AIBU? I probably am but...

[OdinsLoveChild]

A big community Christmas event was planned by a group I volunteer with. The person organising it had to pull out half way through due to ill health, the tickets had been printed and posters sorted etc so just to keep the whole event going I volunteered to step in and finish the organising.

I had to find a new venue because the original one had been cancelled following the departure of the other organiser, they had also cancelled the caterers and entertainment. I have had to organise all this again for the same date and I have paid for it myself to be refunded once the tickets are all sold.

The AIBU bit is I have just had an email from another volunteer (selling tickets and putting up posters type help) who has said that because I hadn't paid for my reserved tickets by the last date stipulated (Monday) she has now sold them. I know she allocated herself free tickets (as agreed previously) but she has sold my tickets because I hadn't paid .
If I'm honest with you I hadn't actually expected to pay for my tickets myself as I have paid for the venue, catering and entertainment out of my own pocket to be reimbursed later but its still money I cannot spend until its repaid. We had a certain number allocated to be given away free for volunteers of which she has allocated me none. And now the event will go ahead without me being there. All tickets are now sold and I cant go because of the fire regulations regarding numbers at the venue.

I'm feeling a bit pissed off about it all. I think Old mardy pants (Other volunteer) has deliberately sold my tickets so she can tell everyone she organised it all herself.

SO go on then AIBU for thinking I should have had free tickets like the other volunteers? AIBU for thinking she deliberately sold my tickets so I didn't show her up on the dance floor? For the record I will never be doing this again.

You need to seriously man up. You can't let people treat you like that, they will keep on doing it forever.
Tell her she didn't sell your tickets, she sold her own. You paid for everything, YOU are in charge. You can pretty much do whatever you want here.

That is disgustingly rude!

You absolutely must go

Wow. She sounds like an utter cunt.

What??!! How rude! I'd point out that technically you've already paid for your own food and entertainment so you'll be going, ticket or not.

Exactly what NoSunNoMoon said
What an utter cow
In the nicest possible way OP you need to man up

I'd reply in which case I'm canceling the food and venue which I've paid for and not been reimbursed for.

Say... "errrrm, excuse ME. I think you will find I AM going, given that the whole thing at the moment is being funded by ME."

Why did the caterers, venue and entertainment cancel everything because one volunteer got ill? Tickets and posters were printed, surely they are in breach of contract?

Roussette The volunteer cancelled everything because she didn't think anyone else would sort it. I stepped in at the last minute after not one single person offered. I tried to rebook the same venue but they had already rebooked our original date. I managed to keep the catering and entertainment the same.

I'd have just laughed and said "that's ok, as the organiser i have a 'backstage pass' to be there anyway - someone has to make sure it all runs smoothly!"

and then turn up well before opening and start 'supervising/helping'.

cheeky cow!

She is definitely BU, it sounds like you shouldn't have had to pay to attend as you're a volunteer and she deliberately didn't make the situation clear until the payment deadline had passed so you didn't have a chance to query it or pay anyway. Can you go over her head? Is there anyone above her in the organisation who you can ask why you weren't allocated a free ticket, as is the normal procedure for volunteers? If not then please confront her. I'd put it in writing, to her and any superiors, listing everything you have done to contribute to the event and asking why you weren't included in the free ticket allocation for volunteers. You can't let her get away with it! I think your idea of arriving early as the organiser to check on set up for the event and then staying put is a good one but please also challenge her behaviour. You sound like a lovely person but it's possible you do too much for others and some people take advantage. I wouldn't have paid the event expenses out of my own pocket and taken it on trust that I would be reimbursed. They should have a contingency for that kind of thing, it's unfair to expect from a volunteer. It's a bit of a risk to take since they seem disorganised. Do you have the agreement to reimburse you by a set date in writing or is it just an understanding, like the free tickets were?

What a total cow!!

YANBU!!!

OP.... I do think the poorly volunteer should have trawled round to see if anyone would step in before cancelling everything, that was a bit mean TBH

Off the scale rudeness from here. YANBU

Her not here. I'm never rude

Someone else should give up their tickets to you. If I was a volunteer I'd be happy to give up one of my tickets to the person that did it all.

This was actually from a car parking thread not so long ago, but I think you could should recreate this in the form of a name badge...

You should say 'good idea, considering I have funded everything I wont need the tickets anymore as I will be attending for free, like you'.

I'd send a message out to all the volunteers requesting that ANY ticket monies held by anyone are processed asap as you need to be reimbursed for your pre payments. And put in that you are the primary contact to be notified of any returns as a volunteer ticket has been sold to a non volunteer.

Odin, I really hope you're putting on your glad rags right now! Looking forward to hearing what Old Mardy Pants says when you see her. Photo of her with cats-bum-face would be even better!

This is one of the most outrageous things I've read on mumsnet (and I've been here for a while).

Of course you must go. Cheeky cow. You've bloody organised and paid for it. I would assume you don't need tickets as the organiser and show up early to check all goes well. Hope it does and make sure you are reimbursed and quickly. You've done an amazing job for a good cause and now need to put the same amount of effort in for yourself. Hope all goes well.

Just got back home . Another volunteer heard about 'mardy pants' missing me off the free tickets and she gave me one of hers because her husband doesn't really enjoy socializing. I turned up early anyway for a spot check on the setting up and was never asked for a ticket anyway

I also did a really lovely speech thanking everyone for coming and that I was soooo pleased they had attended after all my effort in making sure it went ahead as planned and I also said I was a little nervous my planning wouldn't be as good as in previous years. Mardy pants gave me the most outrageous glare all evening following that.

All in, I think I put it across fairly well that I had organised it with bit of help from those other hardworking volunteers and that I hope they come back again next year to help such a lovely event.

I also bagged myself a bottle of champers in the raffle which apparently 'Mardy Pants' wanted to win by purchasing a dozen tickets.

Thanks for the support, Ive got all my money back too.

Well done! Great outcome!! 🍸

Yay! Great update

Good work! Sounds like you managed to out manoeuvre her all round