AIBU not to pay her for a party she threw

[ahphoque]

Last week I was visiting a friend and she had been invited to a party by a new friend of hers. I had previously met this friend but don't know her particularly well ikywim. Anyways, since my friend had only recently met this woman, she asked me to go as her plus one and so I went along with her. The party was quite dull and the woman throwing it was a bit off with my friend and rather rude towards me so we left after an hour or so.

We didn't have anything to eat (she had laid out crisps and the like) and brought a bottle of (rather expensive) wine each aswell as flowers.

This morning I received a text from party woman demanding £5 to cover the cost of the food she laid out. Now there were at least 60 people in attendance and there is no way she spent £300 on food.

AIBU to not pay her as I didn't eat any of the food and already gave her flowers and wine?

Are you a famous singer? Or the local karaoke queen? Maybe she was jealous because she was planning to sing to her invited audience and when you (Kylie Minogue?) turned up she was stuck and cross.

I would answer I couldn't resist. "sell the wine I brought, even second hand it should make more than £5. You can deduct anything you make over that from the cost of the flowers which I will bill you for under separate cover."

I think 'future awkwardness' should positively be cultivated in this circumstance.

^ this times about 1000!

How bizarre.

Your friend has given your mobile number. Possibly under false pretences . . . "I want to call her to apologise for demanding she sings me a song" for example

Then psycho host sends demands for cash so friend is freaked out and thinks a fiver is worth keeping it all on the down low

Hahaha. Please reply 'yes of course, come and pick up the £5 ASAP'. When she arrives, have tea and biscuits laid out. DO NOT MENTION THE MONEY. Make small talk until she mentions the £5. Then gesture towards the tea and biscuits (regardless of whether she's had any) any say 'this evens it out, thanks for coming'.

You really need to open the message as well. You can only see a few words preview. Where is the harm if she can see you have read it?

She'd probably have been ok if you'd stayed all night. I bet she's pissed off at you "making" her friend leave early.

I think that she was off with you earlier because she was jealous, as she sees you as a better competitor in the friend stakes.

...the party wasn't a charity event or anything??

I'd be tempted to write something catty or pa - but would prob ignore - especially if it wasn't someone I knew.

I love the suggestion up thread that you message her back with the cost of the wine and flowers deducted from the £5.

If you consult debrett's you will find the appropriate response in this situation is to text "wtaf?!?!"

^^^

This made me cry laughing.... OP please do not pay and do not respond!

I have heard it all now!

What does your friend think about this? I assume she also got billed for this party. I wonder if you and you're friend are the only people who got "billed" for attending this party. It sounds like the host was pissed off that your friend took you along as well, this just sounds like a passive aggressive way to show that she's angry that an extra, uninvited guest showed up. I would totally respond demanding flowers and a replacement bottle of wine in exchange for the fiver to keep things fair!

She asked you to sing?! Are you Charlotte Church OP?

What the...

Sorry - posted too soon, I've now read your updates OP. Wow - she really doesn't like you for some reason! I would ignore her message as I would have no intention of being in her company ever again. What does your friend in common think about this? Crisp lady has a strong aversion to you even though she barely knows you. She behaves very rudely to you so that you both leave her party early, that must seem really weird to your friend doesn't it? I wouldn't give a toss about this person but I would be curious as what her problem is and I think the chances are crisp lady must have said something about you to your friend.

I can't sing to save my life so no idea what that was about other than being passive aggressive.

I've opened the message, it reads

"Hello phoque, with regards to the party last Thursday, in exchange for the food I provided you must give me £5. Let me know when you are available to pay me. Crisp lady"

So no misunderstanding she really does want payment for her supermarket own brand crisps ( nothing wrong with own brand, I just won't pay £5 for the measly few I had)

You know you HAVE to text back now don't you? Because:
a) she will see that you have read the message, and
b) we all want you to!

It should be The Law that when a thread like this is started the OP has to text back (or whatever). Do it (please)!

Sounds like your friend wasn't supposed to bring a plus 1 even though it's obviously not your fault and crisp woman still
Mental.
But how can you not text back and ask her wtf she's on about? I'd be unable to resist!

I think you need to arrange several dates to give her the money ... and not show up .. I`m thinking stalker.

As much as I would love you to reply asking if she's been smoking crack if it were me I don't think I would bother replying at all and would just ignore her. Crazy rude bint.

Maybe the crisps were made of crack? Hence the ridiculous price.