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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Friend taking advantage of me. I am not a hotel!

593 replies

brownbreadd · 18/05/2024 20:55

it's a long one!!!! Buckle in!

So I met a new friend online on a Facebook forum locally whereby we realised that we had a lot of the same interests, and therefore decided after a little while of talking to me up for coffee.. eventually things progressed in our friendship and we became quite close...fast forward 2 years are now very good friends!

I have recently started to notice a few things that do not sit well with me and I would consider to be red flags. I don't know if it is just me being paranoid or sensitive so I wanted to pop something up here to get others opinions. 🤷🏼‍♀️

A few months back, DH and I finally sold our house after having been on the market for quite a while... things were going really well, and it was naturally a very busy time for us. We found another property that we liked and we had progressed quite far down the chain in regards to getting the move going!

During this time, my friend would hound me sometimes four times a day (yes really, I've got the screenshots!) about different holidays and trips that she wanted to go on because her annual leave calendar had been updated for the year.
As I say this was a very busy time for us and we were constantly having to get things sorted legally, attending appts etc and so I kept telling her that unfortunately at this point in time I cannot guarantee when or if I can go away with her because I have so much going on at home. My husband and I were also about to start a new job each at the time.. so it was really all very hectic!

She would absolutely hound me from the moment that I woke up to the minute that I would go to bed and even though I kept being polite and declining the offers and explaining my reasons why, she would constantly bombard me with messages and screenshots of holidays. Got to the point where I dreaded opening my phone when I saw a message from her in the morning, and she was putting me in such a negative headspace that I was taking it out on my poor DH. 🥺

Eventually, she caught me on a really hard day through other reasons that I won't go into... and I ended up caving and booking something with her for a few months time. I am really not looking forward to it to be honest and would much rather be here at home as I recently started my new job and I'm missing vital training time. This is by the by, I cannot do anything about it now. It is a holiday for just me and her, my husband is staying at home due to working commitments.

Anyway, in the end, unfortunately a couple of months after the sale etc our buyers had to pull out for financial reasons. It was gutting, we lost chunks of money and the home we loved and were accepted on... but I guess we are able to go on the holiday, but it just feels completely tainted in the fact that she would not take no for an answer from me, even though I was continuously explaining my reasons..

Fast forward to now and she has met a new man who I have met only a small handful of times. He seems nice enough, but I do not know anything about him literally other than his name and profession.

A few weeks ago, my friend started hounding me about an event that she wanted to go to locally one weekend. I suffer greatly with extreme anxiety and ASD and drinking and clubs is really not my scene at all. It makes me highly anxious and it's honestly just my worst nightmare being in that type of situstjon. She went on and on at me so much that again I ended up cracking and saying that I will go with her. It was quite odd. She even made me pinky promise.. Confused

As I mentioned earlier, I am now in my new job, and have since had my rots through for this point in time whereby I am actually scheduled to work the following day on an early shift, so I am actually dreading going out even more now because I want to be able to excel in my job and function properly at work the following day. It's likely I won't be home until early hours of the morning of the day I'm expected into work. My job is set on high performance targets and I don't function well regardless on no / little sleep. I won't be hungover as I don't drink, but I will be shattered!!!!!

Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, she has now met said new man and he has been asked to come along with us to said event, along with my husband now, too. She has said she wants to make it a double date BlushConfused

This morning I received a message from my friend asking if her and her new man can sleep round at mine and DH's house the evening of this event because they have looked into hotels and they are coming out too expensive so they want somewhere free to stay overnight. They both still live with family at home.

My initial reaction to this message was that it was extremely cheeky and rude to ask. I have work the next morning and I have also got a viewing scheduled on our home that morning too. It would not be suitable to have guests in the house that morning when I need to tidy up and prepare for the viewing!

That aside, I do not know this man at all, I don't know anything about him, what he's like etc. I feel in a vulnerable position because the house is often empty due to mine and my partners working schedule, and I don't know who this man might know / what he could do. Not saying he would, but I'm extremely wary already living in a remote location.

I took me a good hour to muster up the courage to text her back. I did, and told her unfortunately this would not be possible because I have work the next day and I also have a home viewing. Yet again, my word was not good enough for her, and she has gone on and on about the fact that accommodation in the area we are going out in is too expensive and they just want to spend one night together...BlushConfused

this obviously makes me feel really uncomfortable, not only the fact that I don't know him but also the fact that they want to spend the night together under my roof!!!!! All day she has been going on and on about the fact that it would just be one night and that they would be out of our way by the morning.

