Page 8 | Friends asking for their money back

Nicolasaa9 · 2026-01-29T11:41:49+00:00

Hi, I am not even sure if this is the right place to post this, but I really need to vent. My two closest friends and I planned to go to an event together. I live in London, one friend is in Hertfordshire and the other lives up north. We agreed to book it in Leeds, get a hotel, and make a proper girls weekend of it, especially as the friend up north is usually the one travelling south. Both friends have now said they are too unwell to go. They asked me to put their tickets up for resale, which I have done, and have also asked me to pay them back for their share of the hotel even though I am still going. The hotel is non refundable, and I used around £200 of my own points to book it. There was an extra £60 to pay, which I asked them to split between them at £30 each, which felt fair given the points I used. They are now asking for that £30 back. I am still going because I have wanted to see this event for ages, but it means driving four hours to something I could have reached in ten minutes on the tube, and spending the weekend alone. Am I being unreasonable in feeling this is unfair

Hollietree · 29/01/2026 15:30

Do you have two other friends who could come on the trip with you for free? Just pay for their own train fares.

You now know that your “friends” are happy to let you down at the last minute and behave like cheeky fuckers to screw you over. So don’t feel any remorse in being a bit cheeky back……… tell your friends that the tickets didn’t sell, plus tickets and hotel are non-refundable. You have already lost £200 and are not responsible in refunding their £30 lost each.

Go and enjoy it with two other people.

purplecorkheart · 29/01/2026 15:31

Had this once with friends. I was the sick one and pulled out the night before. The friend I was sharing the room with had paid for the hotel in advance and I had forward on my share weeks in advance. It never crossed my mind to ask her to refund me. It was just my bad luck that I got sick and could not go.

QueenTatianaIorekova · 29/01/2026 15:33

Do you still want to be friends with them?

I'd give them one last chance, then give up on them. Maybe you could show them that you're all in it together:

" Hi friends, the tickets and hotel are non-refundable so the only way anyone is getting any money back is if we can sell the things on. It's a real shame that you both can't make it, and I'm not sure about going alone as it was supposed to be a night away to meet up with you, not to be in a hotel by myself. If you know of anyone who wants to buy the hotel and tickets then let me know and we can sort out what money is leftover after our costs. This has cost me nearly £300 so far (£200 worth of points and my ticket) and of course you've both paid £30 towards the hotel + your ticket. Hopefully we can find someone who wants to buy the hotel and tickets and we all get some money back."

saraclara · 29/01/2026 15:37

"Dear friends, you're joking, right? I'm £300 down, and you want me to give you another £60? And all this for a gig I could have watched locally to me, rather than spend time and petrol going to Leeds to see it all on my own?"

saraclara · 29/01/2026 15:39

QueenTatianaIorekova · 29/01/2026 15:33

Do you still want to be friends with them?

I'd give them one last chance, then give up on them. Maybe you could show them that you're all in it together:

" Hi friends, the tickets and hotel are non-refundable so the only way anyone is getting any money back is if we can sell the things on. It's a real shame that you both can't make it, and I'm not sure about going alone as it was supposed to be a night away to meet up with you, not to be in a hotel by myself. If you know of anyone who wants to buy the hotel and tickets then let me know and we can sort out what money is leftover after our costs. This has cost me nearly £300 so far (£200 worth of points and my ticket) and of course you've both paid £30 towards the hotel + your ticket. Hopefully we can find someone who wants to buy the hotel and tickets and we all get some money back."

Edited

This is the response that is probably more sensible than mine!

ThisHazelPombear · 29/01/2026 15:45

Email the CEO of Expedia if there is time for the room to be rebooked. It’s worth a shot if an event is on the same night others may need a room at short notice.

If you don’t ask you don’t get.

SisterMidnight77 · 29/01/2026 15:52

They are not your friends because friends wouldn’t behave like that.

Worriedmumma2025 · 29/01/2026 15:52

Nicolasaa9 · 29/01/2026 15:23

Expedia points I’ve accumulated when I booked my last family holiday.

Show quote history

OP it is irrelevant whether you used money or points. they owe you the full amount as you cannot recover the money.
these are not true friends if they still demand money and you have explained the situation.

LilyBunch25 · 29/01/2026 15:53

angelos02 · 29/01/2026 11:44

They should sort out the resale of the tickets and suck up the lost money on the hotel.

This, completely.

diddl · 29/01/2026 15:58

Could you change to a cheaper room & get any sort of refund?

LancashireButterPie · 29/01/2026 15:59

saraclara · 29/01/2026 15:37

"Dear friends, you're joking, right? I'm £300 down, and you want me to give you another £60? And all this for a gig I could have watched locally to me, rather than spend time and petrol going to Leeds to see it all on my own?"

