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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Guy in America messed me about

245 replies

Limerent1 · 20/06/2024 01:30

hi everyone. I went on holiday to USA a couple of months ago, met a great guy over there on tinder and had 3 dates with him in total - went no further than a kiss. Both early 30s, no kids. We clicked from the start and spent all the time laughing and having really good interesting conversations.

He’s kept in touch with me since I’ve been home in the UK, always hinting that he’d love for me to go over or vice versa but I don’t have any free time until September.

I randomly have an unexpected week off next week due to something else falling through, and some of my friends are going away on a break for a few days anyway so I said I’d join them but it’s pretty expensive. When I was chatting to the American (we don’t speak daily btw) I brought it up and out of interest had a look at flights to USA return and they were £450 which I thought was reasonable, considering I’d be staying with him. We agreed I’d come over for the Long weekend in question, 4 nights in total.

I told him repeatedly I was in 2 minds as another girl who was suppose to go away with my friends had dropped out and I could have her place but I’d need to let them know asap as someone else wanted to go also.

He was asking me if I’d ever consider moving to the USA, what was I looking for etc and I just told him I wanted to have a fun weekend and see what happens! No pressure. he asked me to let him know if I was going to come over asap.

the next morning, due to the time difference, he was still asleep but I chose to see him, so I booked the flights through a third party booking app which are non refundable. Didn’t think there was a chance of it changing considering It’s only next weekend. I sent him the confirmation and we both expressed we were excited! We messaged back and forth a bit on Saturday night and a little on Sunday.

I reminded him on Monday that he would need to book 2 days off work for when I am over and he was kinda vague about it. Then I didn’t hear from him Tuesday and today I’d had enough so I messaged him to ask if he had indeed booked the annual leave, and as I hadn’t heard from him I felt a bit vulnerable coming over alone all of a sudden and that I felt his energy had shifted.

his response “hey baby! I’m sorry I’ve been busy with work and have been under the weather. I’m finally feeling better, I was really excited to see you. But something happened with my family and I have to help them out financially. So I’m stretched a bit thin at the moment.’ I know you have the flight booked but now may not be the best time”

I told him I didn’t care really about doing anything expensive and would be happy to just chill with him at his apartment, but this didn’t seem to budge him.

I reminded I had let the space on my friends holiday go so now I couldn’t even join them, and if he wasn’t sure he should have said so on Friday! I also said the flights couldn’t be changed/refunded. He just kept apologising. When I pressed further, he said he is financially strapped until July 1st and he feels pressure from me!! I couldn’t believe it. He was so eager for me to come over last week. I asked if he’s just met someone else and he said absolutely not.

we got into a bit of a row and in the end he sent me half of the money back that I lost on the flight, but I’m still so gutted. Last Friday we were chatting about going to the beach for the weekend maybe and trying a restaurant near his that he thought I’d like.

We really hit it off when we met, so I thought, and he’s gone to so much effort to text and FaceTime since I’ve been back - I can’t wrap my head around why he would change his tune so much just a few days after I booked my flight? Any opinions xx

OP posts:
SheilaFentiman · 20/06/2024 07:03

he’s just spent more paying you back than he’d have had to spend all weekend if you just had some food and drinks at his

But probably not more than he would have lost taking unpaid leave/giving up certain shifts.

MaxTalk · 20/06/2024 07:04

Dodged a bullet.

He's not interested. Go there and find someone else.

This time, have fun there and then and forget about them completely when getting on that plane back.

Swissrollover · 20/06/2024 07:07

BeanBeliever · 20/06/2024 04:52

^ this. Speaking from experience (had a LDR with a boyfriend in the US).

I think he asked you what you wanted to know if you were serious/would move as flying back & forth gets expensive and unless it’s going to turn into something isn’t worth it

i know you are disappointed but tbh I think he’s been v decent to split the cost of the wasted flight with you

I also agree with this. It sounded like he might have thought the relationship had a chance, but you are more casual about it. Disappointing outcome for both of you, and now he's down £225 because you booked an unrefundable ticket without discussing plans.

