Community Chat

[jannabelle1]

@Carmie, what a horrible experience for you and your husband. Those people really abused a gracious place to stay. The woman was totally out of line for even suggesting you owed her husband for the salad - that is laughable, let alone dumping dirty linens on you. She and husband should have thanked you for offering them the hospitality of your RV at no cost and left your home away from home in the same condition they found it - and replaced any food they ate, but obviously they have no manners or class. Hopefully it's a lesson learned, and there won't be any more free vacations allowed for your hubby's co-workers. I'd be venting too!

[shoesnbags]

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@cherry wrote:

Perhaps she is mentally ill?  She  doesn't sound quite normal to me

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@cherry  That is exactly what occurred to me - mentally unbalanced maybe. 

[lovesrecess]

Unfortunately some people just have no manners or were never taught how to accept someone's hospitality. She sounds like someone I would want to avoid at all costs. I am sure you will do a heavy cleaning on your place now that they are gone. I would be concerned about germs, head lice, etc since they used your pillows. I would put a lock on your freezers if you do not have any.

My daughter has a lake house she has let some of her friends use for free...they trashed the place every time they went there; after learning the hard way, she now has a closet there with a deadbolt lock that has her and her husband's good linens, personal items, etc . Now she charges a $100 deposit before the friends can go....and it stopped the mess she had to deal with. They want their $100 back so they take care of the place, load the dishwasher, wash the towels, etc. before they leave. There is a list of requirements to have the deposit refunded...just like you have with an apartment. $100 isn't much but it is a lot of money to most of the friends she lets use the lake house, so it seems to be working.

[Mominohio]

Just wow!

I guess your husband better not expect these people to locate near your place now, or more like he better hope they don't, or you might just kill them. 

I would.

[SleepyTime]

And left a nice gift as a thank you. Don't be too mad at your husband as he was put on the spot. That alone is quite rude.

[janeec]

You are an excellent example of a gracious lady!  With all my strength I would not have been able to be that gracious.  I would have blasted her as soon as I got over the shock of her behavior.  

If others at your husband's workplace hear how wonderful their week was and want to stay there it would be so easy to tell them that you were once taken advantage of, give a few examples of what happened (no names of course), and that you will never let that happen again.  

[Carmie]

Thanks everyone for all of the comments.  I am still scratching my head over the whole issue.

This will be one of those crazy stories we can tell around the campfire for years to come.  

I could have added this story to the Cheapskate friends threads on here.

As far as not losing my cool on the phone.  I am a retired CS rep.  I have been abused, cursed at and yelled at beyond anything this women dished out.  After 25 years of this, I got used to it.  There is no point in getting to a screaming match with anyone.

i wish I would not have hung up on her though.  I should have laid down the phone and let her yell at herself.  I wonder how long it would have taken before she realized I wasn't listening.

[BeccaLou]

I surely hope they don't move  a  in and stay by you. Your fun time will be a night mare.You poor thing.I had a few trips ruin by people likethat. That is one of the reasons I never moved on a permanant spot. People get on my nerves when they act so stupid. Now I would be afraid of camping since I am no longer young and nieve.

[MarieIG]

I would tell your DH that he had better be prepared with a better answer if anyone wants to stay in one of your homes again; i.e., I will have to check with MY WIFE first, she may have other plans.

[faeriemoon]

@Carmie  I think you handled it perfectly by just letting it go and ignoring her ridiculous request for reimbursement for her salad mix.  

If she brings it up again, just send her an invoice for the dry cleaning, the laundering, the steaks, the chicken and the cleaning.  Then deduct the $5 or so for her salad from the total.  That should make your point loud and clear and eliminate future discussions about your owing her anything.