Tag Archives: oceania

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Money Matters: Can hairdressers charge twice for the same haircut?

Every week we will break down, debunk and demystify your rights as a shopper in Australia. This week we are looking at a specific question sent in by a reader about charges made by hairdressers.

We all know life is getting more expensive than ever before, and how important it is to stretch every dollar you make.

That's why each week we'll answer a question surrounding what shoppers are – and aren't – entitled to when dealing with retailers and manufacturers.

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TWICE THE CHARGE FOR ONE HAIRCUT?

Hi Stuart,

My son recently went to get his haircut at a local salon. When the hairdresser finished, she showed him the result (in the mirror) and asked if it was ok. 

He said he wanted it shorter, so she proceeded with the cut without a word. At the end, she asked him to scan his bank card for payment without saying she had charged him for two cuts – totalling $60. 

There were no notices in the shop, and no discussion prior to her proceeding with the cut to state he would be liable to pay for a "second" cut.

We managed to get a refund for the second cut after speaking with the manager, as we found out from online reviews this hairdresser had done the same to other clients.

My question: Do they have the right to charge twice without notice, when the cut needs adjustment?

Hi there,

The simple answer is no, particularly if the haircut was specifically asked to be short upon entering the salon.

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According to Australian Consumer Law (ACL), businesses must display clear and accurate prices, and must not mislead consumers about their prices.

Of course there is so much nuance with hair cuts, as the end result of the "service" is highly subjective.

One man's glorious mullet is another man's madness.

Fundamentally your son's consumer guarantees still apply: consumers are entitled to a repair, replacement or a refund if a service they buy doesn't meet what is reasonably expected or advertised.

I would describe a haircut needing to be shorter as a "minor problem" with the service.

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), "when a product or service has a minor problem, the business must fix the problem or repair the product for free".

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The business does not have to offer a replacement or refund for a minor problem, although it can choose to do this.

The ACCC even provides an example of this – although this scenario could very well be described as a "major" problem.

"You go to a hairdresser and ask for a cut and colour. The hairdresser accidentally uses peroxide instead of the colour you asked for and bleaches your hair," the watchdog posts in one example. 

"In this case the hairdresser has not used care and skill when colouring your hair and you should use your rights."

I think you were well within your consumer rights to contest the charges for your son's haircut.

Do you have a consumer issue you need answered? Get in touch with Stuart at sm****@******om.au.

The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial or legal advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

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Woolworths ditches iconic 99 cent product

Woolworths has begun phasing out the popular 99c green shopping bag in favour of a new-look recycled version, which have already been rolled out in some parts of the country.

Synonymous with the supermarket giant, the "Bag for Good" has long been a staple in aisles, but Woolies says the time has come to make room for a new, more sustainable version.

"We have been gradually running down stock of our green Bag for Good totes, with a sturdy new-look 99-cent tote bag set to take its place," a Woolworths spokesperson told Nine.

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Woolworths green bags

"Our new reusable 99-cent bag is made from 70 per cent recycled material and has already started to roll out across stores. Our paper shopping bags and other bag options continue to be available to customers as well.

"We've seen a significant shift in shopping habits in recent years with 80 per cent of our customers now bringing their own bags to shop."

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The updated design has already been spotted at some branches in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania and the supermarket hopes to roll them out in South Australia and the Northern Territory in the coming weeks.

The bag redesign is the latest in a string of new sustainability moves from Woolworths, after installing vertical herb gardens and self-serve BYO packaging bars in select stores.

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"We're growing greener across our stores by reducing plastic packaging, phasing out plastic shopping bags, saving food waste and switching to green electricity," a Woolworths spokesperson said.