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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would IBU to ask this?

20 replies

Moneyorfavour · 20/04/2018 10:26

Hi I'm new here so please bear with me. My question is if your friend owed you a large amount of money but worked in a trade would you ask for a favour and wipe the debt?

For more information my friend owes me £400 and in my head I'm not expecting to get it back, but I need my new carpets layed in 3 rooms and the stairs and can't afford it. He's a carpet fitter by trade.

Obviously his quotes would be higher than the money he actually owes, so would I be unreasonable to ask him to do it in exchange for the money he owes? He wouldn't have any money in his hand but he wouldn't have to worry about ever paying me back. Does this sound fair?

OP posts:
Storm4star · 20/04/2018 10:27

Sounds fair to me.

blueskyinmarch · 20/04/2018 10:29

Sounds like a fair deal to me.Will you buy the carpets then get him to lay them?

toofarfromcivilisation · 20/04/2018 10:29

As long as you are just asking for him to fit them, not supply.

Original poster
Moneyorfavour · 20/04/2018 10:32

I have the carpets ready, so it will really just be laying them. I don't want to have this money hanging over us any longer but don't want to offend either.

OP posts:
Chickychoccyegg · 20/04/2018 10:33

That sounds fair enough (literally had no idea it cost so much to get carpets fitted, that sounds a lot, although my dh dad is a carpet fitter and does ours for us)

SandAndSea · 20/04/2018 10:34

I had carpets laid recently. The fitting was quite cheap really, nowhere near £400. If all he's got to do is provide the fitting, then this sounds like a win-win.

Original poster
Moneyorfavour · 20/04/2018 10:39

I don't know how much carpets cost to be fitted but every time he talks about a job it seems really expensive so I'm assuming it will be more than he owes. It might not be, in which case I wouldn't care about the difference as he's doing me a favour and it would be nice to have the money thing sorted. In fairness he could have afforded to pay me back a while ago but a change in circumstances for him made me not ask.

OP posts:
whatareyoueatingNOW · 20/04/2018 10:42

I'm a plumber and when my in laws offered to write off our debt for a bathroom fit I jumped at it. I was struggling to front up the cash and it reduced tensions between us.

I think he'd be grateful to clear the debt in this way

Original poster
Moneyorfavour · 20/04/2018 10:45

Thank you @whatareyoueatingNOW that helps, I was hoping someone with a personal experience would post. Smile

OP posts:
Ellendegeneres · 20/04/2018 10:50

I think that would be incredibly generous of you, so I can’t see why he’d turn it down if he ever intended on repaying the debt.

Similarly someone owes me money and because I know cash is an issue at the moment, I offered to have them work it off- physical tasks I can’t manage. They couldn’t thank me enough as they felt terrible still owing me

Birdsgottafly · 20/04/2018 11:22

I've payed people back with Gardening, House/Dog minding and Babysitting etc. I've also written off debt, by accepting Decorating and DIY. Among lower paid people, in areas of unstable employment, this is very usual.

PositivelyPERF · 20/04/2018 11:25

I’m self employed and have swapped trades with customers. They book with me as clients and I e asked if they would be interested in doing a job for me, rather than paying me. Every one of them has jumped at the offer.

SluttyButty · 20/04/2018 11:35

I had a three storey house carpeted recently and it only cost £402 for the carpet for every room in the house and vinyl fitted in the kitchen and utility room. So yes sounds fair.

Original poster
Moneyorfavour · 20/04/2018 11:38

Thank you for all the replies, he's coming round this afternoon for a catch up so I will let you know how it turns out. By the sound of the replies here, he won't be offended at all and I'm not being cheeky so hopefully it will be a good catch up Smile

OP posts:
Fletchasaurus · 21/04/2018 13:18

What did he say op?

Original poster
Moneyorfavour · 21/04/2018 13:56

Hi after a slightly awkward conversation because I struggled to find the right words at the start Confused I am getting my carpets laid and he's happy to do it in exchange for the money he owes. Smile I just have to let him know when and all will be sorted. Our friendship doesn't seem to be affected and he seemed quite relieved that I wasn't asking for the money.

OP posts:
TestingTestingWonTooFree · 21/04/2018 14:43

Good result op

AnneLovesGilbert · 21/04/2018 14:45

Well handled. I’m sure he’s relieved to have a chance to pay you back. Hope it works out well Smile

Original poster
Moneyorfavour · 21/04/2018 14:54

Thank you Smile feeling quite happy about it all right now and excited to have my carpets laid.

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 21/04/2018 15:05

Of all the many many jobs we did when we moved in, new carpets have made the biggest difference, so enjoy!

We went very neutral and I thought it would be like painting the walls, but having something nice and cosy underfoot makes me happy often Smile

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