contract-law
What&#39;s with unexpected cancellation fees?
<p>I made a doctor's appointment by calling and reserving it.</p>

<p>I received a text messaging saying that I need to call the doctor's office and confirm my appointment, and that if I fail to do so the appointment may be cancelled.</p>

<p>I forgot about the appointment and missed it, and then I received a text message saying that I owe them $125 for failing to cancel the appointment.</p>

<p>Is this some kind of fraud? Or why do they do this?</p>

<p>I will never pay them unless ordered to do so by a court, which I don't expect to happen, but is it normal?</p>

<p>The main reason for a business to charge for a skipped appointment is that by reserving a time slot, you have prevented them from seeing another patient, so they have suffered a financial loss. Your oral arrangement is sufficient: you don't need to sign an elaborate document to have a contract. It is unlikely that they will directly pursue you in court, instead they may just turn the matter over to a collection agency, which may or may not sue you. You could then dispute the charge in court.</p>
