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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:
BarcardiWithGadaffia · 21/06/2024 14:46

KomodoOhno · 21/06/2024 14:05

Is this the same guy as on a previous post you met on holiday?

Surely there aren't more than one holiday romances?

KomodoOhno · 21/06/2024 14:52

BarcardiWithGadaffia · 21/06/2024 14:46

Surely there aren't more than one holiday romances?

I would think not but there is another post before about a man met traveling in October . I don't know how to link it. The writing style and situation was familiar to me so I looked it up.

Babbahabba · 21/06/2024 18:20

It's never going to go be anything other than messaging or an occasional bonk with someone so far away. If you're happy with that fine but if you want more, it's madness pursuing someone across an ocean.

cremebrulait · 21/06/2024 18:26

icelollycraving · 20/06/2024 01:44

I think after a couple of dates, you jumped the gun a bit. He possibly thought he’d never see you again and it was a nice flirt online or on calls etc.
I’m sorry you’re upset. I guess you don’t know him really so he may well have a girlfriend, wife etc. I’d find it quite full on after a few dates for a holiday fling to fly back to see me, and expect to be hosted. Perhaps his home is not nice. AL in America is far less generous than here, not everyone can just get time off with short notice. Perhaps his life is not as you thought.
I think it’s actually good of him to send you half the money when he’s citing low funds.
It must be rubbish for you but I think you have been a bit over keen. Maybe he’s one of those people who says lots he doesn’t mean, lots of OLD men are like this. So I know you had a few dates not OLD but it just isn’t meant to be.
Lick your wounds for a bit.

Why do you keep emphasizing OLD?

Gabbsters · 21/06/2024 18:29

cremebrulait · 21/06/2024 18:26

Why do you keep emphasizing OLD?

it stands for On Line Dating. She’s not calling him old.

sandstormsy · 21/06/2024 18:30

I presume to make it clear it's an acronym (online dating) rather than saying the men OP dates are elderly

cremebrulait · 21/06/2024 18:31

Minor detail but if someone is asking me to confirm - i confirm then buy tickets. I dont jump the gun and book them before. In the meantime his family apparently wanted a commitment from him. I just think OP made a little mistake not confirming. Id be pissed if someone them made me pay half the fare! Id ask the airline if the money is transferable toward another flight - usually it is in a timeframe.

PurplePenguin2468 · 21/06/2024 18:34

You still have the flight ticket, use it! Put the extra money towards accommodation and do sightseeing independently. Don't waste the opportunity by sitting around moping at home. x

Pippetypoppity · 21/06/2024 19:30

You ticked him off asking repeatedly that he book days off work for you. That could well have been inconvenient and it was for him to offer not for you to insist. He now sees you as pushy I would say. Sorry Op but think it’s best said so at least you’ll stop wondering. Men often hate being told what they should do - at least until you’ve gradually trained them with lots of encouragement and positive reinforcement 😁. Better luck next time.

Busybeemumm · 21/06/2024 21:04

PurplePenguin2468 · 21/06/2024 18:34

You still have the flight ticket, use it! Put the extra money towards accommodation and do sightseeing independently. Don't waste the opportunity by sitting around moping at home. x

This is a great idea, you should definitely just go, you have the flights and all you need is some accomodation. Solo holidays are the best and do them while you can😊

Floralie222 · 21/06/2024 21:15

Very hard to read this one and I've been in similar situations! I'm shocked he sent half the money as most men in the early stages don't have any kind of conscience about these situations, he obviously realised he'd messed you around, to give him a tiny bit of credit. On the other hand I don't believe the excuse though because he didn't need to spend much more than 225 in the 4 days you were there and would he really throw that money away if he was struggling financially? Probably more to it than meets the eye, I would just try and move on from him, but good for you for doing something a bit spontaneous! I met someone half way around the world for 4 days after a holiday romance and it didn't go any further although we now live in the same city...but I still had a great time and no regrets!!

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 21/06/2024 22:36

Buttermilky · 21/06/2024 11:36

Re American guys paying for everything, I feel it’s mixed.

IME I see men in the American south as more likely to pay for everything but not so much men on the west coast. I’m not too sure about east coast or mid-west men.

Most British guys I’ve dated pay for dates in first few months.

I don’t know who is more likely to pay for a flight but personally I know many American friends who have had flights paid traveling to see men in other states, whereas I don’t know any British friends whose boyfriends have paid for them to go visit them in another part of the UK.

Maybe it all just depends on the individual…

Agreed. A southern guy I knew, yes, he paid for it all.

New Yorker, nah, go Dutch!

pinkyspromises · 22/06/2024 09:09

Men do this all the time

annoying you booked a flight. Its just a more expensive, international Tinder ghosting story

Frogandfish · 22/06/2024 12:04

pinkyspromises · 22/06/2024 09:09

Men do this all the time

annoying you booked a flight. Its just a more expensive, international Tinder ghosting story

He didn't ghost her. He changed his mind about meeting, let her know, and refunded her half the ticket cost (after it sounds like she was a bit too quick in buying unrefundable tickets in the first place).