Is it weird that I almost find this more insulting?! It's like they are just using me as a place to sleep together before heading out for the day the next day!!! I just feel completely used and as though my word NO is not good enough or respected.

Not only does she do things like this, but she also often has her deliveries and parcels directed to my home address without having ever asked me if that is okay. I often come home to find parcels of all shapes and sizes on my doorstep addressed to her, and a couple of weeks ago I was getting ready for bed at 11 pm when my ring doorbell alerted me movement outside of my home. I checked my ring doorbell and it was her at 11 pm on my driveway collecting a parcel from my front doorstep. She did not once ask me if she could come at that time of night or even if she could have anything delivered to my address AT ALL. in fact she has never asked!! HmmShock

when I asked her about this, she told me that she cannot have things delivered to her home address since she still lives with her family and they become concerned with her spending habits because she continually has parcels arriving. So, she has to have them delivered to my address to hide that from the family.

Through all of this, I am trying to run my home, maintain a good relationship with my poor DH who is constantly working. I am also trying to excel in my new job, and maintain the house for the market and viewings... to be honest it feels as though she is trying to make things difficult for us.

I am not entirely sure what I am asking here...

I guess I just need an outsiders perspective? I feel like I'm being used and abused for my Home, my address for her parcels, and as somebody that she can fill her free time with. I just feel as though the friendship is very one-sided...

I think I mentioned above, I do suffer extreme anxiety and ASD, so I am sure if it is overreacting or being paranoid... I just feel as though I want this holiday over and done with and then I want to try and distance myself from her a little.

Almost as soon as this holiday was booked, she was then sending me other holidays for later in the year. When I was saying no to the first holiday; she kept telling me that she cannot function without a years worth of plans in advance and that she doesn't know anyone but me, she needs to book up as much as she can with me.

I tried to gently explain to her that I have also got my own things that I want to book, such as special anniversary trip with my husband later in the year!! I think she has been so used to almost being the third person in our relationship for so long, she almost feels as though it is a given that she will attend anything like this with us! I have just tried to make her feeling included where she has been continuously saying how lonely she is.

There is nothing odd going on (!!!) but for example, if DH and I are popping out for a bite to eat, and she is asking me what I'm doing, I will offer for her to come along etc.

When I mentioned about the fact that I will also want holidays later in the year with my husband, she became funny about the fact that I had not asked if she wants to come along. I can only hope that now she has met this new man, hopefully they can start to organise things together themselves.

I feel bad as my fuse is getting shorter, but I am really struggling to regulate my emotions around this situation, and feel as though I am being used and abused. I have plenty of other friends who are low maintenance and lovely and would never be like this to me. Sad

As I say, I'm not really sure what I'm asking here but perhaps an outsiders perspective would help me!

Thank you in advance and thank you for reading if you got this far!!! BiscuitDaffodil

OP posts:
Mamai100 · 19/05/2024 02:41

She's a bully get rid of her and definitely don't let her stay with her stranger boyfriend!

Does she live in the same town as you?

FredsRoses · 19/05/2024 02:48

OP I won't reiterate what everyone else has told you, they are right, and hopefully you've taken that on board now.

However, what I'm worried about is, while it is possible that she may have taken credit out in your name, it's not as likely perhaps, as her coming to you soon, begging you to lend her money because she's in debt. Her family obviously know that she's spending more than she can afford, hence her having the parcels sent to you.

You should take what I've said as a SERIOUS WARNING, as if you find it this hard to say no to her when she asks you to go on a night out, or a holiday, or to stay at your house, then how on earth are you going to cope with telling her you're not going to lend her money?

So take the advice given here, she is NOT a good friend for YOU!

Have you got that?

Cut her off, stop taking in parcels, and when you move DEFINITELY DON'T give her your new address.

This all might seem very intense to you, but in practice it should be really easy. However if you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of coping with this, just ask your DH for his support. Assuming you've talked to him about all this, it would probably be quite a relief to him to take one of her calls, and tell her to fuck off and stop using you.

DoubleeDenim · 19/05/2024 02:49

She sounds like a nightmare.

I feel like one day you’re going to wake up and she’ll be tucked in between you and your husband like “morning! what are we up to today then!”

