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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think she is CF to invite herself to stay?

148 replies

viccat · 29/02/2020 17:58

A friend (if I can call her that) messaged me on FB earlier today to say she was thinking of finally coming to visit London and stay at mine around Easter or perhaps in the summer... she already has a dog sitter sorted and everything, it's perfect for her. Hmm

Now, I knew her ages ago - haven't met her in person for over 14 years, we occasionally comment on each other's FB posts but don't ever speak other than that (last FB messenger exchange was over 5 years ago). We were never super close friends although we were in each other's lives at a time we were both struggling with something (separately) and I suppose felt closer because of that... But I was very young, late teens/early 20s (she's a bit older) and even though we spoke about her coming to visit when I first moved to London, life has moved on A LOT in 15 years! I'd be happy to meet up for a cuppa and a catch up but not give up several days to accommodate her.

AIBU to think she's being a CF thinking she can use me as a free hotel? And to expect an invitation that was maybe made all those years ago is going to be open forever...

My view is coloured by the fact that I'm the biggest introvert and literally never have anyone stay these days. I have a spare room but it doesn't even have a bed, it's my home office. My mental health hasn't been great for months now and the thought of having anyone stay is my worst nightmare. Plus, I'm working and busy with a big work project so it'd be terrible timing. My answer is definitely going to be no, I just need to figure out how to word it so a.) I don't leave it in any way open for her to think she can come another time b.) I don't sound too rude - I don't want to upset her even though I'm definitely not having her stay. Ever. Over my dead body.

If it matters, she would be coming from abroad.
With the corona virus outbreak I also feel like it would be a terrible idea at Easter anyway to fly into Heathrow and come to stay. What if she got ill and ended up in quarantine at mine for 14 days! Shock

OP posts:
MinisterForCheekyFuckery · 29/02/2020 19:18

Not able to put you up, but would love to meet you for a drink while you’re here. Let me know your dates and we’ll try and get together.

This is the perfect response. It's absolutely clear it's a no but it's not rude in the slightest either.

If she truly is among the cheekiest of cheeky fuckers then there's a chance she may responds asking why you're not able to put her up. This really would be rude IMO. You don't owe anyone an explanation as to why you aren't willing or able to host them, especially cheeky feckers who invite themselves after years of no contact. So in the unlikely event that she does press for an explanation you would have every right to ignore and unfriend. Especially since you're clearly not friends anymore anyway.

Babybel90 · 29/02/2020 19:18

Don’t say you don’t have space or a bed because she’ll offer to sleep on the sofa or bring an air bed.

Personally I wouldn’t even bother replying, you don’t even live in the same country and haven’t spoken for 5 years so if you lose her friendship your not really losing anything.

If you have to reply it should just be I’m afraid you can’t stay with me, no excuses.

HollowTalk · 29/02/2020 19:23

She could have at least said she fancied a trip and waited to see whether you'd offer accommodation.

CloudsCanLookLikeSheep · 29/02/2020 19:27

Tell she's welcome to stay but it will be £75/night and you accept cash, bank transfer or paypal.

She'll soon be gone!

dontgobaconmyheart · 29/02/2020 19:29

Lots of the more reasonable suggestions here more than solved the issue OP, if you want to see her just tell her it won't be possible to put her up overnight or accommodate a stay but you'd like to meet while she's here. If you don't then ignore if you must or simply decline. It's up to you to work out whether you want to see her, it doesn't matter if you feel you should, you have no obligation to this person but there is no reason not be be polite, you have no idea about what is going on with her. No need to be rude or have it be some huge soap opera of a life event.

Kanga83 · 29/02/2020 19:30

I wouldn't explain the reason why you can't/don't want her to stay. I would simply say 'would be lovely to catch up with you while you are over here, some budget hotels are xyz, let me know when you've booked so we can plan diaries together'.

faracrossthepond · 29/02/2020 19:31

CF alert @viccat YANBU and tell her you are working away quite a bit and unpredictable hours and days, so cannot accommodate her as there is no guarantee you will be here/there when she comes.

I had something similar about 30 years ago. I had a penpal in North America, who I wrote to for about 6 or 7 months. By around the 7th letter, she rang me (she asked me for my phone number a couple of letters back,) and said 'I have some exciting news!'

I said 'yeah?' She said 'me and Steve are comin' to the UK to stay for 2 weeks.' I said 'oh lovely, we will be able to meet up!' She said 'meet up?! Are you kiddin? D'ya know where we're staying?' I said 'no' thinking she was gonna be 100s of miles away. 'YOURS of course!' she shrieked gleefully.

She already knew I had a 2 bed flat with DH, and no kids at the time, so I had NO excuse. Blush I said 'when?' She said 'next month. Around 3 weeks time, 17th of May! I simply can't WAIT for you to show us around London, and Wales and Scotland. (We lived in Stoke on Trent at the time, and nowhere near LONDON or Wales or Scotland.) Hmm

She was just gonna use us for free accommodation and food, and free escorted daytrips up and down the United Kingdom. Hmm I mean, it's not like I had a full time job or anything.. She just expected me to drop everything, take leave from work, and be her personal assistant/escort/cook/cleaner/bottle washer/maid.

