Do You Cancel Appointments or Just Not Call?

Updated on July 28, 2011
V.M. asks from Conneaut, OH
24 answers

a friend of my hubbys was talking last night about scheduling clients (he's a lawyer) and he has had many that just don't show up. I was at the dentist last week and they had to shuffle peoplr around because someone didn't show up and so they were trying to bump my kids up to make the best use of their time. I'm not perfect and I know even though i haven't so fa,r I am perfectly capable of just forgetting an appointment, but I wondered if this happens alot-- the forgetting. Of if just like RSVPing for parties, people don't give professionals the curtesy of a phone call to reschedule. What do you do??

added: yes my dr's off ice charges for missed appointments too. I don't know how it is with drs and dentists, but the attorny actually admitted that he has clients he has done work for that just don't pay. My mom has gotten into a bind and not had enough to pay an entire bill, i think it was propane for winter and they let her make payments, But the attorny says he does work for people and if htey don't pay he is out if the amount is under a certain a,mount that could them be turned into collection which he said was a big pain. I can't imagine just not paying either. Soemhow i would make some sort of monthy payment. or attleast i woudl like to think so.

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B.H.

answers from Dallas on

Always always always call. Not only that, If I'm not going to be exactly on time (even if I think I'll just be one min late) I will call and let them know. Most doc/dentist offices that I go to have a policy that they charge a no-show fee.

4 moms found this helpful

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

I have forgotten when I was sick but that is rare. I call even if I am running a few minutes late to let them know. If i know I won't be able to make an appointment, I call in as far in advance as possible.
I also have people who don't show up for me. So I schedule the appointments when I can accomplish something if they don't show up.
It is really appalling how inconsiderate some people are.

2 moms found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

Thus far I have not had this issue happen, I have been late and called to advise and ask if they needed to reschedule the appointment. I would like to think that I would call and advise seeing that "no shows" often get charged a fee for not showing up w/out a call.

2 moms found this helpful

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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

All of our dr's; pediatricians, dentists, my PCM, the eye dr's, all will charge me a $25 service fee for missed appointments.
If I miss one, which happens, I do call immediately to let them know and reschedule. I always call 24-48 hours prior if I will not be at an appointment.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.E.

answers from Jacksonville on

I thought most places charged a fee when you did that? I don't have the money to waste, so I think I'll keep calling should I need to reschedule.....

And it is RUDE!

2 moms found this helpful

K.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

I ALWAYS call to cancel and I ALWAYS rsvp to things.. The world doesn't revolve around me and I don't expect it to.. Some people are just rude~

2 moms found this helpful

J.B.

answers from Houston on

I call and cancel if I have to, even with a close friend I will always call the minute I know I can't get together. Everyone's time is valuable. I think it is rude to just not show and if I did forget I would call and apologize profusely when it came to me. I was invited to a wedding recently and I was at the doctor's office to have blood drawn filling out the rsvp card. I stuck it in my purse all ready to go and then completely forgot bc I ended up having a big ordeal with my insurance company. When I did remember I was past the date, so what did I do, mail it in and then emailed the mother of the bride that I was late, we would still love to come but if they did not have the room, we would completely understand. Common courtesy in my book.

2 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

HOW INCREDIBLY RUDE!!!! I would be livid and personally - business or no - if they can't take the time to call me to reschedule - i don't want them as a client not matter how much money they are bringing in...

You have an appointment - you either keep it or you call.. PERIOD...the only reason not to call is if you are in an accident and in the hospital...other than that? SHEER RUDENESS to not call and cancel or reschedule.

2 moms found this helpful
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K..

answers from Phoenix on

A once a year "oh sh*t, I totally spaced the appointment" is different than being disorganized or forgetful & just plain making a habit of missing appointments. I really can't fathom an adult just completely, knowingly, flaking on an appointment & not calling to reschedule. If someone makes a habit of, then I absolutely think they should be penalized for it.

Sadly, from what I've seen of modern society, common courtesy & thinking of others & the value of their time is a lost concept. It goes along with the self absorbed, "me, me, me" American mentality that is so prevalent nowadays.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I... ALWAYS call, to cancel or to send my regrets for an invitation.

It is a BIG hassle and pain in the rear... for offices or anyone, when someone just does not show up and it is, NOT something people appreciate.
And per parties too.

