Thrifty friend dines for free while I pay

PasturesNew

I think this is a complex one that would depend on very detailed analysis of your entire relationship and eating/paying history.

He should've said he had a free voucher; he should've offered you something towards your meal ... but, to be fair, he had the voucher.

You lost nothing; you chose/paid for what you ate. Your bill didn't change. His bill didn't change from what he expected to pay (£0). Therefore, everybody's happy ... but you're not.

I think, really, you should let this go and just try a bit harder to be happy for him that he had a voucher.

Tigsteroonie

PasturesNew wrote: »

I think, really, you should let this go and just try a bit harder to be happy for him that he had a voucher.

And never go out for a meal with him again

onlyroz

breaking_free wrote: »

(For those who asked, no it wasn't something he'd saved up points for: the restaurant sends you a free meal coupon on your birthday and it can be used any time - it wasn't his birthday when we went out).

Hmmm, tricky one. Would the coupon have allowed him to go on his own and get a free meal? Or did it say "one free meal when accompanied by another paying adult"? If it was the former case then I can see his point - he was entitled to a free meal and so why should he pay for half of yours? On the other hand if the meal was only free because you went as a pair then the bill should absolutely have been split in two.

blobby8

Find some other friends.

UKTigerlily

Was the coupon only to be used by him? Sometimes when I use P@H ones it does state that my VIP card has to be produced/I use it? Though that still wouldn't explain not offering to pay half of yours. I agree with the majority & think you should show him the thread anyway!

chesky

I'm amazed that the OP is even contemplating the possibility of their dinner date being repeated. For a start, he will refuse to go anywhere suggested unless he has a voucher too. So when the "trick" happens, he'll simply bring out his own voucher.

Anyway, he's not a proper friend.

Spendless

There was a similar thread earlier this year when the poster went out with a friend and the deal was the poster paid for the meal and friend paid for the drink. Only the poster paid for the food with vouchers leaving dining partner to pay cash for the drink, which upset the dining partner.

There were lots of comments about how since the poster had collected the voucher by spending she wasn't in the wrong. That's probably similar to what some would say about your friend's coupon, if he had to spend to gain it, then it's his and doesn't have to be shared.

Personally I always split a coupon with a friend. Where I live you can buy a book of coupons that last about 16 months and there are many 241 deals in there.

breaking_free

His voucher was free - no spend needed to obtain it.

I've just sent an email asking him when we're next getting together for a meal out.

I've pointedly said it's 'My turn to use a "free meal for me" coupon this time.' Looking forward immensely to getting his response :rotfl:

Pollycat

breaking_free wrote: »

His voucher was free - no spend needed to obtain it.

I've just sent an email asking him when we're next getting together for a meal out.

I've pointedly said it's 'My turn to use a "free meal for me" coupon this time.' Looking forward immensely to getting his response :rotfl:

What positive things does this person bring to the 'friendship'?

Do they outweigh his mean-ness?

Spendless

breaking_free wrote: »

His voucher was free - no spend needed to obtain it.

I've just sent an email asking him when we're next getting together for a meal out.

I've pointedly said it's 'My turn to use a "free meal for me" coupon this time.' Looking forward immensely to getting his response :rotfl:

I'm interested to see if he agrees to going for the next meal. I might have been tempted to keep my mouth shut and just produce the voucher at the end.