Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think she could have said 'just keep the money'?

202 replies

JMSA · 29/06/2023 14:55

Properties to let, in the city where I live, are snapped up extremely quickly. You need to be really on the ball in order to land one.
A lady posted on a local Facebook group begging someone to do a viewing for her. She is overseas at the moment, but will be coming here to live soon. She was desperate; the letting agent was willing to allow someone else to view it in her place, but it had to be viewed before they'd accept her application. Seriously, the private let situation here is crazy ... not to mention extortionate.
I offered to do it for her. We had some chat over FB Messenger, and we discussed what I should look out for and the questions she wanted me to ask. This all took time, but that's absolutely fine. We had agreed that £20 was a fair amount for me to be paid for this viewing, and she made a bank transfer (at my request).
The viewing was meant to be tomorrow and I've just heard from her that it's cancelled, as someone else got in there first. I offered to hold onto the money - it had taken a while to come through - in case any other properties came up that she'd like me to view.
She replied no, that she's going to wait until she gets here to do more viewings, and has asked for her £20 back. It's annoying because I had budgeted for something with it. Am I right in thinking that she's a tight arse?

OP posts:
Dotjones · 29/06/2023 14:57

Yes she's taking the piss. She hired you to perform a service and changed her mind, it's up to the service provider (you) to decide the refund policy.

In future remember the phrase "no good deed goes unpunished."

SpudleyLass · 29/06/2023 14:58

I mean, its £20. I would ask for it back too.

Your offer was a fair one but she has said no so I think YABU.

Hugasauras · 29/06/2023 14:58

Well it was £20 you didn't earn in the end. Personally I probably wouldn't have asked for it back but I don't think she is being unreasonable to seeing as you didn't actually end up doing the thing she was paying you £20 for. Maybe her budget is tight too.

Kay286 · 29/06/2023 14:59

I don’t think you should be budgeting to spend it until you’ve earnt it !

dartsofcupid · 29/06/2023 15:00

Personally I’d have let it go, but maybe every £20 counts for her too. Probably not but there’s no way it could be a scam, could it?

KatieKline · 29/06/2023 15:00

You are being unreasonable. You were paid £20 to carry out a viewing, the viewing wasn't required anymore and therefore your services weren't required. She was well within her right to ask for her money back.

IF she the agreement had been to pay you £20 for your services to view the property whether or not the property viewing went ahead, then she would have been unreasonable to request the money back.

Original poster
JMSA · 29/06/2023 15:04

Ok, thanks everyone. I definitely don't think she's short of money and it's definitely not a scam. There's no way I could end up losing my own money over it. And we ended up striking up a bit of a rapport over the messaging.
I'd have let it go if I were her, rather than put someone through the hassle of an international bank transfer.
It wasn't my fault it was cancelled, but then it wasn't hers either, so I probably am being a bit unreasonable.

OP posts:
Lillyrosemay · 29/06/2023 15:06

JMSA · 29/06/2023 15:04

Ok, thanks everyone. I definitely don't think she's short of money and it's definitely not a scam. There's no way I could end up losing my own money over it. And we ended up striking up a bit of a rapport over the messaging.
I'd have let it go if I were her, rather than put someone through the hassle of an international bank transfer.
It wasn't my fault it was cancelled, but then it wasn't hers either, so I probably am being a bit unreasonable.

Would you though, because you’re wanting to keep it. That’s not really the act of someone who is happy to give away 2o quid.

LegendsBeyond · 29/06/2023 15:06

Why should you have £20 for doing nothing?

Original poster
JMSA · 29/06/2023 15:12

LegendsBeyond · 29/06/2023 15:06

Why should you have £20 for doing nothing?

I had fully intended to do a good job for her, and the pre-viewing messaging took up time too.
I even had a trial walk to the place, as the flat number was a bit confusing and I wanted to be sure I could find it!

OP posts:
ladybirdbirdlady · 29/06/2023 15:13

YANBU. You were willing to do this for her, and weren't paid for the time you have her during the discussions beforehand. I think it's unfair of her to ask for it back.
Should anything similar arise in the future, I'd definitely ask for more than £20. The time it would have taken you to do this for her, with all the pre and post discussions would surely make £20 seem a pittance?

Gateappreciation · 29/06/2023 15:16

I think it’s unfair she asked for the money back. You were prepared to do the viewing and had allocated time for it. Or at least she should face given you ten pounds or so.

Crikeyalmighty · 29/06/2023 15:19

To be honest I wouldn't have asked for the money back

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 29/06/2023 15:20

I had fully intended to do a good job for her

I might write to the last company I interviewed with and ask if they’ll pay me even though I didn’t get the job. After all, I’d have done it really well…

Original poster
JMSA · 29/06/2023 15:20

Thank you for your time everyone. Mixed opinions for sure, but it's all good.
I will pay back the money of course, but not get involved if she asks me again. She has shot herself in the foot for the sake of 20 quid.

OP posts:
Therandomtrekker · 29/06/2023 15:21

Remember to take in to account any transfer fees when you send it back or it may cost you a couple of quid to do it.

FarTooHotForMe · 29/06/2023 15:22

I’d probably send £10 back.

Original poster
JMSA · 29/06/2023 15:22

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 29/06/2023 15:20

I had fully intended to do a good job for her

I might write to the last company I interviewed with and ask if they’ll pay me even though I didn’t get the job. After all, I’d have done it really well…

Bit ridiculous really. My brother is a pilot. If the flight gets cancelled through no fault of his own, should be not be paid for his time?
And I was trying to do someone a good turn.

OP posts:
CrazyArmadilloLady · 29/06/2023 15:25

Sorry, I think you’re being completely unreasonable. £20 is probably just as big a deal to her as it is for you.

martinisforeveryone · 29/06/2023 15:25

How much will an international transfer cost you? I wouldn’t be out of pocket.

Original poster
JMSA · 29/06/2023 15:26

martinisforeveryone · 29/06/2023 15:25

How much will an international transfer cost you? I wouldn’t be out of pocket.

Good point. I'll pop into my bank tomorrow to find out.

OP posts:
OneTC · 29/06/2023 15:29

I would not ask for it back based on the idea that I'd already inconvenienced you to some extent

crazyaboutcats · 29/06/2023 15:30

I would be annoyed. I'm sure you spent well over a couple of hours messaging back and forth over it.

I would just not have involved myself in something like this though, unless for a very good friend whom I would not have expected or accepted payment from

Original poster
JMSA · 29/06/2023 15:31

crazyaboutcats · 29/06/2023 15:30

I would be annoyed. I'm sure you spent well over a couple of hours messaging back and forth over it.

I would just not have involved myself in something like this though, unless for a very good friend whom I would not have expected or accepted payment from

Yeah, I know what you mean. I did feel sorry for her though.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 29/06/2023 15:31

She cancelled so she pays.