Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that my friend was a CF with restaurant discount?

84 replies

LeslieRunner · 06/10/2025 17:35

I went for dinner with my friend on Saturday. She moved away from our local area about a year ago - the restaurant we went to she used to go to quite regularly because it was near where she worked, and the staff recognised her.

When the bill was provided, the manager said she’d removed the cost of my friends meal (they always used to use each others businesses) and my friend was really grateful.

When we go out, we always split the cost proportionate to what we each picked. The discount for my friends meal came to over £50. So with the final bill, all she had to pay was her half of the wine we shared, and I had to pay for my meal plus my share of the wine which came to over £60.

I haven’t said this to her, but I feel like my friend could have passed some of the discount on to me and offered to pay a greater share. I would definitely have done similar…

OP posts:
TomatoSandwiches · 06/10/2025 18:33

I would have been chuffed and probably say something like " how fab, let's split it so we can both save some money today "
She's not technically a CF but not a proper friend imo.

Journey1234 · 06/10/2025 18:30

Personally I would have went halfers on the discounted balance but I am a kind considerate person.

ny20005 · 06/10/2025 18:28

I’d probably have paid the full cost of the wine but not halved your meal cost

cinnamonbunlover · 06/10/2025 18:26

I agree with you. She got a lovely freebie meal while you had to stump up so she could enjoy it.
We get vouchers through Amex and take friends and always share. I can’t imaging spending £150 voucher and expecting them to spend the same.

you could have gone somewhere different.

was it her choice

Blueblell · 06/10/2025 18:14

Yes it would have been the decent thing to split the remaining bill so you both got a cheap meal and would be what I would have done.

TypeyMcTypeface · 06/10/2025 18:13

No, she built a relationship with that restaurant and she's been rewarded for that. It didn't result in an extra cost to you. Suppose she'd used loyalty points or a gift voucher a friend had given her to pay her share - you wouldn't expect her to then pay part of your share on top. It amounts to the same thing.

HugelyExpensiveCrystalDuck · 06/10/2025 18:09

19lottie82 · 06/10/2025 17:57

Eh?

Show quote history
Confused
SixtyTwoPercent · 06/10/2025 18:06

She went out expecting to pay £60 quid.
She had a surprise £50 discount because of a historic acquaintance (it says they use to use each others businesses - not that she'd done 3 h tutoring in return for a meal).

Most people would be really happy to share their good fortune with a friend (except some on here, obvs).

Rooroobear · 06/10/2025 18:04

Meh, she got her meal for free, you would have paid that much regardless. I couldn’t get bothered by it.

Arlanymor · 06/10/2025 17:59

If I had been her I would have paid for the wine.

To be honest it wasn't a free meal was it, as it sounds more of a reciprocal transaction on the basis that she has had a business arrangement with the restaurant in the past.

Wishitsnows · 06/10/2025 17:59

I would have split the total remaining cost 50/50. She was a bit cheap not doing so

outerspacepotato · 06/10/2025 17:58

The restaurant comped somebody they knew and they'd done business with and vice versa.

No, you weren't entitled to a discount because she was comped. It was a personal favour.

19lottie82 · 06/10/2025 17:57

HugelyExpensiveCrystalDuck · 06/10/2025 17:56

Can you bear the OP being tight?

Do you think that the OP should perform some service for the restaurant owner if she shares the money off the meal? Teach him phonics or sell his house?

Show quote history

Eh?

Zanatdy · 06/10/2025 17:57

no way i’d have taken the free meal and made my friend pay all of hers. I’d have definitely shared the discounted meal. If it was my friend and they offered i’d have said oh no you benefit from it but they’d all say no, let’s share the cost after discount. My friend and I went on the eurostar once and we got a free ticket due to some points my ex had. She told me to take the free ticket and she would pay full cost but I said no, we would split it. She is now disabled and gets a free ticket when booking tickets in the disabled section for concerts. We still share the cost even though she technically got us the free ticket. Isn’t that what friends do? It’s what me and my friends do anyway.

HugelyExpensiveCrystalDuck · 06/10/2025 17:56

popcornandpotatoes · 06/10/2025 17:53

I find that extremely tight and cringe. The overall bill was reduced by £50 so I would have gone halves on the remainder..I can't bear tightness and awkwardness around money though so I wouldn't go to dinner with her again

Can you bear the OP being tight?

Do you think that the OP should perform some service for the restaurant owner if she shares the money off the meal? Teach him phonics or sell his house?

19lottie82 · 06/10/2025 17:56

Your friend is really tight. I can’t imagine acting like that. It’s the same as turning up with a 241 voucher and expecting yours for free while your friend pays.

it would really put me off someone tbh.

DappledThings · 06/10/2025 17:56

Not a CF exactly but definitely a bit mean. If I was her I would have split the bill 50/50 as normal and shared the discount.

Nestingbirds · 06/10/2025 17:55

She could have paid for the wine

Chinsupmeloves · 06/10/2025 17:55

I would have offered something towards your bill or pay for taxi/pre drinks.

Ophy83 · 06/10/2025 17:53

You haven't lost anything by her doing that, but it would have been nice for her to say something like "drinks are on me" to pass on a bit of the goodwill

popcornandpotatoes · 06/10/2025 17:53

I find that extremely tight and cringe. The overall bill was reduced by £50 so I would have gone halves on the remainder..I can't bear tightness and awkwardness around money though so I wouldn't go to dinner with her again

themoderncooks · 06/10/2025 17:50

Not a CF as such, but a bit miserly, I would have just split the bill in half.

TeaForTheTillermanSteakForTheSun · 06/10/2025 17:50

It's weird that you would have be happy enough with what you paid if she gave cash, but because she traded services/discounts you think she's tight.

Justcallmedaffodil · 06/10/2025 17:47

On the basis that you both normally cover the cost of what you order rather than splitting the bill 50/50, I think keeping the discount for herself was fair enough. If you were in the habit of splitting down the middle then I’d think she should share the discount equally so you both benefitted.

Coconutter24 · 06/10/2025 17:47

No she wasn’t a CF, her meal was removed because the restaurant owner wanted to give her a discount, if they wanted to give you both a discount then they would of removed 50% off the bill which they didn’t. Yeh it would have been generous of her to share the discount but she didn’t have to. You’re a CF for expecting to share the discount