Many doctors offices do this now as they do have busy schedules and waiting lists for patients. If a patient simply doesn't show up, the doctor and staff lose money. They can then charge a no show fee of whatever they have set, to the patient. It's annoying but legal.

Yes, businesses can legally charge for no-shows in 2026, provided that the policy was clearly disclosed at the time of booking and the customer "agreed" to the terms (usually by ticking a box or providing credit card details). This practice is standard in the hospitality, medical, and beauty industries to recover the "lost opportunity cost" of an empty slot that could have been sold to someone else. However, consumer protection laws generally dictate that a no-show fee must be "reasonable" and not a punitive fine; for example, a restaurant can charge $25 per person, but charging the full $200 price of a meal they didn't cook might be legally challenged as an "unjust enrichment." In 2026, many service providers have moved toward non-refundable deposits rather than "fees" to ensure payment is secured upfront. If you are charged a no-show fee that you believe is unfair or was not disclosed, you can dispute it through your credit card issuer, but the business will likely win if they can prove you were notified of the policy.