Time is money and waiting.
Both of which, counts... tick tock tick tock... and it gets on the other person's nerves and for an office, that is a BIG waste of time and for others waiting their turn.

1 mom found this helpful

A.H.

answers from Tulsa on

I always call. I've spent too many times after normal work hours waiting for people with appointments that never showed.

1 mom found this helpful

C.S.

answers from Kansas City on

I always cancel/reschedule as soon as I know I can't make it because someone else may need that slot. Also, I appreciate each of my practitioners and respect their time.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.F.

answers from Bloomington on

In this day and age of cell phones and emails, there is NO reason not to call to cancel any appt. or let someone know that you can't make it to their party that you RSVP'd to.

So relieved to see everyone here says they call to cancel. I can't imagine someone admitting they didn't, though. :)

As someone else said, the occasional "Oh, S&#T!" moment that happens rarely is entirely different than doing it often or just not caring. I've missed one appt. for my baby's booster flu shot with the nurse and that haunts me!

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I call & reschedule.
An I RSVP to invitations--imagine that!

People are so rude. They fail to see the other person's point of view.

G.M.

answers from Phoenix on

When it comes to Attorneys and Dr's, well basically any other appointment I have, I always call if I'm going to be late, or if I need to cancel and reschedule.
It's really sad that some people don't give that kind of courtesy. That attorney wasted his/her time on that client, when he or she could have used that time for someone who desperately needed the help and is willing to make payments.
I don't see too much common courtesy these days. But I praise those that do! :-)

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J.G.

answers from Cleveland on

I have forgot a few... sometimes I see it on the calander just an hour after the appointment. I try to call as soon as I know I will be missing the appointment and even if I missed it for whatever reason. But most of the time it takes almost another month or two to get in to see the one I have written on the calander... so I get mad at myself for missing them!

C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

yes, if I need to cancel or re schedule something I call them as soon as I know that I need to.

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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

that's just plain rude to not call to reschedule or cancel

And as far as Lawyers, well then we wonder why Lawyers are so darn expensive, for irresponsible people. I hope their is a "Lawyer Black List" for the people that don't pay.....woops not an actual "black list" like mafia style, but 'black list' like you can't get any Lawyer services till you pay your bill.

T.C.

answers from Dallas on

I always cancel...unless the reason I miss is because I forgot, but that RARELY happens. I think it's polite to let them know because they need to know what to plan for.

As for bills, we always pay those. If I can't pay them off on time, I do a monthly payment:-)

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I always call to cancel. A few times my kid woke up sick the day of the appt. and had to cancel at the last second, but I always call. The same goes for if I'm running a few minutes late I call to let them know that I'm in the parking lot and on my way so that they don't give the appt. away or charge me.

I heard my new dentist talking to a patient about the patient being removed from the practice for never showing up.

My neighbor is ALWAYS forgetting appts., getting charged fees. She's had one or two drs. kick her out, and she was really offended by it.

M.

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

If I remember it I will call. I sure it's different for lawyers, but especially my dentist for example always tries to get me to schedule my next cleaning right away. I always decline because there is not way I would remember it 6 months later! I am sure that makes up a lot of their no-shows.
I also RSVP for invites...

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B.R.

answers from Columbus on

I always call and cancel or reschedule. If I'm sick, and my appt isn't for the doctor, I call even if it's the same day and say I won't make it but that they can go ahead and bill me for the appt. They never have, but I would pay it. I've heard some offices will bill patients after the third no show. It's only fair.

When a lot of people just don't show up for doctor appointments, then they start to overbook to make the best use of the doctors' time. Then people complain if they have to wait a long time at the doctor's office because they regularly overbook and sometimes everyone shows up!

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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

I ALWAYS cancel if I am unable to make it. It only takes 2 minutes out of my day to cancel and gives another person the opportunity to fill my spot. I would expect the same courtesy so I treat others the way I want to be treated.

M

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P.M.

answers from Portland on

I've only missed an appointment once, by accident. I called as soon as I realized my error. Many professionals will bill for missed appointments, and rightfully so. They may also waive that charge if the client is generally responsible. But I think they started that policy in self defense, because too many people were just failing to show up, and leaving gaps in the professional's work schedule.

It seems to be pretty common for people today to just blow off RSVP's, or to fail to show up to look at an apartment (or some item offered for sale) after calling and setting a time. I don't understand that, myself, but know many friends who have been treated with that disregard.

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