I don't know if it's widespread ADHD or reading on the phone is more difficult but (potential) clients just can't read dates.
Let's make a test about this random guy!
It's the baggage we all carry because of wondering if folks in all areas of life (family, dating, hookups, work, academia, etc.) are being honest or not.
Exactly!
I know providers that a week after someone cancels with a similar excuse would send a message saying "hey sorry you had to go to your uncle's funeral" to see if the guy remembers what he told them before as a way to know if he was flaky or not.
Sometimes folks cancel because a "brother got into a car accident" and later change the story about them being in a car crash, etc.
We can't always remember made up stories while we remember real ones because they actually happened.