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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

He charged me £10 for a lift

110 replies

Seeusernamehistoryyy · 14/04/2023 23:44

It's our neighbour, we've known him for 6 years and I felt we'd become friends over that time so DH was happy enough to give him the odd cigarette when he asked for one.

This gradually morphed into him knocking on almost every day, sometimes even twice a day and DH continued to oblige even after the price of cigarettes shot up, it became quite annoying actually but he's a friend and all that jazz. He'd occasionally give DH the odd quid in exchange. DH didn't ask him to. He isn't poor btw he's a business owner who owns properties. He could easily buy his own but begrudges buying a full packet.

If he needed a hand with something heavy (he owns a shop) he'd knock on and ask DH for a hand lifting, or for help when he was building something in his garden. We borrowed the odd thing briefly like a drill / screw driver. You get the picture. Neighbours helping one another out.

Anyway.. we are moving house and don't have the use of our car at the moment as its in the garage. We needed to take a couple of small boxes to the new house a 5 minute drive down the road. DH asked neighbour if he'd mind giving him a lift there. No help lifting required. There wasn't much.. but too much to carry alone.

Neighbour says sure, we thank him and then once DH is putting the boxes in the boot he asked me for £10 petrol money, cheerily adding that it saves me paying for a taxi. The taxi would have been cheaper and you can drive 50 odd miles with a bloody tenner.

I was a bit gob smacked to be honest but handed it over as I needed to crack on but it has left a bad taste.

Are we being unreasonable or was he?

OP posts:
AnElegantChaos · 14/04/2023 23:48

He was 100% unreasonable.

Lifesagamethentheytaketheboardaway · 14/04/2023 23:48

Why didn’t you say, “A taxi would cost less?”

if he is someone you consider a mate then a jokey, “Ha! A taxi would cost a fiver and this isn’t costing you a tenner in petrol,” would be fine to say. He isn’t a stranger.

Thedogscollar · 14/04/2023 23:48

Your neighbour is what they class as a grade one CF on here.
Some people have literally zero self awareness. I wouldn't be keeping in touch.

Stickmansmum · 14/04/2023 23:52

You should have said ‘oh, I didn’t think you’d need paid as we give you all those cigarettes but no worries, I’ll pay you petrol money. So that’s more like 45p x 5 miles, so £2.25. Here you go’.

Seeusernamehistoryyy · 14/04/2023 23:52

Lifesagamethentheytaketheboardaway · 14/04/2023 23:48

Why didn’t you say, “A taxi would cost less?”

if he is someone you consider a mate then a jokey, “Ha! A taxi would cost a fiver and this isn’t costing you a tenner in petrol,” would be fine to say. He isn’t a stranger.

I wish I had. It caught me completely off guard.

OP posts:
NBLarsen · 14/04/2023 23:55

You were unreasonable to just hand over the £10 without saying anything and carrying on like there was no issue. More fool you!

Ktime · 14/04/2023 23:55

YANBU, what a tight arse. At least now you and DH know you never have to give him a ciggie or do him a favour again.

As he’s a neighbour presumably you never have to see him again?

Seeusernamehistoryyy · 14/04/2023 23:58

I feel like a mug, more fool me indeed.

I don't mean to sound dramatic but it's hurt my feelings a bit, kinda highlighting the fact he obviously didn't think of us as friends in the first place which is sad as I thought we'd keep in touch after the move. Not now we won't.

Suffice to say when he came knocking today we didn't bother opening the door.

OP posts:
WineIsMyMainVice · 15/04/2023 00:00

Well next time he comes knocking for a cig I’d be asking for at least £3!!

TrickorTreacle · 15/04/2023 00:02

How far was the trip@Seeusernamehistoryyy ? You might be a bit out of date with taxi rates as they have shot up over the past year.

Today, I needed to get from A, to B, to C. A was my home, B was to stop at a cashpoint to get some money out for the taxi driver and C was the destination. No more than 2 miles all-in-all and a few minutes wait while I got some money out. It came to £15.70. Not London, just the West Midlands near to Walsall!

Mistressofnone · 15/04/2023 00:05

That's so cheeky! How do these people have the front? Glad you are moving.

I'd have been caught off guard too but would have probably said I didn't have the cash and would speak to DH later. Then if he chased, say let's call it evens for all those cigs.

AnElegantChaos · 15/04/2023 00:08

Don't feel like a mug - just put it down to the fact some people are selfish wankers who are quite happy to chance their way through life taking advantage of decent people. All take and no give.

Taxi rates aren't even relevant here - the bloke was taking the piss.

Lucienandjean · 15/04/2023 00:08

Next time he calls round for a cigarette, charge him £10.

Seeusernamehistoryyy · 15/04/2023 00:08

I did the exact same trip in an uber last week a few days ago and it came to £6.90 so over £3 less than he charged. Really kicking myself for not saying something 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
Seeusernamehistoryyy · 15/04/2023 00:09

Last week and a few days ago

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/04/2023 00:31

"After all the favours we've done for you? Catch yourself on! / Beg=have yourself/ Have a day off "

or just laugh and say "Yeah, right"

Or borrow something and forget to return it (not to sell , just to punish him )

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/04/2023 00:32

Beg=have - behave

EpicChaos · 15/04/2023 00:32

I'd be leaving a note for the new owners to warn them about their tight fisted neighbour, to be fair!

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 15/04/2023 00:34

What a scrounging twat.

Congrats on no longer being his neighbour!

kitsuneghost · 15/04/2023 00:35

I would have said take it out the fag money you owe.

Mamanyt · 15/04/2023 00:37

IF he has the effrontery to come to your new home and ask for a cigarette, charge him for it! Packet price.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/04/2023 00:43

Everyone 'knows' what they would have said. But IRL all of us have been stumped, caught off guard, and kicked ourselves afterwards. CF like this rely on it.

OP I'd be tempted to leave an invoice for all the ciggies.

oakleaffy · 15/04/2023 00:44

WineIsMyMainVice · 15/04/2023 00:00

Well next time he comes knocking for a cig I’d be asking for at least £3!!

😂Absolutely!
I bet a cigarette isn’t far off £3 these days?

StrawHatOnTheParcelShelf · 15/04/2023 01:12

I feel like actually leaving your house to take someone somewhere is a step up on the favour scale from popping next door to help with something or passing things over the fence.

But if he didn't want to do it he should've just said no, not charged you afterwards and overcharged you to boot!

Fraaahnces · 15/04/2023 01:22

Wonder how much his cigs have added up to?