Should I offer to pay friend's parking fine?

[CactusFred]

Went out today and met a friend for lunch.

I told them where they car park was and said I thought it was free on Sunday. We met up and I checked the parking blurb and, probably because I had in my head it was free on Sunday, I missed the bit where it said the Sunday charging hours underneath the Monday to Friday hours.

Told friend it was defo free.

We came back to tickets. £25 each if we pay soon.

I apologised and referred back to a conversation we had had at lunch about having to admit I needed reading glasses. I then said lunch on me next time.

I'm feeling so guilty though. If you were me would you offer to pay?

Thing is, this month is really tight and my own fine has to go on credit card. My lunch was toast and the free water. But that's not an excuse, I could pay it on my credit card for friend or defer till payday and pay them back...

Or would you be like my DP who says they should've checked the sign themselves?!

That’s a really nice result, I’m glad for you that you offered and also that your friend was so nice.

Don’t be embarrassed as it didn’t cause any lasting damage and you’ll both forget it . It’s one of those things hints that’s just frustrating at the time I reckon

I'd offer to pay if I said to my friend "I'll check if it's free...Yes it's definitely free"

But I'd decline the offer from a friend if it were reversed yet be happy they'd offered.

Oh just read your update

Huh. My own brother told me not to bother paying at a seaside car park local to him because the wardens never came on a Sunday. (I was going to pay.)

We both got tickets. Did he offer to pay ours? He did not.

(25 years ago. Still rankles )

So very nice of you to offer, OP

I think your situation was very different LapdanceShoeshine. You knew you were meant to pay and chose not to listen to the advice of your brother instead. The OP thought the car park was free on a Sunday and even thought so after she’d ‘checked’.

Yes, the situation was different - the end result was the same though - listening to someone who thought they knew best led to an unnecessary fine.

Lunch definitely on you next time