Who pays for this theatre ticket?

[TenpennyTwat]

A friend got tickets for us to go to the theatre. I transferred her the money for my ticket (£40). Now I have tested positive for covid and can't go. (I'm feeling OK but I don't want to pass it on to anyone). I apologised to my friend and asked her if she knew anyone else who could go with her. She has found another friend who'd like to go which is great. But... she has given my ticket to the friend and not asked for any money for it? She said she 'didn't feel she could ask for money at this point'.

I don't really get what that means. The show is tomorrow. £40 is not a small amount for me. As far as I am concerned, my friend has given my ticket away as a gift to her friend without asking me if this is ok. I'm pretty sure the other friend doesn't know I've paid for it! She's not acknowledged it in any way; if it was me I would message the person who'd paid and say "Are you sure that's OK, would you like any money for it?" If they said no I would obviously want to thank them.

I feel pissed off about the whole thing but can't think of a way to express this to first friend as she clearly thinks she's been totally reasonable.

Alternatively, if my friend said to me, Ive got a spare ticket for xyz tomorrow are you free, as I don't want to go on my own, I wouldn't expect to pay. Especially if it was something I wasn't that bothered about (hence not getting a ticket originally)

You've lost the money anyway, would you prefer she didn't go, as these things are better shared with a friend? Would you have paid for her ticket as well in that case?

In this situation I would (and I
have previously) given the ticket away for free so your friend wasn’t left either attending alone or also cancelling because she had no one to go with. It’s very short notice and I suspect no one would have paid for the ticket unless it’s for something very popular. If you wanted the money back then I think it was on you to find a taker, or at a minimum made it clear how much you would take for the ticket.

Similar story. We decided to see a play at the Theatre...my friend said she would buy the tickets and I would give her the money for my ticket. The price was £120. But on the day of the play I had an emergency and wasn't able to go, so without my knowledge or consent she gave my ticket (that I had paid for) to her son who then went in my place. My friend never gave me back the money for my ticket. She never spoke about it and just assumed it would be ok to use my ticket. I feel she should have asked my permission or given me back my money. I am no longer friends with this person because everything is about money for her and she has to be in charge and the centre of attention. I know she came from a poor background and has done really well in her life and has much to be proud of but I wonder if her money grabbing attitude today has something to do with her past. She is always taking from me and never gives back and I am glad I had the courage in the end to walk away. Friends don't do that. I was being used by her. I still think she should have given me back my money or even the ticket but no...she used it as a freebie instead.