Riverlee · 19/05/2024 02:50

Don’t reply to her. Ignore her messages or only reply once a day.

I’d actually be tempted to cancel the holiday, and cancel her as a friend.

DoubleeDenim · 19/05/2024 02:51

Codlingmoths · 19/05/2024 00:23

Send her this - ‘you know, when you have to ask well over 10 times it’s because the answer is no. Nobody is sleeping in our house that night apart from Dh and I. If you seriously think it’s ok to ask again I’m not going out at all. I’m busy and stressed and very time poor and I do not need to spend half my day repeating my No when your request would seriously inconvenience us.

👏👏👏👏👏👏

andfinallyhereweare · 19/05/2024 03:01

Pull out the holiday, end the friendship.

queenparrot · 19/05/2024 03:33

Don't go on the holiday. It's hardly a holiday. She's just going to keep bulldozing you. One way or another, you will be far better with her out of your life.

stronglatte · 19/05/2024 03:37

She can only treat you how you allow her to. Some people come into your life as a lesson - let her be yours in how to have healthy boundaries and space and that no is a complete sentence.

arialllla · 19/05/2024 03:52

BasiliskStare · 19/05/2024 02:12

I am not often like this @OP but seriously I think you just have to say no and block the woman - she clearly cannot take a hint. Also - & this may be hard cancel the holiday given it is months in advance and tell her you have . Swallow any loss eg deposits . Parcels etc I would just refuse to take them and say not for you .

If I am honest I think this friendship has come to an end and I think if it were me I would just go with that. She is taking up too much of your time and energy . I know it isn't easy .

She's not giving hints really though, she's stressing at husband and writing how she feels while booking holidays with her and accepting parcels. She could just say she doesn't want to go rather than lead this woman on. Doubt this woman would want to go away with her either if she realised how much she doesn't want to.

DuploTrain · 19/05/2024 03:53

She’s not your friend - she doesn’t care about your feelings or have any respect for you does she? You shouldn’t dread getting messages from a friend or be scared of their reactions.

Drop out of the night out and don’t let them stay - she’s got her DP now so you don’t need to feel bad about her going alone.

“Hi friend, I’ve been thinking more about our night out and I’m afraid I’m going to have to cancel - I’ve got a lot going on with work etc and the thought of it is stressing me out”.

A real friend would accept the above, reply saying they understand and they hope you’re okay.

She will probably give you a load of grief. Pay attention to it and let yourself get angry enough to end the friendship.

Marplesyrup · 19/05/2024 04:57

I feel stressed out just reading your posts OP because your situation is one of my worst nightmares! You have to extricate yourself from this situation as it is suffocating you and is obviously having a terrible impact on your mental health. Think how amazing you would feel if you just didn’t have to deal with this person’s endless demands any more. It’s not surprising she says you are her only friend, she clearly behaves in a way that most people would not tolerate for a second.

There’s some great advice on here, please
take it. I hope you find the strength to sort it out so you can find some peace of mind and be free. In your situation I’d rather cancel and lose the money you’ve paid for the forthcoming holiday. No amount of money is worth the stress you’re going through.

Thepossibility · 19/05/2024 05:16

Instead of weak excuses about why you might not be able to do these things have you actually said “no, I don't want to." No other excuses other than IT ISN'T WHAT YOU WANT. Weak excuses give her an incentive to talk you into doing what she wants, because you aren't totally against it.
Trying to be nice about it is making it much harder for yourself in the long run.
And if she doesn't accept your boundaries she isn't your friend. Block.

WoodBurningStov · 19/05/2024 05:20

You need to be very clear op.

'I'm not taking any holidays this year' rinse and repeat

'No you can't stay, we've work in the morning

'No, can't afford it

'No , it's not my thing

She's not fussed about being rude and pestering you, so you don't have to feel awkward about saying no

Polishedshoesalways · 19/05/2024 05:30

She is a CF
She is a user not a friend
Stop taking her deliveries, refuse to take then, she will soon get the message.

I would cancel the holiday, tell her you can no longer go, and I would phase her out or just block her altogether. Put the energy and care into your marriage and work, not on this awful woman. She is a bully.