Edited

Yes, this says it clearly.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 29/01/2026 16:00

I don't understand the part where OP says she has to now travel 4 hours for something she could have taken the tube in 10 mins to?

Anyway, if the friends agreed to go and backed out leaving OP unable to get a refund then No, OP should not be returning any money. I'd also do the math re the value of the points and explain I'd used them for the benefit of them as well and now they're lost as not refundable. So, of course it makes sense for OP to go and salvage what she can of the trip. Her friends are leaving her in the lurch with the burden of getting a refund on the tickets as well.

Frankly, the "friends" sound flaky, to say the least.

elh1605 · 29/01/2026 16:00

Hotel is £260, you kindly offered to pay using points (lesson learnt-don't do it again!) Tell them as hotel is non-refundable either you use it and don't refund them £30 or you cancel altogether and they actually owe you another £55 to cover what your points you used.
Get them to sell their tickets as that's not on you to do.
Moral-don't book a weekend with them again!

diddl · 29/01/2026 16:00

Why can't the put their own tickets up for resale?

LancashireButterPie · 29/01/2026 16:00

ThisHazelPombear · 29/01/2026 15:45

Email the CEO of Expedia if there is time for the room to be rebooked. It’s worth a shot if an event is on the same night others may need a room at short notice.

If you don’t ask you don’t get.

OP still wants to go to the event though.

Notonthestairs · 29/01/2026 16:02

saraclara · 29/01/2026 15:37

"Dear friends, you're joking, right? I'm £300 down, and you want me to give you another £60? And all this for a gig I could have watched locally to me, rather than spend time and petrol going to Leeds to see it all on my own?"

Edited

the other post might be more diplomatic but this would sum up my thoughts on their attitude!

Mumtobabyhavoc · 29/01/2026 16:04

ThisHazelPombear · 29/01/2026 15:45

Email the CEO of Expedia if there is time for the room to be rebooked. It’s worth a shot if an event is on the same night others may need a room at short notice.

If you don’t ask you don’t get.

Because the CEO deals with customer service refund requests. 🙄

Bess91 · 29/01/2026 16:05

"I'm actually out of pocket now as it's cost me points and it's non refundable, so I can't give you £30 and it's a bit rude of you to ask for that back when cancelling. Hope you feel better soon"

Then never see them again. How shady of them both plotting that behind your back ew

CharlotteUnaNatalieThompson · 29/01/2026 16:10

saraclara · 29/01/2026 15:37

"Dear friends, you're joking, right? I'm £300 down, and you want me to give you another £60? And all this for a gig I could have watched locally to me, rather than spend time and petrol going to Leeds to see it all on my own?"

Edited

This gets my vote. Spot on 🎯🎯🎯

ForEdgyHare · 29/01/2026 16:10

If id let my friend down like this id be saying heres £x to get you a meal or drinks etc. Not asking for my £30 back. Cheeky AF

Mooselooseinmyhoose · 29/01/2026 16:13

Whats the gig? I live in Leeds I'll come !

NemesisInferior · 29/01/2026 16:13

Tell them to fuck off. You were more than generous in using your points to start with.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 29/01/2026 16:14

Time to put your foot down OP. You've had lots of good suggestions so here's another one.

I was really looking forward to this and I'm really disappointed that you have both cancelled but I've decided to go on my own anyway. I've paid out £200 in my points balance on the hotel room to subsidise you both and make the trip more affordable for all of us. The hotel booking is not refundable.
I would have seen <Band> in London and used my points on a family trip. Instead I am going 4 hours to see them solo and I can't cancel the hotel and and get my points back. I'm not prepared to suck up the additional cost for the two of you and £30 each is more than fair when I've already covered £x on the room booking. I'll let you know if the ticket for <Band> are resold but no takers yet. Let me know if you are feeling a bit better and want to reconsider and I'll pull them from sale.

CollieModdle · 29/01/2026 16:16

"Sorry guys, the hotel is non-refundable. I used a high value of my earned points to subsidise your contribution to such a low amount, and we can't get the cash or the points refunded"

Delphiniumandlupins · 29/01/2026 16:21

Mumtobabyhavoc · 29/01/2026 16:00

I don't understand the part where OP says she has to now travel 4 hours for something she could have taken the tube in 10 mins to?

Anyway, if the friends agreed to go and backed out leaving OP unable to get a refund then No, OP should not be returning any money. I'd also do the math re the value of the points and explain I'd used them for the benefit of them as well and now they're lost as not refundable. So, of course it makes sense for OP to go and salvage what she can of the trip. Her friends are leaving her in the lurch with the burden of getting a refund on the tickets as well.

Frankly, the "friends" sound flaky, to say the least.

I'm guessing OP could have seen this band in London, 10 minutes from where she lives. The reason for going to see them in Leeds (4 hours away) was to share the travel more equally and have a weekend away with friends.