AITA for refusing to pay a $65 “Christmas Eve” cancellation fee to my nail tech friend?

I’ve been a loyal client and friend to my nail tech for over five years, but when I had to cancel my Christmas Eve appointment more than 24 hours in advance, she’s demanding a $65 fee — and I’m stunned she’s enforcing it against me as a friend.

I’ve been seeing the same nail tech for over five years and we’ve become good friends — I’ve followed her through studio moves, pandemic-home setups, and her decision this year to stop having a studio. I’ve always treated her business professionally: I tip every time and only reschedule rarely — maybe five or six times total in five years, and usually with more than 24 hours’ notice. My appointments are recurring after work at 6:30 PM, and she once told me she’d booked my slot for December 24th at 6:30.

I’m usually reliable and give way more than the average client — but when my recurring Christmas Eve appointment conflicted with a family dinner, I cancelled >24 hours in advance and my friend-nail-tech is now insisting I owe a $65 cancellation fee.

When she told me the recurring slot was on Christmas Eve at 6:30, I mentioned there might be a family dinner and we briefly discussed moving it to 5 PM — which she couldn’t do — so I said I’d try to make it. On December 23rd I learned the family dinner was definitely happening, and at 2:30 PM on the 23rd I texted her to cancel and asked if she could move me to after Christmas. That’s more than 24 hours’ notice. She offered a 12:15 PM slot that day, which I couldn’t take because I was working, and then I heard nothing from her for two weeks.

"I texted more than 24 hours ahead and asked to reschedule — I wasn’t a last-minute cancel."

Two weeks later she messaged saying she’s terrible about texts and that I “have to DM” for her to see messages. Then she said something awkward: she reminded me that she informed everyone that recurring appointments would be on Christmas Eve and therefore she was being strict with her cancellation policy — so because I missed my last appointment on Christmas Eve, she was charging me $65. She apologized that she hates this part of her job “especially when it comes to friends.”

"I did inform everyone these appointments would be on Christmas Eve, so I had to be really strict with my cancellation policy."

I’m baffled — I’ve been a reliable client for five years, I’ve rescheduled rarely, and I gave clear notice more than 24 hours before. I feel like she’s weaponizing a policy she enforced only after making my recurring slot and that it’s unfair to demand $65 from someone who’s consistently supported her business and is also a friend.

🏠 The Aftermath

Right now, the immediate result is awkwardness and a strained friendship. She’s asked for the $65 fee and framed it as an unfortunate business necessity, and I’m left feeling hurt and taken advantage of.

For my nail tech: she says she’s enforcing a policy to protect her schedule and income, and she’s uncomfortable charging a friend but insists it’s necessary. For me: I feel penalized despite giving proper notice, and I’m re-evaluating how friendly and professional boundaries coexist in this relationship.

Consequences include potential damage to a long-term friendship, a hit to trust, and the question of whether to pay to keep the peace or push back and risk further distance.

"She says she hates charging friends, but she still wants the $65 fee — it feels transactional now."

I’m weighing whether to pay and move on, ask for a compromise, or stand firm and accept whatever fallout comes from that choice.

💭 Emotional Reflection

This sits at the uneasy intersection of friendship and small-business realities. Salon owners have legitimate reasons to enforce cancellation policies — last-minute no-shows cost them income and blockable slots. At the same time, the ethics of applying a strict fee to a long-term, usually reliable client who gave >24 hours’ notice feels harsh.

A fair approach would have been clearer communication up front: confirm the special holiday slot and the policy explicitly when setting recurring appointments, or offer a compromise (reschedule credit, partial fee, or trading future services). Enforcing a surprise fee after two weeks of silence leans toward poor communication rather than necessary policy enforcement.

Friendships that overlap with business require extra care: the business owner must protect their income, but they also bear responsibility for transparent policies and considerate treatment of clients who are also friends.

Here’s how the community might see it:

“If you really gave 24+ hours notice and have a strong history as a client, charging the full fee feels unfair.”

“Small businesses need cancellation policies — but enforce them transparently and consistently, not retroactively.”

“Ask for a middle ground: partial fee, credit toward next appointment, or a genuine apology for the late notice.”

Reactions will vary: some will defend the tech’s right to protect her schedule, others will call the charge tone-deaf given the situation and the client’s loyalty.

🌱 Final Thoughts

You’re not wrong to feel blindsided. Long-term clients who communicate responsibly deserve clear, upfront rules — not surprise bills after the fact. At the same time, the tech has a legitimate business to run and may feel she’s protecting income she relied on for a holiday evening.

A constructive next step is a respectful conversation: ask for the exact policy wording, explain your timeline and history, and propose a fair compromise (credit, partial fee, or future discount). That keeps the relationship intact while respecting both the friendship and the business.

What do you think?
Would you pay to avoid conflict, or push for a compromise and risk frosty fallout? Share your thoughts below 👇