Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

570 replies

Tinklewinkle · 26/08/2015 10:25

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

OP posts:
Waltermittythesequel · 27/08/2015 18:18

I'm astounded.

I'm also gutted they didn't reply!

laffymeal · 27/08/2015 18:21

Text them again op please!!!! This thread could make classics if these arseholes attempt to justify their behaviour.

OhWotIsItThisTime · 27/08/2015 18:54

SIL and BIL are a bit like this. We invited them over to dinner and they didn't bring anything - no wine.

I've also seen them bring wine to PIL, then take it back if it doesn't get opened.

They also think it's fine to ask MIL to always cook extra food just in case they want to stay for dinner.

Doublebubblebubble · 27/08/2015 18:58

So they cant even spare the 8p it costs for a text either. Wow, just wow.

clam · 27/08/2015 19:31

8p for a text?? What contract are you on? Shock

00100001 · 27/08/2015 19:44

I suspect PaYG

londonrach · 27/08/2015 19:47

5p per text on my payg but when you put some money on you get free texts and a free phone or reduced phone.

Original poster
Tinklewinkle · 27/08/2015 19:53

iMessaging is free though isn't it?

Nothing to report - no reply and DH has been held up at work so I don't know if he will/has already spoken to the DH.

OP posts:
CrohnicallyAspie · 27/08/2015 19:55

Well tell your DH to get home sharpish! There are possibly 100s of MNetters waiting anxiously for his input, and what if Jeffrey strikes again before he gets home?!

TidyDancer · 27/08/2015 19:59

Hello all! Just popping in to confirm (as pondered by a previous poster!) that I am defo not the OP. I can sadly very much sympathise though!

Original poster
Tinklewinkle · 27/08/2015 20:10

Oh, I must have missed that, sorry, but yeah, I am not Tidy

OP posts:
clam · 27/08/2015 20:23

Ooh, hello tidy. Do you ever hear from Gluezilla these days, or your entitled cousin?

Doublebubblebubble · 27/08/2015 20:29

Dammit lol x not payg - but I suspected op's squatters may be. I just thought 8p would be the rough cost of a text for them...not to want to pay XP

Blueandwhitelover · 27/08/2015 20:41

Oh Tidy(thread hijacking) did cousin have her Pwincess baby yet?

londonrach · 27/08/2015 20:53

Hi tidy x

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 28/08/2015 09:15

Still no update?

Wonderous · 28/08/2015 09:17

Any update Op.... Wink

sykadelic · 28/08/2015 17:30

My BIL and a friend used to switch off weekend to come over and watch some sport (no idea which one) and whoever was hosting didn't buy drinks, the visitor did. Well at some point the BIL's friend maneuvered it so that the event was always at his place and BIL was always bringing the drinks (and leaving over half of the case there). After about 4 weeks of this BIL tried to get the friend to come to his but friend "couldn't" so BIL went there with only a 6 pack for himself. Friend was incensed! That wasn't the deal he said, BIL said "right but for the last month I've bought the alcohol", "that's the deal" said friend... Well it all blew up from there. Friend knew exactly what he was doing and was taking advantage of BIL, because DSis and BIL earnt better than friend and his gf. DSis and BIL aren't friends with either of them anymore which is sad as they were best man and bridesmaid at their wedding.

Understandably the guest "must take a gift" thing is a bit of a strained topic in my circle and family.

With DH's family, if we take food to share then we ask if anyone wants to take some before we take it home. Food is to be shared, not left for the exclusive benefit of the host (depending on the item or the host). If you take something no-one wants, then you take it home. You don't leave it in the hosts fridge.

You always take your own drinks (myself especially as I'm teetotal) or if you brink stuff for mixers, you take your own spirits home unless you finish off the hosts supply (asking if the host wants it of course).

Basically, you ALWAYS ask first "Do you want me to take this or leave it?".

leandra1986 · 28/08/2015 17:35

This is unreal! Tight bastards!! They have stayed at your house for free and have the bare faced cheek to bill for milk and bread?! ???? This is ridiculous! I would be fuming. Not only are they stingy bastards, they're cheeky asking YOU to give them a lousy £2.50.... If I were you I would bill them for EVERYTHING they used whilst at yours, food, beds, electric, gas and add a service charge on top!
Christ! Me and my neighbour are always borrowing things from each other, food, loo roll, washing powder.... Random things we run out of - we just borrow off each other.... We never ask for it back! We are friends, so we just help each other out. I think you need to reconsider who you are pals with!!!

hibbleddible · 28/08/2015 17:40

I'm guessing they haven't replied. Either that or their reply has so incensed op that she has gone into hiding.

LindyHemming · 28/08/2015 17:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

evelynj · 28/08/2015 17:59

Aargh. People can be so awful. The not replying is inviting a comment on db from your dh. Grrrr......

sleeponeday · 28/08/2015 18:04

We stayed with friends who live in a holiday area this summer, for a week.

We arrived armed with a bottle of really good gin, and another of Pimms. Both full litres. We did a big food shop the first day, so we weren't eating them out of house and home. And we took them to a fancy hotel for the full experience afternoon tea.

We have since written a thank-you card expressing great appreciation.

This is normal behaviour. Your guests are just crazily rude. Jaw-droppingly ungrateful and selfish.

x2boys · 28/08/2015 18:06

its just bloody rude i met up with an old friend a few months ago i hadnt seen her for a few years she offered to make lunch when i got there she said she hadnt had time to make it so was buying us all [me my boys, her and her girls sandwiches etc] fair enough but i did buy us a bottle of wine which cost about the same!

Gymbunny1204 · 28/08/2015 18:12

I'm feeling bad. My three children and I stayed with a friend for two nights. I took nice biscuits for the mums to share after the little ones were in bed and gave her champagne truffles. I paid for us all to eat out one day and bought her a big bunch of flowers as she was sad we were going but now I'm thinking that wasn't enough. We're still friends but if we were to stay again what should I have done? I've only ever taken my children to stay at a friend of a friends before for one night and I took a huge bouquet of flowers and treats for the dog. I'd not met them before.