At what point do we start charging friends a cancellation fee for bailing on plans?
By @jettlately · Who's in the Wrong
My friend bailed on a dinner reservation two hours beforehand because she 'wasn't feeling the vibe.' Now she's mad that I asked her to pay the cancellation fee.
The full story
I have a friend who is notoriously flaky. It's become a running joke, but it just stopped being funny. We made reservations for my birthday at a place that's impossible to get into, and you have to put a card down. It's a $25 per person fee if you cancel within 48 hours. Everyone knew this when we made the plan. Two hours before the reservation, she texts the group chat: 'So sorry guys, gonna have to sit this one out, just not feeling the vibe tonight!' The rest of us were already getting ready. My other friends replied with 'omg feel better!' and 'another time!' but all I could think about was the $100 charge we were about to eat for her spot. So I replied, 'The vibe just cost us $100 lol.' And then I sent her a Venmo request for her $25 portion of the fee. She left me on read but then started texting my other friends saying I was being petty and classless for billing her. Now the group chat is awkward and silent. I think if your actions cost your friends money, you should pay up. She thinks I'm an asshole for prioritizing money over her feelings. My other friends refuse to take a side. Am I crazy here?
How people voted
- On their side — 44% (7 votes)
- Both sides — 31% (5 votes)
- Other side — 25% (4 votes)
Readers say “On their side” (44%) — 16 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@reeseee — Soft.
@josh — She isn't 'flaky,' she has a pathological avoidance of any accountability.
@sophiee — Can't wait for the follow up post about the friend group reunion.
@mialatte — Why didn’t you just find a fourth person to take her spot?
@ashok — Your 'friends' who are staying silent are almost as bad as the flaky one. You're not crazy at all for expecting people to be responsible for their own actions.
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