Hairdresser closes after charging children with ‘additional needs’ £5 extra
It claims the pricing was a 'misunderstanding' - but one parents accused them of 'exploiting' her son's autism.
A children’s hairdressers is shutting after being slammed for charging kids with ‘additional needs’ an extra £5.
PJ’s Hairdressing Group opened Krazy Kids salon in Somerset’s Puxton Park only last week, on Monday, December 7.
But there was an immediate backlash when the booking page for the Weston-super-Mare venue read: ‘If your child has special needs or additional needs please book extra time so that we can give our full attention to your child.’ Online prices also appeared to show an extra £5 charge for those children.
And after a series of complains the children’s hairdressers is now moving away from the park, even though it claims the pricing was a ‘misunderstanding’.
Jess Walker, a North Somerset mum whose son has autism, declared herself ‘angry and upset’.
She told the BBC: ‘I rang last week and enquired about an appointment, the woman explained they charge £14 but there could be an additional charge of £5 if it took longer because of my son’s condition.
‘It makes me so angry and upset that my son is growing up in a world where his special needs are still seen as a hindrance and something to be exploited.’
Director of Krazy Kids hairdressers, Lizzy Tucker said she was ‘horrified’ by the reaction – labelling the extra charge a ‘misunderstanding.’
She said: ‘We have been horrified by the reaction this weekend.
‘It has never been our intention or policy to charge those that require special assistance.
‘Through the online booking on our website extra time can be requested if required, however this is not chargeable for those with special needs.
‘A misunderstanding as a result of a poorly worded flyer has snowballed into a social media storm that has lead to discussions and my decision to remove my business from Puxton Park.’
Ms Tucker added the contentious content has been removed from the website and new leaflets will be printed.
But Fazilet Hadi, head of policy and research at Disability Rights UK, said: ‘The Equality Act is explicit, reasonable adjustments must be made by businesses for disabled people.
‘This would also apply to extra time being needed as an adaptation for a disabled person.’
Puxton Park has insisted that although the salon was situated on their grounds in Hewish, they had no say in the pricings advertised by PJ’s Hairdressing Group, which is based in Bristol.
A statement on Facebook said: ‘We kindly ask that if you have any comments, questions or concerns about PJ’s Krazy Kids Hairdressing that you please direct them to PJ’s Hairdressing Group and not Puxton Park.
‘Puxton Park did not have any input on the pricing structure or marketing material released by this company. The hair salon is an independent business and is not affiliated with Puxton Park.
‘However, as this business is on our premises, we do apologise for any upset caused and have brought it to the immediate attention of the business owner to be rectified.’
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