TheRozzers · 20/06/2024 07:13

'I reminded him on Monday that he would need to book 2 days off work'

'I’d had enough so I messaged him to ask if he had indeed booked the annual leave'.

It's the annual leave. As other posters have said Americans just don't have AL to take like we do.

Also, did he realise you were planning to stay with him? Maybe he thought you would be staying elsewhere and he could still work Friday / Monday and see you over the weekend.

SE473 · 20/06/2024 07:17

I too think that taking annual leave is too much at this stage. Maybe he was happy to spend the evenings with you on the days he works plus the weekend, but the expectation that he’d need to be with you 24/7 on these days (and on subsequent visits, if the relationship progresses…there’s only so much leave he can take) was something he couldn’t give and he realised that this relationship is a bit too high maintenance for him.

BeanBeliever · 20/06/2024 07:28

To add to my earlier comment: the request to book leave will have made him wake up & think things through

Getting my ACTUAL boyfriend over there to take an afternoon off (eg to pick me up at the airport) was painful! Americans get much less leave so tend to see it as precious and only to use for travelling somewhere : and it’s seen as flakey/letting colleagues down to book leave at short notice (I work for a US company and it’s the same story)

OP - you have time & a non-refundable flight. You also have £225 from this guy

Just go - book an Airbnb and enjoy exploring a new place

Thats what I did when I broke up with US boyfriend - I had a great time travelling by myself for 5 weeks, it’s only 4 days for you so you won’t get bored

Maybe skip tinder though / transatlantic romances are more expensive and hassle than they are worth IMO!

PoppyCherryDog · 20/06/2024 07:29

Agree with others. You were quite pushy about him taking annual leave. It sounds like you didn’t even ask if he’d take annual leave you just expected him to.

Genevieva · 20/06/2024 07:31

So you didn’t talk about annual leave during the call? You do know Americans only get about a fortnight off a year, compared with the 5-6 weeks holiday that is normal in the U.K.?

Maybe keep the flight and use his money for accommodation etc and ask if you can meet up but not stay with him or expect him to have time off work. If that doesn’t work, cut your losses.

Viviennemary · 20/06/2024 07:34

You were quite vague at first too as to whether you were going or not. Then booking the flights without confirming with him. Too difficult to say for certain why he put you off. Maybe in a relationship maybe just panicked. Who knows. Maybe the reasons he gave were genuine. Maybd not. But he has certainly stepped back.

Triskeline · 20/06/2024 07:39

Yeah, you mishandled the aftermath of a holiday romance. It’s a bit ‘Shirley Valentine unexpectedly showing up to find Costas’.

Inspireme2 · 20/06/2024 07:40

How dodgy and you expect gim to recover your choice to buy tickets...i think thats a joke.
He has a partner more than likely.
Possibly seen 'his' apartment on tinder.
Perhaps it was all exciting and exotic but stay closer to home where you can safely suss him out and his "stories".
Tinder anyone can saynor be whatecer they like..
You have been played!.

Cas112 · 20/06/2024 07:43

Probably not single

willWillSmithsmith · 20/06/2024 07:46

I know that in his situation (someone I barely knew coming over to see me) I’d get massive cold feet. I don’t know if he has but just the hypothetical thought of it sends me into a panic.

N27 · 20/06/2024 07:46

It sounds like his energy changed when you told him to book annual leave? Maybe he’s under pressure at work or can’t afford the time off and that’s why he was vague? Or maybe he just didn’t like that you were telling him what to do? no one really knows except him

flossie232 · 20/06/2024 07:47

It would be enough to put me off op. He is making weak excuses for whatever reason. If he wanted to see you he would, you're the one flying all that way, all he has to do is be available. It was wrong of him to encourage you then back out. He seems flaky. Have you spoken much since the row?

