Morticia said:
Usually I don't take deposits for repeats but they've never stayed.
Why oh why? I'm pretty sure it would not make one bit of difference if you'd treated repeats like new ones from the beginning. People are like dogs. They do what they're trained to do and don't give it a thought.
Now you've trained repeats that they don't have to make a deposit, and it will be hard to change. But I'm sure it wouldn't have mattered in the least if you'd taken the deposits all along. You're just too nice, and I think Empty Nest will agree!
EDIT: Just realized I didn't say how many chances. I take a deposit and get $25 when they cancel, or 100% if it's within a week, so I don't have to care, much, if they do it repeatedly..