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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you charge a friend for a defrosted freezer?

88 replies

christmastreewithhairyfairy · 09/08/2025 09:32

A friend looked after our pets (paid) while we were on holiday. We came home to find the freezer fully defrosted, she owned up to opening it and it clearly didn't close properly. Not sure exactly how much was lost but probably over £100. She's offering to pay but given she is a friend and it was an accident I'm leaning towards saying no. If it was a professional I'd probably think differently. I'm curious to know what others would do.
YABU = take the money
YANBU = let it go

OP posts:
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Hiptothisjive · 11/08/2025 01:01

christmastreewithhairyfairy · 09/08/2025 09:37

Usually I'd agree, but right now I have other pet sitters. I'm more concerned about the friendship!

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Let it go but check your insurance. It can cover this happening sometimes.

Justchilling07 · 11/08/2025 00:57

christmastreewithhairyfairy · 10/08/2025 13:27

😂 fair point.
I haven't been on AIBU for a while, I'd forgotten the joys

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🙄How awful for you!

Justchilling07 · 11/08/2025 00:52

christmastreewithhairyfairy · 10/08/2025 13:14

Oh for God's sake. RTFT, and the OP! I was never going to ask her, she offered. I was pondering whether to accept, clearly leaning towards no. And in my update I make it clear it was a moot point anyway. Grinds my gears when people respond without reading the posts!

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Calm down op! Your dilemma, is ridiculous.And yes a storm in a tea cup of your own making.After all the fuss, making your friend feel awkward and guilty, it’s actually your fridge/freezer, a piece of crap, your words, that caused this.She gave you the money because she felt so awful.Oh well, at least you can laugh about it now, it’s doubtful your friend feels the same way!

Original poster
christmastreewithhairyfairy · 10/08/2025 13:29

Nearly50omg · 10/08/2025 13:25

You should be claiming from the letting agency as the problem is down to their faulty equipment it seems

I would love to but even getting them to agree to a new fridge has been an uphill struggle, compensation for food will be blood out of a stone

OP posts:
Original poster
christmastreewithhairyfairy · 10/08/2025 13:27

TheAutumnCrow · 10/08/2025 13:25

Because it's in AIBU and it attracts a lot of people whose comprehension skills are lacking, and/or who can't be fucked to pay attention to the OP's words, despite the fact that you wrote it clearly in your first sentence.

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😂 fair point.
I haven't been on AIBU for a while, I'd forgotten the joys

OP posts:
TheAutumnCrow · 10/08/2025 13:25

christmastreewithhairyfairy · 09/08/2025 10:37

Why are people talking about her doing me a huge favour? Are people missing the paid part?

Because it's in AIBU and it attracts a lot of people whose comprehension skills are lacking, and/or who can't be fucked to pay attention to the OP's words, despite the fact that you wrote it clearly in your first sentence.

Nearly50omg · 10/08/2025 13:25

You should be claiming from the letting agency as the problem is down to their faulty equipment it seems

Original poster
christmastreewithhairyfairy · 10/08/2025 13:22

Not going to claim on insurance!

OP posts:
ConsultMe · 10/08/2025 13:20

christmastreewithhairyfairy · 09/08/2025 09:54

That is a good shout, we will check!

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Don’t claim on your insurance for the sake of £100. Your premiums might increase by more than that.

Original poster
christmastreewithhairyfairy · 10/08/2025 13:19

And to those saying my friends who would push for payment aren't great friends, yeah I'm coming round to that way of thinking

OP posts:
Original poster
christmastreewithhairyfairy · 10/08/2025 13:18

NB not that it matters either way now, but she does petsitting for a living (discounted rates for friends) so that's why I paid her, I wouldn't dream of asking for a freebie

OP posts:
Original poster
christmastreewithhairyfairy · 10/08/2025 13:14

Justchilling07 · 10/08/2025 13:03

Exactly.All this fuss over £100!
It was an accident.Op are you really considering asking your friend for money! Of course by doing that, it’s going to affect the relationship!

