to send a bill for the gas/elec/water/etc in return?

[Tinklewinkle]

We live in a popular holiday area and had some friends staying with us for a couple of weeks. They went home on Sunday.

They've always been really good friends, and we've always got on really well, their kids are the same age as ours and get on well too. We've been on holiday with them before and it was fine, although this is the first time they've stayed with us for more than a weekend

Anyway, one evening they'd been out and they rang to see if we needed anything from the shop on their way home. I asked them to grab some milk and a loaf of bread.

When they came in I was given the receipt - for about £2.50. I didn't have any cash in the house so apologised and said I'd sort it out the next day. Then, I'll be honest, completely forgot about it. Nothing more was said until they left on Sunday when they reminded them I owed them the £2.50. I had about 70p in cash in the house so apologised and gave them that.

I got a text this morning to remind me that I still owe the remainder and giving their bank details so I could do a bank transfer.

I've transferred the money as I can't be arsed hearing any more about it, but I think they've got a thunderingly massive bloody cheek.

They've pretty much got a free holiday out of us. They've stayed in our house for free, used water, gas, electricity. They ate breakfast here every morning, we fed them about 50% of evening meals, they used the washing machine and tumble drier, they've had tea, coffee, cold drinks, snacks, etc, etc, so I'm somewhat miffed that they've quibbled about £2.50 and feel like sending them a bill for 2 weeks worth of B&B.

We didn't actually invite them, they wanted to come here and asked if they could stay with us. We nearly always have people staying in the summer holidays, we don't mind in the slightest, we enjoy having guests and are happy to look after them, but I now feel like a mug

I'm currently staying with family abroad. Been here with three kids since the school holidays started plus DH the first two weeks and we go back in next week! I've paid for half the days out and half the supermarket shop plus bought extras and given families DC money!

We are having money problems at the moment too they have paid for our return tickets (exchange rates) and we paid to get here. When I get home I'll be buying a gift as a thank you gifts! Oh and I've also cleaned the house so they don't have too.

Wow! The 3DSs and I stay with a lovely friend in her house (and boys in a tent in her garden) for 5 days or so every summer. She's better off than I am and always very welcoming, but I always pay for at least one meal out or takeaway and one full shop while we're there. I know I'm getting a very cheap holiday in a fabulous part of the country, and I usually feel guilty paying so little, but she won't take any more.

Your friends are entitled bastards and that's the first time I've used that phrase despite years on MN.

We also live in a holiday place. Its bloody expensive ... not the house stuff, days out with kids, to places were been a hundred times already is not fun, and we arent on holiday. Last guests paid nothing, not even a meal. Its rude, and guess what? No you came come again!

Cheeky fuckers. I hope they reply thanking you and. apologizing profusely. Never have them again.

Next year you should go away and rent the house out through airbnb. You could make a killing.

"£1.80 paid. I am still adding up all the costs incurred for your stay, but the bill should be with you by the end of the week"

Bahahaha

YANBU Hopefully your text will have shamed them it into thinking about it all.

not the house stuff, days out with kids, to places were been a hundred times already is not fun, and we arent on holiday

Yes, this gets to me too. Even the free/cheap stuff is a bit wearing, I'm not on holiday, I still have to work/go to the supermarket/walk the dog/etc

These 'friends' are good guests in so far as they go off and amuse themselves without us for the day.

I don't mind that they didn't contribute so much, it's the wanting the £2.50 back, on top of everything else which has pissed me off.

Anyway, no reply yet.

I'm still boggling at the £2750 for a week though

That is all.

I've only just RTFT. Insane!

Shamelessly place marking!!

Just when you think you've read about the cheekiest grabby friend on here another one comes along to top it! This has to be the worst! I can't get my head round it - I don't mind providing food for guests fur a few days - but any longer and I know they would contribute etc, you've fed these people for a fortnight! So by asking you for the £2.50 (out of which they will have used the bread and milk) they are blatantly asking you to pay for feeding them! Who does that

Another one shamelessly place-marking.

(If I'm meeting up at a friend's house just for the DAY, if I know we will be eating there I will take some item as a treat, or to contribute to the meal for her kids and mine, just so that she's not always the one endlessly shelling out. Two weeks. Sheesh.)

My jaw is still on the floor, how on earth can anyone think this is an OK way to behave!

Do they have form for this with other people OP? Has any of your mutual friends ever mentioned their tight-fistedness or has this come as a complete shock to you?

I must say I couldn't have handled having ANYONE in my house for 2 weeks and certainly not a pair of freeloading bastards like this.

I'd be really surprised if they ever responded to your text. They are no loss, that's not friendship, it's piss taking.

Im going to placemarktoo only because i cannot believe the cheek of them , I do hope they reply

Wow! I'm at this thread! To go to the trouble of asking you to do a bloody bank transfer for £1.80?!

What are their personalities generally like? Are they normal/down to earth kind of people or usually pinickity?

Just wow!

[Place marked!]

Wow. There is no other suitable response!

I have a friend that I eat with at least once a week. She comes here with her kids or I go there with mine.

We always text to say "what would you like me to bring?" The answer is usually "just your lovely selves " but sometimes one might say to bring dessert. Or some ice cream or whatever. Regardless we bring wine. Always. That's normal isn't it?

I wouldn't say they have form for it, but then this is the first time we've been together in a shared space for any length of time.

They've stayed with us before, but only for long bank holiday weekends, and we've also been on holiday with them before, but in separate apartments, so I've just not noticed it before I suppose.

They're not tight in so far as they expect us to pay for their meals out/drinks in the pub for instance. We usually order separately and pay our own bills.

There were a couple of times they shocked me (and DH) a bit. Not so much meanness as thoughtlessness maybe.

And 2 weeks sharing my house with another family isn't great for tolerance/patience levels anyway

well that friendship was worth £2.50 to them. horrendous.

I have read this thread with my chin on my chest. Astounding. That said, my friend in the US gets "hostess fatigue" even though most of their guests pull their weight, both around the house and financially.
However, she was pissed off with the family who would just get up from the breakfast table whilst she was on the school run, and bugger off for the day, leaving the table uncleared with food and dirty plates all over. Like she was the bloody maid?
And another lot who would saunter down each morning and ask "so, what are we doing today?" as if she was the tour guide. And refused to abide by her (only) house rules of not letting the kids take purple/red fruit upstairs (cream carpets) and making sure the outside doors were kept closed when the air con was going.

There were a couple of times they shocked me (and DH) a bit. Not so much meanness as thoughtlessness maybe.

OP you can't leave us hanging like that So what did they do?