There are so many diseases aside from Covid that are highly contagious and no one should be spreading around. For some reason people forget about those.
Covid is bad, but so is the flu or bronchitis. If anyone is sick they should just stay home.
Redditor PuzzleheadedCar1801 encountered this very issue with their hair stylist. So they turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit for moral judgment.
They asked:
“AITA for refusing to pay a missed appointment fee?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“I had an appointment to get my hair cut and colored last weekend. They have a policy which I was never made aware of that canceling an appointment with less than 24 hrs notice is a $25 fee.”
“When I arrived, the stylist was sick. He had snot running down his face and was hacking and coughing everywhere.”
“He said it was ‘just a cold’ that went to his lungs and now he has bronchitis. He indicated that it definitely wasn’t Covid, because he already had that and it felt different, but he wasn’t even tested.”
“I told him I wasn’t comfortable with letting him cut my hair when he was this sick. He laughed at me and coughed at me.”
“So I packed up and went to leave.”
OP was told they needed to pay for the cancelation fee.
“He and the manager told me I owed $25 if I canceled. I told them flat out, no way. You want $25 you can sue me for it and walked out.”
“I left a scathing review online and have literally told everyone I know about my negative experience.”
“I’m actually friends with the stylist’s husband.”
“So it is lots of mutual friends and clients I’m talking about this with. The thing that bothered me the most was when he laughed and coughed at me.”
“I really don’t care if it is Covid, or the flu, or a cold, I don’t want it and feel he shouldn’t be working so close to people when he is sick.”
“The manager called me to insist on the fee, but I’m sticking to my guns. No fee will be paid unless they sue me for it period. In the mean time, I’ll never do business with them again.”
Redditors gave their opinions on the situation by declaring:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Redditors agreed OP was not the a**hole.
“NTA. Intentionally coughing on someone, with COVID-19 or not, can face assault charges and criminal liability.” ~ QuietestDesperations
“OP should call the health department on them. Even bronchitis is nasty to get and contagious. If they try suing you sue back for endangering your health. NTA” ~ myglasswasbigger
“I’ve had bronchitis that turned into walking pneumonia with severe sinus infections two years in a row couple years back.”
“Call centers were breeding grounds for chemical warfare.” ~ SaronthaWinchester
“Yep. Bronchitis and I are NOT friends. I get livid when people are around me with it. It’s cost me a month of my life, twice.” ~ mildchild4evr
“Same. Normally I get a bad sinus infection and it turns into bronchitis and then cycles back to my sinuses. Anymore I can recognize it and the second I start feeling stuffier than normal it’s a full round of Mucinex Nasal followed by a round of regular Mucinex to prevent the bronchitis.”
“Thankfully it has worked for me for a few years now. Before that I was getting sinus infections and bronchitis at least twice a year and I’d be down for days in misery and then struggling through life for a few weeks after that ‘cause y’know, money.” ~ pillowcrates
“NTA – As far as I’m concerned your hairstylist not informing you he had bronchitis until you showed up for the appointment is a legitimate public health reason to walk out and cancel.” ~ DarkRogus
OP’s health was at risk.
“OP definitely should call the health department, hopefully they take it seriously.”
“There is however, nothing to be sued for.”
“The 25.00 fee generally has to be paid before you can book your next appointment, and if you aren’t doing business there it’s just not a thing. They can’t sue for work they didn’t provide and even if they could, it’s 25.00. They’d lose several times that just waiting to be called in court.”
“NTA – that was a totally reasonable reaction pre-covid. Today, you might be an asshole if you didn’t bail on the appointment.” ~ dracoda
“This is the way. The health department cares. Imagine they coughed on someone with a weakened immune system? Covid or not, they could severely affect someone’s quality of life, and coughing on a person is absolutely malicious.” ~ hydraheads
“THIS. I have a compromised immune system and family members with the same. (And worse. Cancer.) F*CK anyone that thinks the flu or bronchitis is funny or a joke.”
“The manager sucks worse for doubling down. If the stylist was worried about missing out on pay or tips I’d be more willing to tip extra another time, but as it is I would be more pissed since they are the ones causing this last minute fiasco.” ~ PolyPolyam
“Absolutely, I almost did that to a girl I went to school with. She said she probably had mono, and later that day she started coughing in my face while standing in line, I was pregnant at the time. She got an earful of everyone that was around when she did it. Did turn out just to be a minor cold so I let it drop.” ~ vimse85
“Even before covid I would be raging if someone coughed on me on purpose. I’m pretty good at containing my rage in general. But an incident like this? it would take every fibre of my being to not leg sweep and stomp the asshole. And I’ve never even punched or slapped anyone before.” ~ vicki_chicki
“I’m a hairstylist and no staff, whether it be reception, assistant or stylist can come in until they are symptom free with a negative covid test. As inconvenient as this has been at times it keeps things from spreading within the salon and clients are always happy we’re taking the necessary precautions. Also where the hell was his mask if he could cough freely on you and had visible snot???” ~ Brownpigmarge88
That salon needs to improve their health precautions.