Johnhasalongmoustache · 22/06/2024 12:07

where’s the OP

CheeseSandwichRiskAssessment · 22/06/2024 13:17

Johnhasalongmoustache · 22/06/2024 12:07

where’s the OP

I'm curious where it is! I'm from the US and there's no way I would go from the US for less than a week and ideally 10 days, just not worth the travel. So I assume the east coast, California would be totally crazy for 4 days, but...

Johnhasalongmoustache · 22/06/2024 14:45

No, I mean on the thread not geographically

BaguetteLady · 22/06/2024 15:38

Here's a new thread for MN:
@ USGuy
Met an English woman on Tinder; here on holiday. We dated 3x; JUST dated (IFYKWIM). Since I'm dating for a relationship, I asked her what she was into - "A bit of fun!" she said. Then she told me she was coming over to stay at mine for 4 nights and I had to take AL! I told her to let me know, not sure whether it was worth the time and emotional energy for a relationship with no future. I decided, on balance, that it wasn't.
Then she tells me she booked a non-refundable flight! Without even so much as telling me when she was arriving! I told her it wasn't possible for me, and she demanded money!
Since I am a decent guy, I gave her $285. I feel totally ripped off and taken advantage of by impulsive and basically selfish behavior. She planned a trip for her bit of fun, and didn't even wait to firm up before booking a non-refundable flight. She still had the ticket and could easily have used it for a trip on her own + my $285.
Never again.

CheeseSandwichRiskAssessment · 22/06/2024 17:30

Johnhasalongmoustache · 22/06/2024 14:45

No, I mean on the thread not geographically

Of course she's gone, she wasn't getting the answers she wanted Grin I'm curious where it is, nothing wrong with a solo holiday.

Shudahaddogs · 22/06/2024 19:02

SpringerFall · 20/06/2024 02:18

If I was you I would get rid of all your gadgets and live in the real world until you can take a course on how not to be so gullible, and yes this is a genuine suggestion with the amount of times this happens they have to be out there

Harsh..and unhelpful

BaguetteLady · 22/06/2024 19:46

SpringerFall · 20/06/2024 02:18

If I was you I would get rid of all your gadgets and live in the real world until you can take a course on how not to be so gullible, and yes this is a genuine suggestion with the amount of times this happens they have to be out there

I actually think he was gullible. Americans think all Brits have perfect manners. He wouldn't have dreamed that an English girl he hardly knew would book a non-refundable flight to descend on him for 4 nights without firming up or even telling him their arrival time.

Limerent1 · 22/06/2024 22:51

BaguetteLady · 22/06/2024 19:46

I actually think he was gullible. Americans think all Brits have perfect manners. He wouldn't have dreamed that an English girl he hardly knew would book a non-refundable flight to descend on him for 4 nights without firming up or even telling him their arrival time.

Edited

Where did I state that I didn’t tell him my arrival time? We discussed the exact dates the night before. He knew it was Thursday - Monday. We discussed our plans and his annual leave. We spoke in the morning briefly when I was still in 2 minds. He said to let him know. I made my decision and tried to call him but he was napping. I booked them. He rang me when he woke up and was excited. 4 days later is when I received that text message from him.

OP posts:
pandasorous · 22/06/2024 22:57

Limerent1 · 22/06/2024 22:51

Where did I state that I didn’t tell him my arrival time? We discussed the exact dates the night before. He knew it was Thursday - Monday. We discussed our plans and his annual leave. We spoke in the morning briefly when I was still in 2 minds. He said to let him know. I made my decision and tried to call him but he was napping. I booked them. He rang me when he woke up and was excited. 4 days later is when I received that text message from him.

maybe he met someone else?

sorry you had this experience. I suggest you still go, get yourself a hotel and have a fab little solo holiday.

KomodoOhno · 22/06/2024 23:07

Limerent1 · 22/06/2024 22:51

Where did I state that I didn’t tell him my arrival time? We discussed the exact dates the night before. He knew it was Thursday - Monday. We discussed our plans and his annual leave. We spoke in the morning briefly when I was still in 2 minds. He said to let him know. I made my decision and tried to call him but he was napping. I booked them. He rang me when he woke up and was excited. 4 days later is when I received that text message from him.

Is he the same guy from your other post you met traveling?https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/relationships/5047422-limerence-not-going-away-after-years?reply=134449979

BaguetteLady · 22/06/2024 23:09

@Limerent1 We spoke in the morning briefly when I was still in 2 minds. He said to let him know. I made my decision and tried to call him but he was napping. I booked them.

Yes, that's what you said. You booked the non-refundable flights before you let him know.