Payment for Canceling Appointments
Payment for Canceled Appointments
In many cases people who made an appointment with a professional, such as a doctor or sheitel macher, and canceled too late for the appointment to be filled by another client?or worse yet, just didn’t bother showing up?are required by halachah to pay for the loss of income they caused. The same applies to one who called for a taxi, and then changed his mind. The doctor could have seen another patient, the sheitel macher could have had another customer, and the taxi driver could have driven another client. On his part, the professional would have to prove that they suffered financial loss, and could have had another patron had they been given sufficient notice; even though there was no kinyan made, they may nevertheless be entitled to compensation. The amount of money due would not be full payment, but what is termed a poel botel, the amount of money a person would be paid for remaining idle. If the cancellation was due to an oness, an accident, or a legitimate reason beyond the person’s control, in some cases no money is owed.
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