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.

TWICE THE CHARGE FOR ONE HAIRCUT?

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?

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

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”.