Quick answer
Sometimes. A UK clinic can keep a deposit that fairly covers the loss it suffers when you cancel. A term that lets it keep more can be challenged as unfair under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, so "non-refundable" on a form does not settle it. Read the cancellation tiers before you pay, and use a credit card where you can.
Why trust this: every claim below is sourced from the legislation itself, Which?, the clinics' own published terms and legal summaries, linked at the bottom of this article. See our Methodology page for how we vet everything on this site. This is general information, not legal advice.
Reviewed against current sources: 4 October 2026.
Can a UK hair transplant clinic legally keep your deposit?
Yes, if the amount is fair. No, if the term lets the clinic keep more than it actually loses. The test sits in section 62 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. An unfair term of a consumer contract "is not binding on the consumer" (section 62(1)). A term is unfair if, contrary to the requirement of good faith, it "causes a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations under the contract to the detriment of the consumer" (section 62(4)).
Section 62(5) says fairness is judged by looking at what the contract covers, every circumstance at the time you agreed, and the other terms in the contract. A court looks at the whole picture. No single sentence on a booking form decides it.
Which? gives the practical version: a business can keep a deposit only if it is fair and represents its actual loss, and a term labelled "non-refundable" is not automatically binding.
What does the law say about keeping money when you cancel?
Schedule 2 of the Act lists terms that "may be regarded as unfair". Two matter here. Paragraph 4 covers a term that lets the trader keep sums you paid when you decide not to go ahead, with no equivalent compensation to you if the trader is the one cancelling. Paragraph 6 covers a term that requires a consumer who fails to meet their obligations to pay "a disproportionately high sum in compensation".
Appearing on the list does not make a term unfair. It flags it for a closer look. The Act sets no fixed percentage for a fair deposit.
What do real UK clinic terms say?
Published terms vary a lot. Here are three UK clinics, read on their own websites on 4 October 2026.
| Clinic | Deposit | Patient cancels | If the surgeon deems you unsuitable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair Transplant Group | £500, called non-refundable, but usable once within 12 months to reschedule | No charge more than 28 days out. 50% of the procedure fee at 14-28 days. 100% at 0-14 days. A GP letter is required for illness | A medical problem on the day: £500 to rebook, or 50% of total fees if you decline to reschedule |
| GetHair | £500 | Refundable up to 30 days before surgery, non-refundable from 30 days to the surgery date. Tests, consultations and travel costs are excluded from refunds | Not addressed in the terms we read |
| Hair Transplant Edinburgh | £1,000, non-refundable | The deposit is kept as a cancellation charge | If deemed unsuitable on the day for medical reasons, the terms say the clinic retains full payment as a cancellation charge |
This is three clinics, not a survey, and we are not saying any of these terms is unfair. Fairness is decided case by case. The point is how different the rules are for the same service. A "non-refundable deposit" can mean a £500 booking fee at one clinic and a much larger exposure at another.
What counts as a fair deposit?
A fair deposit tracks the clinic’s real loss, mainly a surgical slot that sits empty. Which? says a business cannot keep amounts it could recover by rebooking the slot or cancelling other costs, and that a cancellation charge must reflect a genuine estimate of its direct loss.
Three questions help you judge a clause:
- How big is the deposit against the total price? A small booking fee is easier to defend than a charge near the full fee.
- Does the charge fall as the date gets further away? Tiered terms usually do.
- What happens if the clinic cancels, or you are found unsuitable? A term that is harsh on you and silent about the clinic’s own cancellations is the pattern paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 describes.
Does UK consumer law protect a deposit paid to a clinic in Turkey?
Not necessarily. UK consumer law generally applies where the trader operates in the UK. A contract with a clinic abroad may be governed by that country’s law, and any dispute may have to be raised there. The contract’s governing-law and jurisdiction clause tells you which applies. If the clause is missing, ask for it in writing before paying.
This guide cannot tell you which law applies to your contract. If a large payment depends on the answer, get the clinic to state the governing law in writing, and use free advice such as Citizens Advice before you pay.
How can paying by credit card protect a deposit?
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 can make your card provider jointly liable if the supplier breaches the contract or misrepresents the service. It covers items with a cash price between £100 and £30,000, and paying only part of the cost on the card, such as a deposit, can bring the whole purchase within it. Debit cards are not covered.
The House of Lords confirmed in a 2007 case brought by the Office of Fair Trading that Section 75 can apply to purchases made abroad under foreign law, provided the card issuer carries on business in the UK. That makes a credit-card deposit one of the few protections that travels with you to a clinic overseas.
