled for someone who really needs it.I have not charge for no show for the longest time and I have a regular client with weekly standing appointment start to habitually miss her appointment, I finally has to make a hard and diffucult decision to enforce my no show policy. I figure if that the way they are and don't respect my time, then if I lose them to some one else, that someone else losses.And seem, it has waork out pretty good for me, I thought I can't afford to do that but I glad I stick to my policy and in hind sight, I really can't afford not to do it.I have less aggravation from it.But for all of you that hesitate whether to charge for missed appointment or not.  SEND THEM A BILL AND CHARGE FOR THE FULL SESSION RATE, BUT AS A COUTESY, GIVE THEM 30 DAYS TO RESCHEDULE. IF THEY HONESTLY missed their appointment with a valid excuse, they will appreciate your understanding and gladly pay the bill and come back for a complimentary rescheduled appointment, chances are, if they no call no show you usually lost them pretty much cause they'll be embrass to come back.Just my cent.

 

[Nancy L]

No Show Policies

Hi Sherri-R. Thanks for responding. Sounds good and I'm glad you mentioned you would me making a no-show policy. That at least tells them, "This is not okay."However, if someone showed me they regularly disregarded other people's time, I wouldn't work on them. An exception would be if I really needed the money and wouldn't be losing anything if they didn't show up. I can't see that happening anymore though. I get aggravated; it's not worth the money.

 

[diekery]

No Show Policies

I have a no-show policy which I do enforce.  It is posted in my treatment room, in my waiting room and it is in my brochure:

"Please provide 24 hours' notice if cancellation is necessary. Otherwise you will be asked to honor payment."

It took me a long time to put this policy in place because I was afraid to offend a client and lose them.  Finally one day I had an epiphany; clients who no-show repeatedly and do not want to pay for the time aren't very good clients to begin with and my time is better spent developing the type of client that values my time and my services.

The above really says it all.  You post it in black and white or in color anywhere it can be seen by you and your client.  You have them sign the intake which also includes your office policy and then you stand behind it.  If that isnt enough, make sure they are aware of your policy when they make their appt.  Bottom line, how valuable is your time and service to you?

 

[Pompal 09.]

The school I went to had a policy for no-shows in the clinic. If the client was over 15 minutes late, they were sent a letter stating that they did not show for their appointment. They were then charged a $10. fee (about a third of the amount the clinic charged for an hour massage)  and were not allowed to make another appointment until that fee was paid. A copy of the letter was put in their file and when payment was received it was noted in the file.  While it may offend the client, think of the time you spent getting to your office,  preparing for their arrival, waiting for them to show, and if you had to pay a sitter for that time as some one else mentioned. Your time is worth something at least minimally, and a client who habitually does not show really isn't being responsible to you as you are being to them when they come to you for your services.