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

[JMSA]

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?

It's not your fault or problem that the viewing was cancelled. You have already dedicated time to the process, i think she's very tight for asking for £20 back!

I'll remember that in my low income, support role. But seeing as my finances are precisely none of your business, maybe you could finally toddle along ... honestly nuts

Well she didn’t change her mind, the property was no longer available so she didn’t need her service anymore.

If it was a good deed OP could easily have offered to view the property for free rather than going through the whole process to transfer £20.

Wow, that's really nasty

Wow, that's really nasty

It was, wasn't it? And besides the point, but also completely untrue.

I think she’s mean too.

@Stillcantbebothered

I take on board your point. But I think non-acceptance of payment may have been a bad precedent to set, especially if she asked me to view other places on her behalf.

"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."

She didn't change her mind - the property was taken by someone else so there was no need for OP to view it any more

If she lives outside of the EU then you'll need to pay a SWIFT fee. Some banks it's a £20 charge.

If she lives in the EU you can do a SEPA transfer and that's free (minus any conversation fees).

Conversion*

Have you actually tried sending it back yet or are you still desperately hoping someone justifies it for you 🤗🤗🤗

A lot of bank accounts are free to transfer money internationally now too.

It's 20 quid for something you didn't do. You owe it back.

Also, are you actually a professional real estate agent or are you just touting for side hustles on Facebook?

Just in case there was any doubt, our last conversation on Messenger ...

You got me, I'm busted.
Jesus ...

To the vast, vast majority of you who posted sensible replies, thank you.
I'm going to bow out now, before my blood pressure hits the roof

Yeah, op is clearly a mastermind scammer. She's probably already given all of this a couple of hours' headspace all for £20. 😂😂😂

I'd have let you keep the money OP.
Your time was taken up arranging things with her... she's a tight arse.

But OP hasn't done nothing she's done quite a lot of prep. She's a tight arse OP.

This is a very typical start to a long term money laundering scam. Honestly I would contact Action Fraud and get their support so you know you are not putting yourself in a big pile of shit. You keep saying it’s genuine but you can’t possibly know that over the internet and it shows you are too trusting.

Yeah, op is clearly a mastermind scammer. She's probably already given all of this a couple of hours' headspace all for £20. 😂😂😂*

A mastermind scammer/estate agent/teaching assistant looking for hustles, when I haven't actually said where I live!

Pay the money back, It’s her money

Me too. I’d mention the stuff you’ve already done, like emails back and forth, your walk to check where it was and booking the viewing etc. Then I wouldn’t get involved if she asked a second time.

@caramelegg

Sigh. I have reported you now. You need help.