Busybeemumm · 20/06/2024 07:48

JustTalkToThem · 20/06/2024 03:15

He’s just not that into you. It’s that simple.

move on.

If only I lived by this in my days of dating! You are early 30s and if you want a family, chalk this up to experience, don't dwell and move onto the next guy asap. You don't have time to waste.

Pushmepullu · 20/06/2024 07:51

Not RTFT, but in the states they don’t always have paid annual leave the way we do, in some jobs it’s frowned upon to take leave unless it’s for a death. Maybe he genuinely can’t afford to take the time off. In any case, the fact he didn’t say something from the outset means I wouldn’t trust him for this to not happen again.

Frogandfish · 20/06/2024 07:53

If I'm being brutally honest, ok you were travelling a long way but I feel it was pushy telling him, and reminding him to take 2 days AL for a 4th date even as a Britisher.

I think 2 days solid company plus 2 evenings while you go out and sightseeing in the day would be ample and I would have felt much more comfortable making and receiving that suggestion. With the option of course that he would be more than welcome to come if he could get the time off. Thing is, the distance is something you chose to absorb but it wouldn't have negated social norms, his comfort, personal safety and his work culture.

,
Many will say 'he's married', they always do. But I'm sorry to say I think you came across like a bit of a PITA regarding this trip.

TakeMeDancing · 20/06/2024 07:53

mathanxiety · 20/06/2024 03:39

I think you pushed too far, too fast.

And fwiw, Americans can't 'book annual leave' at short notice. Your expectation of him was way off.

He gave you all sorts of mixed signals. You chose to see that as a maybe but actually mixed signals are a no.

This entire business could have ended in disaster for you. You barely knew this man, but you were prepared to head to another country and stay with him in what he said was his home. Did nobody ever earn you to be careful and consider your safety?

This. There’s a good chance he gets 10 days of annual leave per year. Using 1/5 of it on a date with a new girl is a bit much.

Jegersur · 20/06/2024 07:55

I would never expect anyone to take annual leave if I was coming to visit, no matter who they were. You have evenings or weekends to hang out, generally.

sandstormsy · 20/06/2024 07:55

Even the term annual leave isn't something my American friends tended to use. To us it's a number of days each year that you are expected to take and if you don't you carry it over / get paid / are forced to take it.

From what they've said, not only do they only get a couple of weeks off but it's expected they don't take it all. My understanding is it's there for like if your sister gets married or (rarely) you book a family vacation very far in advance. Not just I'll take a couple of days off at short notice because someone I kissed once is coming to stay.

I really think that's what it is. Not that you're mental OP but that this is quite a big cultural difference. He might not have known it's different here and might have been quite taken aback when it became clear you expected him to him to be off work with you and having a full intense 4 days at his home together.

Busybeemumm · 20/06/2024 08:04

A guy will do anything for a girl he wants to spend time with. Annual leave or not. He was just not that into it.

SheilaFentiman · 20/06/2024 08:11

Busybeemumm · 20/06/2024 08:04

A guy will do anything for a girl he wants to spend time with. Annual leave or not. He was just not that into it.

That’s total crap.

betterangels · 20/06/2024 08:12

Ellie525 · 20/06/2024 06:18

You're sounding way too pissed off about this given its not really his fault - he is allowed to change his mind after only 3 dates and the intense idea of you coming to stay. He was decent to send you half tbh. If roles were reversed and you got cold feet I don't think you would appreciate him doing all this demanding money and guilt tripping stuff

Agree with this.

He changed his mind and sent you half the money. Decent.

Pottyhelp · 20/06/2024 08:12

It all just sounds way, way too intense for someone you’ve only kissed and had a handful of dates with. I would have gotten cold feet myself.

America is a big place. The exact amount of AL he gets and how quickly he can take it is neither here nor there. I worked there for years and had plenty of leave.