To be furious and upset with friends- what do we do

[0verth1inker]

I’ll try and keep this brief.

We (me, DH and DC age 4 and 2.5) were meeting friends (couple with DC age 8 months) at a Christmas light walk through thing around 1 hour 15 from where we live last Sunday eve at 4:30pm.
They booked tickets I transferred money (£62)
We get there at 4:25, message saying we are here will wait in car so we can all go in together as you have tickets
Response 4:35 ‘so sorry running late! We left about 45 mins ago won’t be long’
Rang x 2 eventually answer, asked if they will send us the e tickets so we can get in. ‘No no we are 10 mins away’
DC getting bored, wound up, want to go in. Text them asking to send tickets.
They Arrive 5:15. None of us allowed in as we have missed our slot.
We are raging, kids are crying we all take the bloody long journey home having to get a Maccies to cheer kids up.
We message asking for the money back, they say it’s ‘just one of those things, ridiculous they wouldn’t let us in’

They’re good friends but I am raging. It’s entirely their fault, they are v PFB and he woke up late from his nap then wanted a super long feed which is why they were late. How do I ask again, and firmly? They are unreasonable right??

They shouldn't just return your money, they should also send your DC " sorry" gifts. They've behaved appallingly.

I think it is absolutely awful. They could have sent you the tickets so you could still go

I'm glad you have at least got the money but to be quite frank real friends would feel terrible that they had basically caused that to happen (they could have sent you the tickets through) and caused your children to be really disappointed and upset. You drove a decent bit to get there too. I don't understand how they didn't feel terrible for your children. They should have been incredibly apologetic and be trying to make it up to you/your children mainly.

So, they haven't even apologised to you, OP? Bloody hell; I'd be livid (especially something affecting my children). I think you've dealt with it really well. I hope you have rebooked it and you and your children have a lovely time. 💚

Pretty sure everyone experiences this at some point. Always book you own tickets. If someone wants to come they book their own. I nearly got burnt once for a football match having booked four tickets. Last minute oh sorry mate I can't go.

Either way they were late and the reason your money has gone. They should do the honorable thing and refund you. They should have also sent you your tickets when you paid. Why didn't they?

@Rocktheboat56

Pretty sure everyone experiences this at some point. Always book you own tickets. If someone wants to come they book their own. I nearly got burnt once for a football match having booked four tickets. Last minute oh sorry mate I can't go.

Either way they were late and the reason your money has gone. They should do the honorable thing and refund you. They should have also sent you your tickets when you paid. Why didn't they?

Read the thread, mate.

Glad you got your money back!

I once booked circus tickets for my family and three other families (all very good friends) so we could all sit together. The woman gave me tickets for the Saturday show when I asked for Sunday.

You can imagine the tears of the children and the cost involved (which I fully covered out of my own pocket as I should have checked when I bought them).

I hope that they won't be huffy with you... I can't imagine being anything other than completely apologetic in those circumstances.

Enjoy the lights!

@Rocktheboat56

Pretty sure everyone experiences this at some point. Always book you own tickets. If someone wants to come they book their own. I nearly got burnt once for a football match having booked four tickets. Last minute oh sorry mate I can't go.

Either way they were late and the reason your money has gone. They should do the honorable thing and refund you. They should have also sent you your tickets when you paid. Why didn't they?

FFS read the OPs updates!!!

You won’t get the money back. The friendship is over.

Sorry op

@Bunnyfuller

You won’t get the money back. The friendship is over.

Sorry op

FFS she's got the money back!!!!!

Glad you got your money back OP. They didn't apologise and their "money should be with you now" sounds a bit short. I'd fuck friends like this off. They should have apologised there and then and insisted on returning your money immediately. If they are reading this thread then they are coming across as very rude and entitled!

If I were the friend who was late I would be mortified and be reimbursing you And offering to pay for a treat as apology. You wasted your afternoon and disappointed your kids and that's not really easily compensated. If I were OP I think this and their reaction after would have killed any friendship for me. You deserve better friends

Cheeky, entitled fuckers always chalk everything they do up to 'just one of those things' and get totally outraged when people won't put up with it.

Glad you got your money back, OP

Glad you got the money back. It’s a long time since Dd was that age but I bf her and don’t remember been late for anything due to feeding. If I knew we were going out somewhere and I thought she hadn’t fed for a while I just poked her awake early and fed her before we were due out so we could leave on time. It’s not rocket science. 🤷‍♀️ Bet you they’d manage to catch a plane, etc even if their pfb wanted a feed.

Glad you got your money back, especially as they can afford it. It wasn't right what they did, they don't yet understand the consequences of disappointing small children - watch out when then do with their own

Why, oh why wouldn’t you send the tickets in those circumstances, though? So glad you got your money back, OP. Yes, things happen with babies and they could be forgiven for their lateness. But dreadful not to let you go in, especially as you had your own kids waiting with you. Incredibly selfish. And awful you had to ask repeatedly for the money back….

Awful op. Do not arrange things with them again. Just so rude of them

My theory is they bought the tickets on a 2for1 deal, so their tickets were effectively free. And now they’re not.

@MMAMPWGHAP

My theory is they bought the tickets on a 2for1 deal, so their tickets were effectively free. And now they’re not.

Ooooh good shout

Chalk it down to a bad experience and move on. Meet at a beach next time, anywhere really that doesn't require tickets?

I’m often known to be late but OP this is totally ridiculous. As soon as they realised they’d be late, they should have sent you the tickets. Even if you’d been allowed in, you were waiting around in the cold and dark with a 4 and 2 year old ffs! Your poor kids. They should be giving you the money back along with something to make up for it….the way they have behaved is very rude and entitled tbh

Ask for the money back is the new cancel the cheque

Do you really call them friends? I'd never want friends in my life who lack decency. Their behaviour is horrible. Demand your money back! If it were me, they wouldn't get away like that and I'd happily shut the door behind me.

The PFBing isn't going to go away over the coming years. Sometimes people show you who they really are under a nice veneer, and I think you got a glimpse of the real people there.

At 8 months the baby should be taking solids and able to drink water, whole milk, or a non-dairy equivalent including non-dairy follow on formula even if breastfeeding.

He should have a predictable nap schedule at this age too, which would mean they could plan appropriately - nap 1-3, quick snack and drink on the go, and arrive on time.

I realise some babies are more of a challenge than others all the same.

However, even if held up by a flat tyre, not sending you the tickets was mean, contrary, and utterly self-centered. You have little children who were all disappointed. I'm glad your 4 yo showed them how unhappy he was, though sad he missed something he was looking forward to.

Agree with @MMAMPWGHAP

You paid for their outing, OP.