[murky]

Allegedly!!!!!

I think I remember this from a very early edition of the NCCA magazine.
Once upon a time somebody contacted a plumber to come out and fix a stuck valve on a rad or similar the pluimber said he couldnt get there
for a couple of days as he was busy, he turned up as appointed but  the customer said I couldn't wait fore you I have had it fixed by someone else now.
 The plumber said  you owe me the callout fee of £60 as you didn't cancel the appointment.
She said she wouldn't pay it because I'm a Magistrate and I know the law.
Plumber said you will be hearing from me in due course then.

Evidently a week later he received cheque in the post for the callout fee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Supposedly it's because she had entered into a contract even though verbal, it's a contract.

[cleaning co]

i hav charged custys for not cancelling jobs before, a booking over the phone for your services is a legal contract, therefore if u hav booked in a mornings work for say 100 pounds then if 90 pounds of that was your labour charges and petrol expences you are within your rights to charge them this amount for loss of earnings as u hav no way of filling these 3 or 4 hours as your work is booked inadvance and they not u hav broken thier verbal contract

a firm i used to know ,not trading anymore but was all over the country,  used to charge custy the cost of job if they turned up and thought it was uncleanable  in there opion the custy shoudnt hav wasted thier time making a booking for something what wanted throwing in the skip

[steve cardy]

I think you will find the contract with the customer is only binding if you have been around and spoken to them face to face. So trading standards tell me.