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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:
FriYayyy · 22/09/2024 14:15

"I don't think OP has said they're definitely based in UK. Fiji is quite a common holiday destination for Australia or New Zealand for example?"

Do they pay in £ in Australia?

It's not as outlandish as you'd think. If they want to visit Fiji it's less than we spent on a holiday to Greece.

TizerorFizz · 22/09/2024 14:32

The flight costs and time really won’t be less than Greece! Villa cost might be. Even BA business to Greece doesn’t cost that much! There’s nothing wrong with Fiji but don’t pretend flights are cheap. They are not.

betterangels · 22/09/2024 14:54

cowandpigeon · 22/09/2024 10:31

Do normal people do this? Book a holiday to Fiji that they can’t afford?

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They had someone subbing them, CFs. Expensive lesson for the OP.

betterangels · 22/09/2024 14:57

Maybe OP's friend and OP are not counting pennies and 'living month to month'.

Difficult to say about the friends, though, at this point, surely? They haven't paid.

TizerorFizz · 22/09/2024 15:35

So if they have plenty of money available, why haven’t they paid?

They probably will pay later tonight!

FriYayyy · 22/09/2024 16:20

"The flight costs and time really won’t be less than Greece! Villa cost might be. Even BA business to Greece doesn’t cost that much! There’s nothing wrong with Fiji but don’t pretend flights are cheap. They are not."

I haven't pretended they are. In fact I said exactly how much they are upthread. The whole holiday is cheaper than I paid this summer in Greece. Why are you breaking it down in such a weird way?

I never said anything about how long it takes to get there. It's the same as someone choosing to holiday in Australia. Do you go off the charts at those people too simply for choosing to travel 24 or so hours to get to their destination? Bizarre.

Tulipsareredvioletsarebue · 22/09/2024 17:24

betterangels · 22/09/2024 14:57

Maybe OP's friend and OP are not counting pennies and 'living month to month'.

Difficult to say about the friends, though, at this point, surely? They haven't paid.

Maybe they are flaky CFs. Or well-off but tight like a snake's a-hole.

I had a friend not pay her share for a holiday last minute which she could afford but hoped we would panic and pay for her share and she would 'reimburse us' after the holiday on St Never's Day. We found someone else to come and pay for accomodation and stay with us and she had to sort out her own accomodation as she already booked the flights, which cost her three times as much.

betterangels · 22/09/2024 17:54

Tulipsareredvioletsarebue · 22/09/2024 17:24

Maybe they are flaky CFs. Or well-off but tight like a snake's a-hole.

I had a friend not pay her share for a holiday last minute which she could afford but hoped we would panic and pay for her share and she would 'reimburse us' after the holiday on St Never's Day. We found someone else to come and pay for accomodation and stay with us and she had to sort out her own accomodation as she already booked the flights, which cost her three times as much.

Edited
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I like your approach!

LookingforMaryPoppins · 22/09/2024 18:23

TizerorFizz · 22/09/2024 09:59

This is such a bizarre holiday from the uk. So many simpler options and there’s no direct flight!!! The obvious way is via Los Angeles with Air New Zealand. It takes forever! No one would think this was worth it, I’m doubting if there is this holiday! The flights are £thousands. No one living month to month would do this. Anyone contemplating it would only ask very well off friends and know they had the money.

Unsure of the relevance here....

Having been to Fiji on holiday travelling from the UK I can confirm it absolutely 100% is worth it! I tend to find that the trickier places are to get to the nicer they are.....

Most of the tourists were from Australia / NZ however people do travel from the UK to holiday there, just like people travel from the UK to Australia and New Zealand.

Velvetandgold · 22/09/2024 18:24

Some people never say no, ever. They agree to anything and everything even if, right at the start, they've got no intentions of going through with it. Then they cancel last minute or just don't show up. Reckon you've found some of these OP

CleaningAngel · 22/09/2024 18:27

jutishjwee · 22/09/2024 07:59

I mean now you’ve made me start doubting whether they’ve even booked their flights! They told me they have, but I haven’t seen any proof… but why would I?

I just think they're CF, a bank transfer takes minutes.
Don't mention interest loss as it would only be pence
Don't make out you're desperate ie 'bank account not happy'
Or that your mortgage needs paying, as you're making yourself look hand to mouth.
Message tonight or put your brave pants on and ring and say, I still havnt received the £1000 please could you do it now and then that's the villa sorted.
Or put even braver pants on and ask them why they havnt paid it as agreed and is there a problem. May as well get it out in the open,as I can imagine how unpleasant this holiday could be....Don't offer to pay for anything on the holiday...if the actually go!!
BTW pay day could be last Friday of the month,that's another week to wait!!

laraitopbanana · 22/09/2024 19:16

They are short of money but also of manners! You aren’t a bank…

i wouldn’t book for them in the future and make sure you have plans for « if it doesn’t work whilst there ».

