Was she entitled to do this?

[LondonBridge]

A few weeks ago a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go to america on holiday with her and her kids. I said yes and that it sounded nice so we spoke briefly about it over msn.

The next day she text me and said "are you definate about wanting to go? because I need to book asap" and I said "yes" thinking she would at least wait until I'd seen her but she didn't, she went ahead and booked that same day.

I then realised I couldn't afford to go and told her. She was fuming as this meant she was liable to pay £700 in deposit which had to be paid whether we went or not, and it was all in her name. As a compromise I agreed to pay half of the deposit.

Anyway for the past few days she has nattered and nattered about this deposit saying she wanted it paid asap so she could go ahead and cancel so I went and paid £360 a few days ago by credit card.

Anyway I looked at the booking thing online the next day and she hadn't cancelled it, as soon as I'd paid my half of the deposit she went and took my name off the booking and put someone elses in my place. So I have basically paid someone elses deposit for them.

She insisted that it was my fault and that I shouldn't have said I wanted to go when I couldn't and that the only way someone else would take my place was if the deposit was taken care of.

So is she in the right getting me to pay this deposit like this?

Should I protest or just leave it and accept that I put her in an awkward position?

Do I have a legal leg to stand on?

I would be furious. She should have told you she would be making a booking and paying a deposit on your behalf and because she didn't do this then it is her fault not yours. I really wouldn't be worried about upsetting her as she is not acting like a friend. I would insist she pay you back the deposit.

id be mad!id ask her to explain herself.

you were wong initially - her being pissed intitially - totally ok.

her making you pay and giving place away - not on totally

cheeky cow isnt she!!!

As above...What a nerve.

tbh though she did ask if you were definate before you booked and you said 'yes'
if the other person didn't have enough if they had to pay the deposit you would have lost that anyway!
Your friend is out of pocket too if she paid half of it.

Yes.. it could have been the case that the other person could only afford to go if without paying the deposit. You were liable for it anyway.

It would have been nice for you not to have had to pay it, but surely you cannot expect your friend to be £350 out of pocket with no holiday, because you said yes and changed your mind?

i don't think that you can be annoyed, TBH.

I don't think she is being fair. Similar thing happened to me a few years ago. We had booked hols but I couldn't go so paid the deposit and then friend went with someone else. I think she felt that she had been treated unfairly and wanted some sort of recompense. In your case I would say that you should not have agreed to go unless you were absolutely sure - she did say she would "book ASAP - but she does appear to have taken advantage of you by making you pay in part for someone else's holiday.

why can the person now going not pay for the deposit?

Tricky, can see both sides.

Once a friend pulled out of a hol we were going on and she lost her deposit. She did say to me if I could find someone else to go in her place then that was fine. I could only find a skint mate who said she could only go if she didn't have to pay the deposit. First friend said ok as it made no difference to her and it meant I didn't have to go away by myself.

You did say yes and then change your mind. If you hadn't assumed she wouldn't book it then you wouldn't have this problem. Think you're lucky she said she'd pay half the deposit.