To ask when it is appropriate to pay for things booked by someone else on their credit card

[Bearbehind]

This isn’t a TAAT just coincidence but I got me thinking as it’s just happened to me too

I’ve booked and paid for accommodation for 16 people. It’s just over £150 per person so not an insignificant sum

This isn’t an obligatory type thing, people are only going if they want to, I’ve just booked it as I can get a discount (that everyone gets the advantage of)

I’ve told everyone it’s booked, the price per person and my bank details.

Every has paid except 1 person who asked when my credit card bill was due and said she’d pay the day before.

Now in theory I’m not out of pocket until then but it literally wouldn’t occur to me to say that if someone else had gone to the trouble of booking something for everyone

So

Is it reasonable to think you just pay when the cost is incurred (YANBU)

Or

Is it ok to just pay when the person who has put the money on their credit card needs to pay it (YABU)

[DarkDarkNight]

She should have paid as soon as you had booked (it wouldn’t have been unreasonable of you to ask for payment upfront before you booked either).

You were good enough to do the order, and she benefited from the discount. She’s a CF to say she’ll pay the day before. You’ve done her a favour and it’s petty to wait until the last minute.

[winobaglady]

What if you pay your card by bank xfer, not DDR?
Her money might not get credited to your account before you pay the credit card?

[MangoSalsa]

Pretty much right away. I mean if you book on the 26th and someone asks if it’s ok to give you money on the 1st, that’s alright. Definitely within a week.

[BarbaraofSeville]

But yes, ask her if one of her workmates organises discounted lunches for everyone on a Friday at work and if she is as awkward about paying up for those too.

[BikeRunSki]

I’d pay as soon as I got the payment details.

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

If it's not an affordability issue, she needs to pay immediately. I don t know why she would think she doesn't?

[Poshjock]

I couldn’t even tell you when my credit card bill is “due”, I don’t get one. I clear my balance day after payday. In these circumstances i would transfer any money paid to me instantly to my credit card so it’s not lingering in my current account and likely to get forgotten or mixed up with my own. So in this instance I would be telling the CF I need the money ASAP.

[GettingABitDesperateNow]

A credit card makes money by giving credit to people and then charging them interest when they don't pay it in full. There is a contract in place.

I dont see why you should give your friend credit. You're going to have to pay the bill regardless but dont have any protection with a contract with your friend if she didnt pay. If she was ill beforehand or something else happened eg she incurred a big expense she could just say no I'm not going so I'm not paying and that would leave you in the shit. So you're doing her a favour, at your own personal risk, and she is increasing that level of risk the longer she takes to pay. I guess she would see it as why should you have the money and be 'up' for a few weeks - well why shouldn't you - you're the one that's put yourself out.

It's different if she asked you beforehand if she could pay on payday. In the future I'd lie and say your CC needs to be paid off in a week or something and that buys you some time if she changes her mind to find someone else to take. I would also chase her to remind her a couple of days before

I booked a holiday for a group of people once and once I'd paid, a friend of a friend said (without prior agreement) she would give me the money after payday as didnt have it before then. I was just quite uneasy the whole month that I wouldn't get it back.

[Babochan88]

Yanbu

I get really money anxious if someone pays For me. I have to pay them back ASAP
As I don’t want them thinking I’m taking advantage. I’m super lucky to have friends that are the same. People who don’t pay back asap 🤮🤮🤮

[PuzzledObserver]

I have been on both sides of this type of transaction.

I booked a group of 11 in for a meal and asked people to pay up front. Most of them paid straight away (about 10 days before the event). One asked if she could pay on her pay day, which was the day before the meal, and I said fine. Then I paid it all on my credit card on the night.

Other time - my sister had booked a holiday let for us all to go together. She told us how much it was, but that we didn’t need to pay until the end of the month because she had paid on her credit card. I sent it straight away because otherwise I would forget.

[JesusHRooseveltChristAgain]

I echo the sentiment - tell her the bill is due tomorrow!

[Celticrose]

This a considerable amount on your card over 2k and for arguments sake if you have a limit of 3k this will take you very close to your limit. Suppose you need to use your card for another large transaction for whatever reason you will be unable to do so if everyone waited to pay you the day before the balance is due. I would tell her that you require payment now. You could say that you need to free up the credit to make a purchase.

[AutumnStory]

I think she should have paid you right away. Or if she cant she could have worded it nicer. If she cant afford it a quick "would you mind if I paid you on X, as im a bit short?". Its basic manners

[Leeds2]

I would've paid you immediately.

It may be that she is waiting for pay day, but I think she should've explained if that was the case.

[FiddlesticksAkimbo]

Woman's an arse.

[Reythemamajedi]

I have a friend like this. She pays when she turns up for the event. Drives me mad.

[BigChocFrenzy]

YANBU
She's another CF

If someone's doing a favour like you did, booking for everyone, especially with a discount,
then they should all pay up immediately, not play power games

[BadTigerKitty]

It depends on the dynamic between you, I think. My friends and I don't often book for each other, but if we do we don't usually pay until the event. Last month, I booked for 3 of us to do an activity next month, 100 each. I paid on my cc and they haven't transferred the money yet. They might pay my portion of the hotel bill for me, bank transfer closer to the event or give me cash. I guess if I asked specifically, they pay sooner. It would be similar for my two main groups of friends. It sounds like we're unusual!

[BigChocFrenzy]

Even without a discount, you did the organising
She should be grateful, instead of a pain

[Ginkypig]

Just recently my aunt did just this for our next trip.

I told her the day of booking I'd pay as soon as she sent the details and a couple of weeks later she told me her credit card was due and sent the details. Within an hour of receiving the email I had sent payment!

[stucknoue]

Depends if it's a particularly tight month, as long as it's paid in time I wouldn't mind waiting

[Branster]

I’d pay straight away.
She should pay you straightaway. If she can’t afford it she shouldn’t commit to it. It is you who offered to pay, you are not a credit card, you do not offer credit and payment terms. It’s none of her business when you have to make the payment. Give the place to somebody else.

[maddening]

Just say you are paying the card off straight away as you are so busy you don't want faff and to risk getting interest charged.

[SummerPlace]

My card has both debit and credit facility. It looks much the same as a normal Visa card. Just say that you paid on debit and the money come out of your account immediately.

I know there's not much use in the current situation.

[timshelthechoice]

I pay straightaway. That would be last time I ever booked anything for this CF 'friend' again. I'd tell her I need the money now as I'm near the limit on my card and use it for emergencies.