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Original poster

Friends not paying for villa

135 replies

jutishjwee · 17/09/2024 20:20

We booked a villa holiday to Fiji with some friends. We paid for the villa on our credit card and told friends they could pay us when the payment was due. They said sure.

Payment date has gone so paid out of savings. Sent a reminder saying please can you pay me the £1,000 for the villa as I’ve paid it out of my account. Friends said sure sorry been so busy with work.

Still no sign of money and now I could have been earning interest etc on that money. I think friends are a bit tight on dosh as they didn’t book flights for ages because wanted to wait til pay day to pay for flights.

OP posts:
LittleFloatingGhost · 17/09/2024 20:23

I’ll come! 😂

Seriously, they should have transferred the cash at the point of booking. They have booked flights, so you know they’re going, but they should be open about why they haven’t paid yet.

EmpressaurusDeiGatti · 17/09/2024 20:27

Does this also make you concerned about how money will work once you’re out there? I’d be very wary about paying other stuff for the whole group on your credit card.

MrsMoastyToasty · 17/09/2024 20:30

Send them a message to say that as they haven't paid that you are changing the name on the booking to other people.

xyz111 · 17/09/2024 20:31

You need to chase them again. Say you need the money by xx date as you have a bill you need to pay.

Hatty65 · 17/09/2024 20:31

I'd leave it 24 hours and then send another message saying, 'I'm afraid I need that money immediately now or I'll assume you are no longer coming on the holiday to Fiji. We have other friends who may be interested and I'll offer the villa to them if I don't hear from you'.

m00rfarm · 17/09/2024 20:32

By all means chase them for payment, but PLEASE don't use the excuse of missing interest on the amount! Just call them rather than send a message.

SauviGone · 17/09/2024 20:34

This bodes well for the actual holiday then!

Lesson learned.

On holiday don't offer to cover bills for meals, trips out, shopping and say they can pay you back later.

Split the cost of absolutely everything there and then on the spot, if they can't pay for it they can't do it/eat it/drink it/buy it.

coxesorangepippin · 17/09/2024 20:39

Text again

And again

And again

jennylamb1 · 17/09/2024 20:41

Worth getting a deposit next time. Some people will say one thing but not be committed, I had this when booking a holiday before.

TortillasAndSalsa · 17/09/2024 20:43

Tell them since they have missed the payment date their place is no longer available after all if you don't pay the travel agent by the due date your holiday is cancelled

RawBloomers · 17/09/2024 20:45

Hatty65 · 17/09/2024 20:31

I'd leave it 24 hours and then send another message saying, 'I'm afraid I need that money immediately now or I'll assume you are no longer coming on the holiday to Fiji. We have other friends who may be interested and I'll offer the villa to them if I don't hear from you'.

Only say this if you actually have other friends who would like to go and would pay the cost plus any change fees. This could come across as an easy way out for the friends if they are now thinking they’ve over extended themselves a bit and would rather not go.

MumonabikeE5 · 17/09/2024 20:45

Hatty65 · 17/09/2024 20:31

I'd leave it 24 hours and then send another message saying, 'I'm afraid I need that money immediately now or I'll assume you are no longer coming on the holiday to Fiji. We have other friends who may be interested and I'll offer the villa to them if I don't hear from you'.

Do make sure to have friends who will want to come with you, because this message is a good way for them to step out of the trip without feeling too awkward.

InSpainTheRain · 17/09/2024 20:46

I wouldn't use any excuse or threat, I would just call them and ask them to transfer the money now. How rude of them.

WhatIsThisTomFoolery24 · 17/09/2024 20:46

As someone else mentioned "please pay by X date or we will assume you are no longer joining us on this trip".

TiramisuThief · 17/09/2024 20:51

They owe you money, don't let it lie and don't feel awkward - they're the ones who should feel awkward

Keep pressing

And don't let them off with any flannel about 'if you've changed your mind' because then they'll drop out and you'll be paying the whole lot.

They owe you X and they need to pay today, end of.

Coconutter24 · 17/09/2024 20:52

“I think friends are a bit tight on dosh as they didn’t book flights for ages because wanted to wait til pay day to pay for flights”

Then they shouldn’t have told you they would pay before the credit card bill was due. I would send them a message asking for payment in the next week because you’ve already had to cover an instalment out of your savings so need money for the next payment. It’s very unfair they haven’t paid but I would 100% keep asking because no way would they be getting on that plane and heading towards that villa without paying first!!

LL1991 · 17/09/2024 21:19

Work only takes so much time. My husband works 70+ hours a week but would still find time to log into an app and send money he owed someone.

TizerorFizz · 18/09/2024 00:50

Anyone who is careful with money wouldn’t be going to Fiji!!! Such a long and expensive journey. Wrong travel companions I think.

StormingNorman · 18/09/2024 01:09

How much interest have you lost on your £1,000 to be so bothered by it?

Your friends are being dicks by not paying on time though.

Bjorkdidit · 18/09/2024 04:25

Who the hell agrees to travel to Fiji if they need to wait until payday to book flights?

If they have any sense they'd be using a credit card anyway so not really relevant but it doesn't bode well for the trip. Will they be putting off booking activities etc when you are there?

Call them rather than getting into a passive aggressive text conversation where they could take any suggestions about them cancelling as an excuse to pull out and leave you high and dry, but also make sure you do have something in 'writing' so you have evidence for the small claims court if they never pay.

rubeexcube · 18/09/2024 04:59

WhatIsThisTomFoolery24 · 17/09/2024 20:46

As someone else mentioned "please pay by X date or we will assume you are no longer joining us on this trip".

That'll make for a fun holiday !

How long has it been OP?

autienotnaughty · 18/09/2024 05:11

You need to call. Explain you paid it and need the money. Ask what date they will be paying by.

They are being unfair putting you in this position

ChampagneLassie · 18/09/2024 05:48

This would massively irk me but take it at face value, they’re busy and may have forgot and you’ve only sent one chaser text. Text again or call. Assume you want to keep this civil if you’re all going on holidays.

Henleylady · 18/09/2024 05:54

PP - they will probably not be starting their trip in the UK- likely Australia.

And yes just ask for for the money but accept that you may also have a villa to yourselves in the end.

CircleofWillis · 18/09/2024 05:56

Henleylady · 18/09/2024 05:54

PP - they will probably not be starting their trip in the UK- likely Australia.

And yes just ask for for the money but accept that you may also have a villa to yourselves in the end.

What makes you think they will start their trip in Australia? The Op wrote the currency in GBP.