AN Oldham salon claims it has been given no choice but to start charging clients pre-payments amid rocketing no shows and late cancellations.

The Doll Lounge on Ripponden Road, Oldham, took to Facebook on Tuesday with a post that read: “With us all being working mummies we just can’t afford to have no shows or last-minute cancellations, especially within school holiday times.”

In the post the team at the salon explained they were saddened to have to bring prepayments into force, adding: “We hope our regular clients understand and can appreciate our frustration to have to do this.”

The post continued: “Although this doesn’t account for most of our regulars to make it fair across the board, we are now having to take a partial prepayment when booking.

"If for any reason you can’t simply direct message the page and we can have a chat.”

The decision comes after a recent surge in last-minute cancellations.

Customers will now have to pay for half the price of their appointment upfront when making their booking and the remainder on completion of the appointment.

Late arrivals will be charged a £5 fee and anyone who arrives more than 30 minutes late will have their appointment rescheduled.

Cancellations need to be made 24 hours prior to the appointment and bookings made on the same day need to be cancelled three hours ahead of the appointment.

Clients who break either rule will face a £10 fee and no shows with a fee that equates to 25 per cent of the service missed with their next visit requiring an unreturnable deposit worth 25 per cent of the service booked.

Anyone who misses two or more appointments will not be able to book again at The Doll Lounge.

One Facebook user commented: “It's not fair on you girls because people will have been turned away for those who have cancelled. For most things payment upfront is needed anyways glad you've done it girls.”

A second said: “Nothing wrong with that guys after all it's not fair on you lot plus somebody else could have had the appointment.”

A third added: “You absolutely need to do this.”

The Doll Lounge offers a wide range of nail and beauty treatments along with accredited training courses.

For more information visit the salon’s website.