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Oh for God's sake. RTFT, and the OP! I was never going to ask her, she offered. I was pondering whether to accept, clearly leaning towards no. And in my update I make it clear it was a moot point anyway. Grinds my gears when people respond without reading the posts!

OP posts:
ThinWomansBrain · 10/08/2025 13:13

I petsit for neighbours, but wouldn't dream of charging for that
Also frequently have to open several kitchen "cupboards" to find where something is.

In the friends position, I'd either refuse to take payment from you, or take half.
In your position, I'd accept that, but not initiate charging her, if that makes sense.

JMSA · 10/08/2025 13:10

No, I would never.

mondaytosunday · 10/08/2025 13:09

I’d let it go.
But in future use something like Trusted Housesitters. There’s an annual fee (around £150) but the actual pet sitting is free and it’s insured. I’ve used them twice, a friend has loads of times and another does some sitting!

Justchilling07 · 10/08/2025 13:03

Fountofwisdom · 09/08/2025 10:11

I would never do an insurance claim for such a low value loss. There will be an excess on your policy anyway and your premium will definitely increase as soon as you make a claim. It’s foolish to use insurance unless it’s for something major and very costly.

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Exactly.All this fuss over £100!
It was an accident.Op are you really considering asking your friend for money! Of course by doing that, it’s going to affect the relationship!

Bowies · 10/08/2025 12:50

No I wouldn’t accept the money

Chenecinquantecinq · 10/08/2025 11:52

labradormam · 10/08/2025 11:46

What do you mean?

Do you mean that by tipping well they will cancel someone else’s booking to accommodate you? I doubt they are doing that and wouldn’t be happy if I knew somebody was doing this.

House / pet sitters will book people in on a first come first serve basis. They’re not going to cancel already booked clients to accommodate you. Nor would you want them to, as you wouldn’t like it if the shoe was on the other foot and you were ditched for a higher tipper.

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By tipping and being generally a great client eg I also give money for food each day, they prioritise me. They keep high demand weeks free for me eg school Half Terms and whichever weeks of longer holidays I may need. I am not the only one who does this, speaking to my sitter they say they have about 5 favourite clients that they prioritise and hold weeks for etc. We also have a lovely house. If you think this doesn't happen you are naive.

labradormam · 10/08/2025 11:46

Chenecinquantecinq · 09/08/2025 10:12

We use professional sitters I always tip on top (normally an extra day's pay) as good house sitters are very hard to find and I want to ensure they prioritise my bookings over others (which they do)!

What do you mean?

Do you mean that by tipping well they will cancel someone else’s booking to accommodate you? I doubt they are doing that and wouldn’t be happy if I knew somebody was doing this.

House / pet sitters will book people in on a first come first serve basis. They’re not going to cancel already booked clients to accommodate you. Nor would you want them to, as you wouldn’t like it if the shoe was on the other foot and you were ditched for a higher tipper.

AngelRoja · 10/08/2025 00:04

Trishyb10 · 09/08/2025 21:56

You have to pay a friend to feed cats? Thats no friend

Quite few pet sitters do it to supplement their incomes and others do it for a living and they can still be friends.

Trishyb10 · 09/08/2025 21:56

You have to pay a friend to feed cats? Thats no friend

Skybluepinky · 09/08/2025 21:36

Accident that she admitted to, why would you charge, she was doing you a favour.

Lauraanddogs · 09/08/2025 20:35

Absolutely not take any money from a friend!

AngelRoja · 09/08/2025 19:39

Just read your update. Bet you are glad that you didnt ask her for the money 🤣 I did doubt that you would ask anyway.

By the way you seem to have some mean friends if some recommended that you demanded the money. Accidents happen and,even if she charged, your cats were well looked after and good friends who pet sit are not that thick on the ground

AngelRoja · 09/08/2025 19:25

christmastreewithhairyfairy · 09/08/2025 09:37

Usually I'd agree, but right now I have other pet sitters. I'm more concerned about the friendship!

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Then let it go. It was an accident. Do you want to lose a friend for 100 quid?

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