BananaLambo · 19/05/2024 05:56

You need to be much more assertive and put much better boundaries in place if you want to maintain this friendship. From the dynamic you describe one of you is almost always upset - but why should that person always be you? She doesn’t mind upsetting you, so why should you mind upsetting her? Send her a message:

‘Friend, your messages are overwhelming me. I am not going on the holiday and I am not going on the night out. You cannot stay at my place and if you send any more parcels to my address I am returning them to sender. I am not a post office or a hotel and I feel that you are taking advantage of me.’

Then mute her. Check her messages to you once a day - e.g. at 5.30pm. Do a one message response, and then mute again until the next 5.30pm.

FOJN · 19/05/2024 06:11

You cannot salvage this friendship. You do not know how to assert firm boundaries and your "friend" doesn't care if you have any.

Your OP is lengthy because even here you felt the need to tell us about why it's difficult for you to accommodate your friends every demand. I think you need to understand that "I don't want to" is a valid reason for saying no.

Your house move, a new job or anxiety may be reasons you don't want to do something but you do not owe your friend an explanation. In normal friendships we offer reasons out of habit because unselfish people don't then continue to pressure us. Every time you give her a reason she thinks you have entered negotiations.

You think being kind and polite is important but she doesn't care about being either of those things, getting her own way is what matters to her.

I think it's unlikely you will be able to change the dynamics of this friendship now because she has learned that pestering works.

You could try to ghost her but I don't think that will work. Tell her you are not going on holiday, you do not want to attend the event with her and her boyfriend, they cannot stay at your house, you will refuse to accept any other parcels she arranges to have delivered to your house and you do not want her to contact you again. Send it in a text and then block. Do not try to soften the message, do not include the word sorry. Do not answer the door if she turns up.

I would also do a credit check to make sure she isn't running up debt at your address.

Practice saying, "no, I don't want to".

kittycloud · 19/05/2024 06:15

She is taking the piss, and unless you spell it out to her, she won't stop. I think you need to get firm. I would be telling her you're not going on the night out and that she'll have to find somewhere else to stop.

TimoteiChaletpants · 19/05/2024 06:20

as many others have said she is not a friend

you shouldn’t have to say no more than once or twice. You have a shared history recently but you owe her no loyalty as she does not respect your wishes

ittakes2 · 19/05/2024 06:23

This is not how friendships work. She is toxic and you are being very kind to her - but she is not a friend. Please end friendship and block her.

kittycloud · 19/05/2024 06:29

Sometimeswinning · 18/05/2024 21:17

Shes just got different ideas about friendship. She’s not a nightmare she’s just not the friend for you. I think your choice to openly bitch about her on mumsnet says a lot about you.

Ghost her. It will be easier on you and she’ll just have to find someone on the same page as her.

Are you serious?!

RampantIvy · 19/05/2024 06:30

"I can no longer go on this holiday, why don't you take new guy with you instead?"

"I can no longer go on this night out, and we can't put you up"

No explanations, no waffle, just no. Or "please stop asking me, the answer will always be no". You need to be crystal clear with your negative responses.

If she is using WhatsApp to contact you just mute the conversation. If she is texting or using Messenger, just don't open the messages, and ignore them.

Also, tell her (don't ask, tell) that you will no longer be accepting her parcels.

AgentJohnson · 19/05/2024 06:30

She’s not your friend.

Bagwyllydiart · 19/05/2024 06:37

Just say “Fuck off you loon” then block

hopscotcher · 19/05/2024 06:44

In your OP you don't say anything about her that makes her sound nice or worth being friends with. Presumably you've just focused on her pushy, dominant side because that's where the red flags arise. I think it's good that you've written it all down and are trying to get outsider perspectives. Hope it helps you to clarify things.
If you like her and have developed a good relationship with her on some level, 'just block her' isn't going to be helpful advice, particularly as you suffer from anxiety. But it sounds like you need to stick to your guns on the saying no front, without too much fluff. Sorry, it won't be possible for you to stay. Sorry, I can't go out that night. Sorry, I can't commit to any holidays this year. Then don't reply to any further messages about those things.
You could perhaps go on the holiday you've already booked - pulling out of that might be a friendship breaker - although if you actually find her unbearable, that may not be a bad thing.
Fingers crossed that the new man changes her priorities a bit!

RampantIvy · 19/05/2024 06:45

@brownbreadd please ignore @Sometimeswinning
Her "advice" is unsupportive and unhelpful.

What does your DH say? Hasn't he just told you to tell her "just no" or is he as unable to say no as well?

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