AIBU to pissed off I was charged for hot water?

[AprilDHarvey]

I've recently started taking my own lunch to university in a bid to save money and in the cafeteria there's a machine that gives out boiling water. I used it today to make one of those mug shots and when I went to leave one of the employees (rude at the best of times) screamed at me it costs 20p for hot water.
I was so taken aback and embarrassed that I didn't question it but is it just me that thinks it's totally outrageous to charge for hot water our of a self-service machine? I know 20p isn't a lot of money.

Out of* not our

I used to get charged 5p in the 90s. YABU.

Well, they have to cover the water, electricity, wear and tear on the machine, cleaning the machine (although dispensing hot water is practically cleaning it for them).

20p isn't a lot of money

enough to boil a kettle for an hour ....

Well i guess they had to buy the machine, clean it, maintain it etc so it seems reasonable to pay something. Does it also vend coffee, tea etc at a cost?

Yabu. They have overheads

YABU. Make a thermos.

YABU, for all the reasons PP have listed.
As an aside, mug shots?? What is this sorcery?

Good points. I never thought of the electricity, maintenance etc.

Given that the following things cost money:-

1. Water
2. Electricity to heat water
3. Building in which to place water heating machine
4. Staff to clean water heating machine
5. Buying the water heating machine in the first place and paying for repairs

what specific reasons do you have for thinking you shouldn't pay for it?

If you'd spent money on a meal there then I could understand feeling a bit miffed, but as you've contributed zero to their running costs I don't really see how you could honestly feel entitled to free water.

I wonder if you were at the same uni as me. They also charged 20p.

Yabu
Hot water and cups aren't free. Nor are the wages of the people employed to run the cafe or clean it. I can't believe you thought you could just help yourself!

Of course you've got to pay for hot water. Take a flask next week?

YANBU we get free hot water but we get charged for the cups.

I think you realise YABU now but I had to laugh at she screamed at you that it cost 20p.

Really?

Yes, she did scream at me. She's known for being loud and rude.

I thought the water would be free as it was plain, unbottled and I was using my own cup. I just explained that it didn't occur to me to take electricity etc. into consideration and now that I have, I can understand why the charge so I don't know why people are continuing to leave rude replies and speak to me as if I'm stupid. There's really no need.

Oh dear. I help myself to the hot water in the staff canteen to make myself a hot chocolate. Didn't occur to me to pay. You wouldn't pay for a glass of tap water would you.

Get yourself a vacuum flask and take your own hot water, that's what my dh used to do when he was on day release for his degree course, and he took his own packed lunch as well. The university cafeteria was ridiculously expensive, even more than the canteen at the place where he worked.

I don't think anyone's been particularly rude to you, have they?

This is mumsnet
Threads can run for days, don't expect people to read your response and not bother to put their twopence in too!

it didn't occur to me to take electricity etc. into consideration

Should you be at university?

Is there nothing to say that you have to pay?

DustyBustle Should you be at university?
They have now... only ever a matter of time

YABU for being pissed off for being charged. YANBU for being pissed off for being yelled at. Buy a small flask to pop in your bag.