I said it may not be convenient, and felt my face going red with anger at her fucking cheek, but she just poo-pooed me and said her and 'Steve' would be here on 17th May at around midday.

I am ashamed to say me and DH 'disappeared' on 15th and told our neighbours we were going abroad (to Spain) for a family emergency, and aren't sure when we'll back. Then we went to our parents... 3 days at mine and 3 days at his.

Then we returned on 21st May and our neighbour in the flat below, said some 'friends' of ours had come on the afternoon a couple of days after we left, with 2 suitcases each, and were banging and knocking the door for about 4-5 hours on and off.

They left at 7pm in a cab and then came back the next day, and the next. 3 days in a row, staying 4-5 hours each time, just waiting on the bench in the shared courtyard. He said we had gone abroad suddenly, but she flat out said 'I don't believe you, you're lying. They know we're coming.'

I mean what the actual FUCK? I had exchanged less than 10 letters, and been talking to her for 6-7 months, and she and her boyfriend had packed up 2 suitcases and invited themselves to OUR home. And tried desperately for 3 days to get in. Thank God we were on the 2nd floor, or they would probably have broken in through the bloody window.

The only access was the very strong upvc door with a very secure locking system, so there was no WAY they could get in! After 3 days of trying they left and never came back, and I never ever heard from her again. No loss to be fair.

'Mean thing to do' some might say. Not as mean as them thinking they can just use us for a free holiday, and expect us to drop everything and run them around and escort them like servants. When we hardly knew them and had never met them before!

Branleuse · 29/02/2020 19:39

@faracrossthepond you didnt even say no its not convenient? You actually booked a holiday to avoid saying no to someone?

JustInCaseCakeHappens · 29/02/2020 19:40

YABU for having near-strangers as "facebook friends".

YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 29/02/2020 19:40

Definitely not a tricky one, as others have said, just say 'oh sorry I don't have space to host but would be lovely to meet for a coffee'

BMW6 · 29/02/2020 19:45

Bloody hell faracrossthepond what a ridiculous way to deal with it! Why the hell couldn't you just say NOT A CHANCE instead of hiding like toddler?
It's a toss-up on who behaved worst - your CF's or yourselves, frankly.

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 29/02/2020 19:47

Does this cheeky bint know your address? If not, just don’t reply

diddl · 29/02/2020 19:47

Does she know where you live?

No chance of her just turning up if you say that you have no room?

ArcheryAnnie · 29/02/2020 19:49

I dunno, I rather like the idea of just pissing off for 3 days to avoid annoying people!

Jellybeansincognito · 29/02/2020 19:50

Oh wow.
I’d just be very clear in my response.

‘Hi x- you can’t stay here but I know there are tonnes of amazing air b&bs available in the area. It would be lovely to see you though so let me know what dates you’re here and I’ll put space in the dairy for drinks/ food. Take care.

Longwhiskers14 · 29/02/2020 19:56

Faracrossthepond What a ridiculously contrived and nasty way to deal with it! Why on earth didn't you just flat out say no, that there was no way you could accommodate them? Christ, I'd have got my DH to call her to tell her to fuck off and don't think about coming, rather than let them fly across the Atlantic and then hide from them!

pictish · 29/02/2020 19:58

faracross you did what?!

What a palaver! What on earth was wrong with simply saying no?? You had ample opportunity to do so, yet you chose to run away and leave them knocking the door on an empty house?!

Ehhh...not how I’d have behaved...but you clearly think it was fine.

sonjadog · 29/02/2020 20:00

I think it was obvious from her post that far across did say no and it was ignored?

HollowTalk · 29/02/2020 20:02

Saying why you can't have her just opens up a dialogue - if you say you don't have a spare bed, she'll say she'll sleep on the couch, etc. Just say you can't do it but hope she has a good time, then if I were you I'd block her, tbh.

pictish · 29/02/2020 20:03

“D'ya know where we're staying?' I said 'no' thinking she was gonna be 100s of miles away. 'YOURS of course!' she shrieked gleefully.

She already knew I had a 2 bed flat with DH, and no kids at the time, so I had NO excuse. I said 'when?”

BMW6 · 29/02/2020 20:05

I think it was obvious from her post that far across did say no and it was ignored?

Nope. OP only said "it may not be convenient". Hmm

AudTheDeepMinded · 29/02/2020 20:06

Don't start recommending hotels because then her accommodation becomes your problem to solve. She's a grown woman with access to the internet, she'll be able to figure it out!

CassidyStone · 29/02/2020 20:07

@Faracrossthepond

What a childish response! Instead of feeling you had no excuse, then running away, you should have simply said NO. It's not convenient, you can't stay here and repeated it over and over again.

forrestgreen · 29/02/2020 20:10

Dear cf
Oh it'll be so nice to meet up in person, what has it been 15 years since we've seen each other? Sadly you can't stay here but it'll be lovely to meet up for a drink or share a meal. If you need any advice on which area to look for a hotel let me know.

CatteStreet · 29/02/2020 20:11

Don't not reply (sorry for double negative). She might take silence as consent and turn up Shock

Just a polite but firm 'Hi there, great to hear from you after all this time; I won't be able to put you up, but happy to grab a coffee while you're over'.