Limits worth knowing: you still have to show a breach or misrepresentation, the card issuer decides the claim in the first instance, and the £100 to £30,000 band applies to the price of the item. Ask your card provider how it handles a claim before you rely on it.
What should you check in the contract before paying a deposit?
Check seven things, in writing, before any money moves.
| Check | A good answer looks like | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| What the deposit is for | Named as a booking fee, with the amount | Vague, or described as part of "the package" with no breakdown |
| When it is refundable | A clear date or window | "Non-refundable" with no explanation |
| Cancellation tiers | Charges fall as the date moves away, and are stated as amounts | Charges that jump to the full fee a few weeks out |
| If you are found unsuitable | Refund or rebooking at no cost | The clinic keeps full payment |
| If the clinic cancels or reschedules | Full refund or a free move, with travel losses addressed | Silence, or a clause removing all liability |
| Governing law and jurisdiction | Stated | Missing |
| The surgeon and the itemised price | A named doctor and a written quote with inclusions | Price given before any assessment, or by messaging app only |
Our guide to hair transplant clinic red flags covers what to watch for in the clinic itself, and UK vs Turkey cost shows what a package price usually leaves out.
What can you do if a clinic will not return your deposit?
Start in writing and keep records. Which? advises asking the business for a detailed breakdown of how it calculated what it is keeping, and querying any cancellation charge that looks out of proportion. Point to section 62 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and ask what actual loss the clinic suffered.
If you paid by credit card, tell the card provider you are considering a Section 75 claim. If the clinic belongs to an ombudsman or complaints scheme, ask it to say which one and use it. Free advice is available from Citizens Advice before you take any further step.
The Invigare Verdict
Worth doing before you pay any deposit: ask for the cancellation terms and the itemised quote in writing, read the unsuitability and clinic-cancellation clauses, and pay by credit card where you can. Do this before the consultation call ends, not after the payment link arrives.
Not worth doing: paying a deposit to lock in a "limited-time" price before a surgeon has assessed you. Pressure to pay first is one of the repeated warning signs we cover in our clinic red flags guide.
Got a quote in hand? Run it through the free Quote Check tool first. It flags what is missing, works out your price per graft and gives you the questions to put to the clinic.
If you already hold a quote and a contract and want a second pair of eyes, our own paid Quote & Clinic Review checks them against licensing, graft limits and UK consumer protections, and flags what it cannot verify. For other options, see Hair Transplants.
FAQs
Is a non-refundable deposit legal in the UK?
It can be, if the amount is fair. Under section 62 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, an unfair term is not binding on the consumer, and a term is unfair if it causes a significant imbalance to the consumer’s detriment. The word "non-refundable" does not decide the question.
Can I get my deposit back if the clinic says I am not suitable for surgery?
It depends on the contract. Some clinics refund or rebook, others keep payment. A term that lets the clinic keep everything while giving you nothing back can be challenged as unfair, but a court decides that case by case.
Is a £500 hair transplant deposit normal?
Among the three UK clinics whose terms we read, deposits were £500 or £1,000. That is a small sample, so it shows the range, not a rule.
Does Section 75 cover a deposit paid to a clinic in Turkey?
It can. Section 75 applies to credit card purchases with a cash price of £100 to £30,000, and a 2007 House of Lords ruling confirmed it can apply to purchases abroad if the card issuer carries on business in the UK. You still need to show a breach of contract or misrepresentation.
Do I get a 14-day cooling-off period on a hair transplant?
We could not confirm this. The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 give a 14-day cancellation right for some distance and off-premises contracts, but whether it applies to a hair transplant depends on how the contract was made and whether an exception covers it. Ask the clinic to state in writing whether you have a cancellation right, and use free advice such as Citizens Advice if the amount is large.
What should I do before paying any deposit?
Get the itemised price, the cancellation tiers, the unsuitability clause and the governing-law clause in writing, confirm who the operating surgeon is, and pay by credit card if possible.
This article is general information and not legal advice. It mentions Invigare’s own paid Quote & Clinic Review service.
Sources
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 62 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, Schedule 2, paragraphs 4 and 6 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Can I claim back a non-refundable deposit? (Which?)
- Hair Transplant Group terms and conditions, read 4 October 2026
- GetHair terms and conditions, read 4 October 2026
- Hair Transplant Edinburgh terms and conditions, read 4 October 2026
- Office of Fair Trading v Lloyds TSB (2007): Section 75 and foreign transactions (CMS summary)
- Section 75 protection (Experian)
- The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Citizens Advice: consumer help