Secradonugh · 22/09/2024 19:25

jutishjwee · 22/09/2024 10:02

Totally bizarre answer from you.

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Yeah why wouldn't you do credit checks on your friends and ask for their last 6 months of bank statements? Imagine being so begrudging as to think 36 hrs of travelling would stop you going to one of most beautiful places on the planet. Hope it all works out for you.

AlexaSetATimer · 22/09/2024 19:42

@Tulipsareredvioletsarebue I love that you all didn't let that CF away with it!! Brilliant!!

AlexaSetATimer · 22/09/2024 19:46

Also, to those getting their knickers in a twist over the destination, remember OP's can often change details to help with anonymity.

So maybe they are actually going to the Maldives, Hawaii or Madagascar for all we know. Maybe one of those would be more "acceptable" to you? Hmm

changeme4this · 22/09/2024 19:49

Where we live, one bank is notoriously slow at transferring money. One of our clients had to go into the bank 3 times to have funds released.

Could this be the same for your friends?

Worryer · 22/09/2024 20:04

TizerorFizz · 22/09/2024 09:59

This is such a bizarre holiday from the uk. So many simpler options and there’s no direct flight!!! The obvious way is via Los Angeles with Air New Zealand. It takes forever! No one would think this was worth it, I’m doubting if there is this holiday! The flights are £thousands. No one living month to month would do this. Anyone contemplating it would only ask very well off friends and know they had the money.

Who says the OP lives in the UK? Or maybe they do and prepared to do a complicated trip for a Once in a Lifetime holiday or lots of other scenarios. What's it to you?!'

TizerorFizz · 22/09/2024 20:07

The point is not the far flung destination. It’s the choice of a far flung destination by people who are not paying up! Of course people go to far away places but don’t have the anxiety of non paying friends because it’s not a hugely expensive snd lengthy flight time. That’s all. Having been to the Antarctic and Easter Island I get travelling but this seems too much for the friends.

fetchacloth · 22/09/2024 20:34

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.

This really.

sugarapplelane · 22/09/2024 20:41

jutishjwee · 22/09/2024 10:02

Totally bizarre answer from you.

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It’s not really bizarre though. It’s logical to question as I was thinking the same myself.

Why book an expensive holiday to Fiji if you are strapped for cash? Maybe try somewhere a bit cheaper and closer to home.

Zonder · 22/09/2024 23:24

TizerorFizz · 22/09/2024 09:59

This is such a bizarre holiday from the uk. So many simpler options and there’s no direct flight!!! The obvious way is via Los Angeles with Air New Zealand. It takes forever! No one would think this was worth it, I’m doubting if there is this holiday! The flights are £thousands. No one living month to month would do this. Anyone contemplating it would only ask very well off friends and know they had the money.

This is one of the most bizarre posts I have seen on MN!

Like nobody has ever gone to Fiji for a holiday before.

jessr1990 · 22/09/2024 23:38

It does sound shady like they're avoiding paying it, and if they are... why?

However there could be lots of reasons that don't mean they're arseholes. Or at least, might mean you still want to be friends with them and go on holiday.

I can't remember if you've said when the holiday is, but if they have a while until then, they might be planning to save up between now and then, for the actual holiday expenses.

Also did you say if they live in the UK? I know some banks in other countries the payment will take upto a week to go through especially if sent on a weekend.

If its just the interest that you're missing, and it's not causing financial difficulties, and they came to you and said "I'm so sorry but we've had a really tight few months and I feel awful and ashamed because I've let you down, but things are better as of next month, and we really want to come, could we pay you in installments? And then we're going to save up for spending money?" Given that they are actually your friends, maybe that would be ok?

I know it's not on, but shit happens sometimes and I'd hope if you're going on holiday you'd extend them the kindness if they were honest.

Rottweilermummy · 23/09/2024 06:18

How long til the holiday? is it 1000 they owe or just an instalment? Can you just accept instalments until the holiday if they struggling to pay in one go? I would ask to see confirmation of their flights though.

CanelliniBeans · 23/09/2024 07:11

MeowCatPleaseMeowBack · 21/09/2024 22:56

You and your companion (partner?) need to have a talk about how to manage this on the holiday. This pair isn't going to have sufficient spending money and it could get really awkward. Decide now how you're going to deal with it and then make sure your friends understand how things are going to work, e.g. buying food for the villa. What happens when you want to go on a trip or to a nice restaurant and they say they can't afford it and give you sad eyes? What happens if they want to buy cheap food for share meals and you want something nicer?

You can use the excuse of setting up some kind of money splitting app to start the discussion with them.

This is really good advice. Have the conversation now (well once they've actually paid for the holiday).

CleaningAngel · 23/09/2024 07:13

OP , dying to know did u get the money this weekend?

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