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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

in wanting to be asked first?

62 replies

OurMiracle1106 · 29/01/2015 20:17

I live in shared accommodation. Recently our washing machine has been having issues. So we all spoke and decided to split the cost of a second hand one between us.

So today one of the flatmates decides to go to bright house and get a New one without asking any of us and now wants to split the weekly cost. Which Is only fair If we are all using it.

However my issue is, they have taken it over three years. Working out the split its two pound a week each. so over three years I will have paid 600 for a machine that isn't even mine. When we could all have put 20 in for a second hand one and it would have been paid off.

We only have plumbing for one machine so getting my own isn't an option. So its use this incredibly expensive machine or go to the laundrette.

Aibu in thinking people should ask first before commuting others to a credit agreement. Personally I don't want to give a company a whole load of my money. The machine is worth 450 (according to bright house) and I'm alone paying 150 over that so they are getting nearly a grand and a half in interest.

I might be unreasonable due to having a bad day and maybe ungrateful however I think its a ridiculous amount to spend on a washing machine that isn't even mine, and there is no guarantee I will remain In the property for three more years anyway.

Aibu?

OP posts:
LastOneDancing · 29/01/2015 20:19

YADNBU.

I would be livid.

Lucyccfc · 29/01/2015 20:21

YADNBU. I have to admit, I would be furious if someone did this.

What happens if everyone decides to move out before it is paid off?

How long do you plan to continue living there? If it is not long term, I would be very tempted to tell them to sod off and just use the laundrette.

londonrach · 29/01/2015 20:22

Second hand is diff to new. She should have talked to you all before. Yanbu...

Jbop · 29/01/2015 20:22

YANBU. I think you should have a 7 day cooling off period so I would get it cancelled and buy a 2nd hand machine.

GokTwo · 29/01/2015 20:22

Yanbu. That is completely unacceptable. I agree with everything you have said. Years ago when I was in a house share I got pretty much all my appliances second hand and they were great.

Plateofcrumbs · 29/01/2015 20:23

Madness - you have to be desperate to use Brighthouse, it is never, ever an economically sensible way to buy anything. YADNBU!

FishWithABicycle · 29/01/2015 20:24

YANBU - bright house is an incredibly expensive way to buy anything. They should have consulted you. You all spoke and decided to split the cost of a second hand one between you, so ywnbu to object and refuse to pay any more than you previously agreed - and do so right now as there may well be a seven day cooling off period in the contract so if you express your objections firmly enough quickly enough you may be able to revert to plan A.

FamiliesShareGerms · 29/01/2015 20:24

Hi Miracle - don't blame you at all for being annoyed. Presumably it's in someone else's name, so they are the one who is actually tied to the payments for the machine? Meanwhile, it's surely cheaper for you to pay towards the machine than use a launderette?

Optimist1 · 29/01/2015 20:26

I think your sums aren't quite right ... £2 x 52 weeks a year = £104 per person per year x 3 years = £312 per person. Still a bloody expensive washing machine, though! And your flatmate had no business buying new when you'd discussed the issue and agreed to buy a second hand one. Looks as though there are stormy times ahead in your household!

FightOrFlight · 29/01/2015 20:28

They must have taken it out in their own name.

Given them the amount it would have cost for your share of a second hand machine and tell them the rest is their responsibility.

You haven't signed anything so not your problem.

ohbollocks2u · 29/01/2015 20:29

YANBU you ALL DECIDED to buy a second hand machine

FightOrFlight · 29/01/2015 20:29
  • give, not given
TallulahTwinkletoes · 29/01/2015 20:29

No fucking way. You clearly live with dickheads if they go to bright house.

Sweet Jesus. £600!!!! So it's 1800? For a washing machine. Mine dries to and was only 350 brand new. Shocked. Truly shocked.

PassTheGinBottle · 29/01/2015 20:31

Bright House? Fuck my life. That's more unreasonable than buying a new washing machine in the first place.

Seriously, OP, YANBU. In the slightest. Tell them to take it back.

MiddleAgedandConfused · 29/01/2015 20:35

Yanbu. They are well out of order. Similar thing happened to me - I was furious.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 29/01/2015 20:35

Well at least you aren't named on the credit agreement so you don't have to pay. She's an idiot going to fucking bright house and to do it without asking you first! Unbelievable. Are the other flatmates paying it? If you all banded together and refused what would happen?

littleleftie · 29/01/2015 20:54

Isn't there a cooling off period if it is a credit agreement? I would ask her to go and cancel it.

iwanttogotothechaletschool · 29/01/2015 20:54

What happens if the person named on the agreement decides they are moving out at some point before it is fully paid, will they decide it is theirs to take because it is in their name? It sounds like it could cause a number of problems, I'd tell them to cancel it personally.

PurpleSwift · 29/01/2015 21:15

No way!! Tell them to return it! Absolutely not what you agreed to and it's utterly ridiculous

CupidStuntSurvivor · 29/01/2015 21:24

Tell her to go fuck herself.

What she's done is choose to go and buy herself a washing machine. And it's definitely hers as it's in her name. She's effectively charging you £2 a week to use a washing machine that's plumbed into the only suitable plumbing in the shared house.

Tell her she has two choices.

Keep it and accept that the debt is her responsibility and if she chooses to leave it plumbed into the only suitable outlet in the house, it will be used communally.

Or cancel the brighthouse agreement and stick to the original plan.

MoanCollins · 29/01/2015 21:25

YADNBU. There is a 14 day cooling off period for credit agreements. Send them back tomorrow to cancel it. You must stand up for yourself over this and insist it is not on, I think most of the rest of your housemates will back you up.

Is the house rented? Was the washing machine there when you moved in? If so normally a landlord would replace it anyway.

PigletJohn · 29/01/2015 21:29

"Dear Flatmate

By buying this appliance without our agreement, I can see you've given yourself a problem.

What do you plan to do about this problem of yours?"

Original poster
OurMiracle1106 · 29/01/2015 21:30

The original washing machine was provided by a charity as all of the original tenants were homeless when we were housed.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 29/01/2015 21:32

You agreed a second hand one. She needs to make up the difference.

JustCallMeBridget · 29/01/2015 21:32

Definitely say it's her problem. You just cannot do things like this.
On the upside - she's the only one saddled with the debt. I suggest you give her what you would have paid for a secondhand one and leave her to sort the rest ( think pp said that too!)