To be annoyed by "I need a favour but have to ask you face to face"

[Eastie77]

I think IABU but anyway...it's annoying me.

A relative sent me a text message stating she needs to pop round and ask me for a favour. It has to be this week and she asked when I'm free. I have a really busy week with various bits and bobs arranged for the kids, appointments etc. I replied the only times that are convenient would be this evening or early Saturday morning before we leave on a weekend break with the kids. I asked if she could give me a call to discuss the favour. She just replied "Ok see you Saturday". I asked again re. the call and she said no, she has to ask me face to face.

I hate this cloak and dagger shit. Just tell me what you need! If it's something awkward I'd rather she asked over the phone tbh. She lives about 40mins away on the bus (doesn't drive) and I mentioned we will be leaving early on Saturday and she'll have to get up early to get here. As this didn't dissuade her I'm guessing it's something important but what and why can't she ask over the phone?? I am not close to this relative btw.

I will feel bad if it's something 'serious' but at the moment I'm just pissed off as we will be sitting around waiting for her to get here on Saturday before we have to set off on a longish drive.

Anyway. Rant over.

Except the op was very upfront about her schedule this week when the original request to meet was made. She's not being difficult, and hasn't in fact been at all rude in her communications with her, she's just having a busy week. The relative is pressing her case despite this but won't either pick up the phone to the OP and give some background or take the OPs calls. This is what is odd and lacking in emotional intelligence in my view.

It perhaps was unfair of the Op to offer her rellie two "timeslots" & then renege on the one that was accepted, so being pressured into one that is inconvenient to her.

However it's not the Op's problem that the rellie must see her this week when she is busy & I think she should have said no in the first place, that it would have to be left until Op got back.

It must be something very important or sensitive to warrant a long bus journey. I'm guessing a loan. Am hoping it's not any of those mental weight loss pyramid selling things. Because you'd have to be a very nice person not to punch her (gently). Can't wait to find out.

I wanted an early night, but I guess I'll have to stay up now. I really hope she isn't I'll or it isn't serious.

Shameless place mark

The only way this makes any 'sense' is if the relative of the OP is a very socially-insensitive person who is incapable of understanding fairly obvious social cues or explicit requests.

Because surely no one with a favour to ask that was so big, significant or sensitive it couldn't be conveyed or explained in a phonecall would then proceed to piss off the person of whom they are asking the important favour by refusing to divulge any reason why it can't be asked on the phone, and repeatedly proposing turning up at times the OP has specifically said are unsuitable?

Whether it's a loan, a kidney, or an invitation to buy Aloe Vera gel, surely it makes no sense to actively antagonise your 'target' in advance when you should be soft-soaping and being all flexible and sensitive?

Who the fuck pops round at 10.30 in the evening?

Wonder if she's the winner of the £35million on the lottery. She wants to ask you if you can keep her secret and also help spend her fortune. Here's hoping xxx

Fortunately no relative of mine ever wants to speak to me! If they did, I'd assume I was going to be accused of something. I hope it's a cash gift for you OP, I do love a happy ending!

Agree with other posters, ot sounds like a MLM scheme to me. I had a friend of a friend contact me recently asking me to "do them a favour" it turned out she wanted me to host a party so she could sell her stuff to my friends! Told her to jog on!

That's just what I think DryShampoo, it's not a good strategy for getting someone to do what you want.

This is just so weird. notplacemarkingatall

I need to know how this ends!

Oh isn't it 10:35 yet????

I need to know.

Maybe passport and she knows you shouldn't be signing them?

YY to pair of clearly used wine glasses, you with PJs on, DH in bed.

If Forever Living behave concerned as if she has just told you she has joined a cult and given them all her money in return for the promise of eternal life and riches if ony she follows the special scriptures.

I'd buy a 99p aloe vera plant today just in case so you can say "I grow my own. I prefer it fresh."

Mmm....or she wants you to look after her cat/dog/parrot while she goes into hospital for an operation?

I reckon she needs an alibi...or someone to take some speeding points for her / dh. Or maybe a kidney??

Place marking.

Shameless place marking (sorry!).

This would really piss me off in your shoes, there is nothing I hate more than being put on the spot for a 'favour' and she is clearly being so calculating about it.

I agree with lotsoffunandgames
But I still want to know what the favour is

Bizarre behavior😳

After all this, she's going to arrive with a broken hand steamer and say she couldn't bear to tell you she'd ruined it by text/phone/voicemail.

No 'normal' person would pop around at 10:30 at night for a favour. There has to be more to it than that! Thinking more along the lines of 'I'm having a major op, will you ring my dh regularly to check he is ok?'
Does not want to text to ask, nor do it on the phone because she does not want him to overhear/see the text?