@WellTidy horrible situation but in that position now myself I would renegotiate at each "extension" I dread to think what she cost you in utilities alone!
So many of these stories end up being lost friendships due to a lack of a simple AND FREE thank you! So often they're shooting themselves in the foot!
I actually think this is especially true of employers (paid and voluntary) who treat good staff who go above and beyond poorly - those staff eventually realise and bugger off to an employer that appreciates them, leaving that employer with less exemplary staff. I've seen that so often and seen it meaning especially small businesses then go under.
The lack of etiquette/manners these days infuriated me, no excuse they cost nothing and make life easier for everyone!
I'm sometimes painted by my dd and a few others in family as a "nightmare customer" because I WILL complain about poor service etc - I'm paying for that service damn right I'll complain if it's below par - BUT I will also contact companies, having taken full names wherever possible to praise GOOD service. I consider it good manners and hope it sees the person who provided that good served received suitable recognition at work.
Too often the good ones are overlooked.
@Verity35 I'd have initially reacted as if he were clearly Joking and if he pressed the point went "no, we've come to see sis and dn and brought gifts, don't spoil the occasion by being greedy and rude"
I have also (as I'm sure most of us are at some point) been the one to benefit from others favours and even if I was on the bones of my arse I made if I couldn't buy a thank you card, and if I was doing better bought/sent flowers/chocs/wine - again just good manners.
I do wonder how the hell some people are brought up!
Dd recently spent her first Hogmanay at someone else's house, a friends family, her other friends mocked and teased her because she took wine, beer and chocs and a wee gift for the younger sister of the friend as she didn't want her to feel left out seeing her parents get things (She's only 9).
Speaking with her after the bells she told me she was so glad she did as they treated her so well and made her feel so welcome and the little sister was her new best friend 
I was so proud of her and her friends soon shut the hell up!
@BrightYellowDaffodil absolutely! Anything that has ever gone wrong in my sisters life is always someone else's fault!
From getting poor exam results in school - she went to a bloody good school AND she has intellect but put sod all effort in
To boys/men dumping her - usually got sick of being used
To getting sacked from jobs - for regularly turning up late, pulling sickies, making lazy mistakes
To being evicted - for not paying rent, not maintaining the place to a reasonable standard
NEVER her fault
@Fanthorpe when I first joined mn I was quite wary about posting about sister in case outing as I felt her behaviour was quite extreme, but within just a few months I became aware there are quite a few others like her! I was shocked!
What creates them and why do we bloody put up with them?
"She could be good fun though" oh they're great at the charm offensive! That's how they're so successful!
My sister can be (when it suits her) charming, kind, funny, intelligent - but she uses that for her own ends.
@WindsorBlues good on that tradesman!
I've seen numerous threads on here by business owners or partners/spouses of business owners who are stressed because they have been taken advantage of by customers and I really think assertiveness training should be undertaken by anyone going into business for themselves
Certainly as a childminder I was glad I'd had that training as there were regularly parents who'd have or tried to take the piss (late collecting, late paying etc) if I'd not known how to handle it.
Some you spot a mile off too!
Parents meet childminders often thinking only "do I like them?" without considering the childminder (if they're sensible and experienced) is also sizing them up!
I've rejected parents because I can tell from meeting them they're going to mess me about! Usually as I heard them on the phone lying to someone else about where they were and why they were ALSO late for them! Or because right from the off they umm and ahh about the t&c's - even though these were emailed to them prior to meeting. Usually about fee rate, conditions for holding place over holidays etc
@ComplexPTSDmaybe - the above written before I read your post too! I used to work in the wedding industry and the piss taking of family/friends with certain skills is unbelievable! See it on here too when brides to be are discussing costs - no clue of the cost of ingredients alone for a 3 tier cake not to mention the hours it takes to make and certainly no consideration of the years the baker has spent learning their craft and the same goes as you clearly know for photographers, hairdressers, florists, make up artists... people need to seriously get a clue when it comes to what these services cost!
@HeretoThereandBackAgain when YOU have a crisis is when you discover who is truly a friend - and who isn't!
I had my first breakdown almost 15 years ago.
A neighbour I barely knew enough to wave to, 3 people at uni who until then I'd have classed as "friendly acquaintances" and a school gate mum I barely knew were bloody saints! The neighbour contacted the crisis team, 1 of the uni people drove 20 miles just to sit and talk with me that night until they saw me the next day, another uni person came straight over first thing and took dd to school for me and made sure it was a fun adventure for dd and the 3rd brought me and dd a takeaway that night and bathed and bedded dd, the school gate mum took dd to and from school and had her over for numerous play dates. Forever grateful to those people and their help didn't stop there they kept supporting us for months after and we are now very close friends even though I long moved away from there. And yes I paid them back in other ways would do anything for them.
But another 2 people I would have before then described as good friends that I had done a lot for? Didn't see them for dust! They didn't even check in on dd (which they could have done without even contacting me) never forgave them.
Mother of god, some of the CFs on here should be rounded up and sent to Mars on a one way ticket
They'd only go if they got a free lift!