Chargeback, explained
For a barbershop almost every chargeback is one of two things: a no-show fee the client did not expect, or a card the client says they did not use. In Canada, Stripe charges CA$15 for each dispute received and another CA$15 to respond; the response fee comes back if the shop wins, the first one never does. Both the disputed amount and the fee come out of the balance the day the dispute lands.
The clock runs long. A cardholder usually has 120 days to dispute a charge, and for a prepaid appointment the window starts on the appointment date, not the payment date. The shop then has about one to three weeks to send evidence, and the bank takes two to three months to decide. The decision is final; there is no appeal, and most contested disputes are decided for the cardholder, which is why the evidence trail decides the rest.
The mistake shops make most is charging a fee the client never saw. The evidence that wins is boring and specific: the booking confirmation that showed the policy, the receipt, the reminder texts, and the client’s own replies. A shop with that trail wins most no-show disputes; a shop that charged from memory loses all of them.
Every booking in BarberFlow keeps the trail a dispute needs on the client’s profile: the confirmation with the written policy the client accepted, the receipt, every reminder sent by text, email or push notification, and the client’s replies. Disputes themselves are answered through the shop’s Stripe account.
See CustomersFrequently asked questions
How much does a chargeback cost a barbershop in Canada?
On Stripe, CA$15 for each dispute received plus CA$15 to respond, on top of the disputed amount. The response fee is returned if the shop wins; the first fee is not. Rates differ by processor, so check your own agreement.
How long does a client have to dispute a haircut charge?
Usually 120 days from the payment, or from the appointment date when the client paid in advance. The bank then takes about two to three months to decide, and its decision is final.
What evidence wins a chargeback on a no-show fee?
The booking confirmation that displayed the no-show policy, the receipt for the charge, the reminder messages and any reply from the client. A clear policy shown before booking is the single piece that decides most no-show disputes.
