XOXO

although they told u they would charge you if u didnt show up, if u didnt give them written authorization then you can call your bank and say you dont know what the charge is for. they will then need to provide a signed receipt to your bank which they wont have & you will receive a refund.

OMG...so wrong!!!! No wonder they have so many complaints againts them....!!!!!!!!!!

Wow.. I was actually just about to call them today to make an appt and then I read this...now I'm having second thoughts.

I think Bridal Reflections is a fabulous place and the service is great. I would not let this policy stop me from shopping there.

Why don't you try to tell them that you did call to cancel the appointment. Tell them that you had an emergency and cancelled your appt, with plans on rescheduling. (If you have to.. make another appt and actually show up and pretend to look for a dress) They might reverse the charge if they think that you're still shopping with them.

I did this once with a hotel.. I forgot to cancel b/c I booked with another hotel. I called and claimed that I had cancelled and that the person was very rushed on the phone.They believed me and reversed the $189 charge!

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Posted by kslmbuggie

although they told u they would charge you if u didnt show up, if u didnt give them written authorization then you can call your bank and say you dont know what the charge is for. they will then need to provide a signed receipt to your bank which they wont have & you will receive a refund.

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unfortunately that's not true... plenty of credit card and debit card business is conducted without signatures or receipts. While the bank will put the charge on hold to investigate, most likely they will side with the business. It's worth a try as last resort though.
Many restaurants in NYC have had this policy for a long time... and will charge your CC if you don't show up for your reservation.

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Posted by fashiondiva

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Posted by kslmbuggie

although they told u they would charge you if u didnt show up, if u didnt give them written authorization then you can call your bank and say you dont know what the charge is for. they will then need to provide a signed receipt to your bank which they wont have & you will receive a refund.

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unfortunately that's not true... plenty of credit card and debit card business is conducted without signatures or receipts. While the bank will put the charge on hold to investigate, most likely they will side with the business. It's worth a try as last resort though.
Many restaurants in NYC have had this policy for a long time... and will charge your CC if you don't show up for your reservation.

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actually no, my company processes charges for customers via telephone rarely, we always get written authorization because when the customer calls the cc company if the charge was processed via telephone to dispute the charge, if company that charged the customer cannot provide written consent, or a signed receipt, the cc company will side with the customer. the cc company cares more about their customer, then the company trying to process the cc.

That is crazy.

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Posted by beram63

wow, i wonder how often that happens. they must turn a nice profit from canceled appts.

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They don't charge for cancelled appointments.... they charge if the BTB does not cancel her scheduled appt and does not show up. I don't agree with it, but I guess it happens too often and it gives people the incentive to keep or cancel their appt after all..the store is holding a fitting room open, and keeping a commissioned salesperson waiting for the 1 hour appt.

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Posted by fashiondiva

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Posted by beram63

wow, i wonder how often that happens. they must turn a nice profit from canceled appts.

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They don't charge for cancelled appointments.... they charge if the BTB does not cancel her scheduled appt and does not show up. I don't agree with it, but I guess it happens too often and it gives people the incentive to keep or cancel their appt after all..the store is holding a fitting room open, and keeping a commissioned salesperson waiting for the 1 hour appt.

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Yes, exactly!

And the OP should not be so shocked that they charged her the $50, I am 100% positive that if they asked her for her credit card information they explained the policy to her. It is 100% her fault for not canceling the appointment ... all the bridal shop wanted was the courtesy of a phone call.

She gave them her debit card # instead of a credit card # ... THAT is how they had access to her 'bank information' -- she provided it to them

They were effectively STOOD UP for an appointment. If roles were reversed, and a B2B showed up for an appointment and no one was available to work with them, wouldn't they be posting about that instead???

I understand that the OP was so excited that she found her dress, and it slipped her mind ... but to be so angry and shocked that you were charged the fee that you were TOLD you'd be charged just doesn't make sense to me.

that is totally nuts! I went there a few weeks ago and when i made my appointment they did not ask my for CC info. I ended up finding my dress that day

Sadly it stinks that you were charged, but these places are businesses---these ppl are workers, working for a salary and an income--if ppl kept on standing them up, and cramping up their schedule books with no-shows, how are they suppose to make their profit?

a confirmation call from them or not, respect goes both ways. You want respect when working with a sales representive, then you sorta have to learn how to be respectful as well and make a phone call to cancel your appointment. It really doesn't hurt to call and say 'hey I wont be able to make it, please clear your schedule so that you can accomodate another bride who's interested in this time frame.'

Sorry that you lost $50.00 --consider it a non-refundable deposit for deciding not to go witht hem.

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Posted by DnY

that is totally nuts! I went there a few weeks ago and when i made my appointment they did not ask my for CC info. I ended up finding my dress that day

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Maybe that's because you did'nt schedule another date to see them, you stayed there that day and shopped with them.