Am I going to lose out either way

[wishicouldstayinbed]

Dear mumsnetters I need some help please. I'm due to attend a big event with a family member today which I paid around £200 for as a gift. Unfortunately said family member is unwell and unable to make it.

So family member has suggested I take one of their friends - now please bear in mind that this is not an event that I would normally choose to go to but purchased as a treat for family member. Now obviously I would be perfectly happy taking family member as I would get enjoyment from this but to spend several hours doing something that is not particularly my thing with someone that I don't know that well would not be so enjoyable.
The other option is that I try to get a refund as I do have refund protection. But the illness family member is suffering from is one that is ongoing and rears it's head intermittently. Terms and conditions do not cover for pre-existing medical conditions and require a drs letter.
My question therefore, is do I
(a) not go at all and lose all the money
(b) suck it up and take family members friend
(c) get family member to change their symptoms a little to avoid it looking like part of their pre-existing condition and ask gp for letter (issue here is that to do so may cause them stress)
(d) feign am illness myself and ask for a gp letter
Even if I do obtain a gp letter I'm not sure if they would find a loophole to avoid paying up.
Ideas and solutions welcome

Can you take one of your friends? You can't lie to insurance and I wouldn't want to go with someone I didn't know well.

Take a friend of your own!

Sounds like the family member might get vicarious pleasure from their friend going ? Would they be upset at the cost being wasted? Could you give both tickets to the friend? Would you get brownie points from the family member ? Do you care?

Or, say that the family member’s friend is welcome to buy the tickets from you, maybe at a slight discount? Okay

I can’t sell them unfortunately as I’m named on the ticket.
I don’t particularly want to go without family member if I’m honest and don’t think any of my friends would really be desperate to go either.

Are you able to sell the ticket, even at £100 perhaps? To recoup some of the money and not feel obligated to go?

I'm named on the ticket so it doesn't look like I can sell them or even give them away unfortunately

Sometimes you can. Is there anyway to connect with the organiser? You may have to be at the venue at handover time. Check al the small print!

Thanks Romeo (sorry everyone I don't know how to reply to individual posts or quote 😬)
I'll look into this 👍

Could you feign covid?

I'm guessing for covid the gp would want to see a positive test result before writing a letter??

Now I'm thinking do I even have the right to decide who else goes. If the other ticket is for family member do they really have the first say in who goes as a replacement??

Do not go for any option that involves trying to get a GP to collude in insurance fraud.

Ask the one who's willing to go to buy the tickets from you at a discount and take someone of their own choosing with them. You could lend them something like a utility bill to prove they are 'you'.

No I think I've abandoned that idea - I'm too honest to be honest 😂

No easy would i go to an event i didn't particularly want to go to with a person i didn't know.

I'd try to get a refund, and failing that I'd take the hit as "just one of those things" that catches is all out from time to time.

Not c or d. That's insurance fraud.

It's a gift, just one that unfortunately they can't use, so I would accept that the money is spent and isn't coming back.

Then the only question is whether the family member's friend can use their ticket (or both tickets) without you, and that depends on small print/ checking with organisers.

I think you could say "I'd have enjoyed going to this event in your company, but I'm happier for <family member friend> to go on their own or with their own plus one"