I just need to vent!!!!

[livinfreeinaz]

I just need to vent. We planned on taking our family to DL for our son's 16th birthday. Well about a month before we planned to leave. His best friends mother asked me what we were doing for his b-day. Like a dummy I told her. Well the boys are only 4 days apart. So they invited them selves. Now mind you I did not invite. My DH heard the whole thing, so there was no getting out of it, nor could I be blamed.

Let me just tell you that the dad is wonderful to travel with. My son's best friend is a moody individual and we no where he got it, HIS MOTHER!!!!! She did nothing but complain about everything, and if she was not complaining she was trying to stop everyone so she could go and shop. Now I was told that it needed to be a budget trip. So I booked a cheap hotel across the street from DL, with continental breakfast, and we rented a van to drive. I tried to get out of putting the whole cost of the room on my cc but was unable to do this. I did tell her more than one time that I did this, she of course did not tell her husband, so when we got to the hotel and it was already paid for, well lets just say he was not happy. Now please understand we have been to DL a couple of times and love it, they have never been, and I did tell them that they could go through the parks by them selves at any time. But that would have ment she would have had to put down the bottle of wine she smuggled in!!!!! YOU GOT IT!!! Now I did not relize what she was drinking in the colored bottle until she was done. Then I tried to put distance between them and us. I failed.

The last straw was at the electric parade. I wanted my kids to see this, it was one of the reasons that we chose this weekend. She had to take a walk to get some coffee. (personally, I think she was going to drink more. By the way I did not know she drinks this much. We do not drink, so it was very uncomfortable. She wanted to leave the kids in the hotel room and go for a fancy dinner. We explained that we would just eat in the park, and if they wanted to go to dinner, then they could go back to the hotel and go from there. They are now not talking to us. But I still need to get paid we stayed at the Tropicanna, the bill was over 400.00 for their room. Any ideas. We really cannot afford to pay for their room, nor do I want to.

Thanks for listening.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

That doesn't sound like a fun trip.

Are you saying that she invited her family along and you booked their hotel room? Hindsight is 20/20 but in the future don't do that!

If you are on good terms with the dad I'd ask him for the money, or give him an itimized bill and tell him you need payment by x date so you can pay the bill. If not, then mail a copy of the bill with a return receipt. You may have to take them to court.

 

[Brutie]

I'm sorry this happened, but you or your hubby should of put your foot down to begin with and not let them go along uninvited.
Since neither of you did that, you should have told them "here's where we are staying, please feel free to call and see if you can get a room close to ours". Since ya'll didnt do that either, I'd say send them an itemized list of the expenses they owe for, what the totals were and what their share is, make sure you make copies, and send it registered mail so they have to sign for it. I'd give them a "due by" date and make it clear if they dont pay by that date you will be making arrangements to persue it as a legal matter. I vote for Judge Judy...lol...I just love it when she asks a defendant "now tell me why you think you dont owe for your share of the trip"...LOL

Good luck and next time, put your foot down beforehand...

 

[blackjackdelta]

Real bummer..the trip is over, now give the Dad an itemized statement for the expenses with a drop dead date..if they do not pay, take them to small claims, you will have no problem with the judgement. (hopefully there was not a understanding by them that you were paying.)

Good luck,

Jack

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I'm so sorry this happened to you! Unbelievable that this woman would invite herself and her family along on your trip, then be whiney and miserable, and then not pay for it and not speak to you!

I hope at least your son had a good time for his birthday trip. Hopefully this would never happen to you again, but if it should, you now know what NOT to do! And I hope these people are decent enough to pay you back. That would be truly awful if they tried to stiff you for them turning your great vacation into a miserable one. Chalk this up as a lesson learned!

 

[Katie0677]

Wow, I can't imagine how mad you must be. I would be fuming! I have to agree with the other posters though, you should have put your foot down and never booked a room for them. Hopefully everything will work out.
Katie

 

[azgal81]

Yikes! I hope they at least pay you back and didn't think going into it that you would be paying for everything!

 

[Amy&Dan]

What a shame. I have learned that when it comes to Disney trips, it takes a certain kind of person to tour with me and not get on my last nerve in the process! I hope you get your money, hopefully they will cool off and come to their senses. Do as others have suggested and stand firm, they owe you $400, thats not chicken feed! Good luck and let us know what happens!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I just wanted to add my condolences, too. What a shame that your vacation was spoiled by these people who took advantage of you. I do hope they do the right thing and pay you.

 

[DisQueen]

What a terrible twist on your vacation. Maybe we should form a posse...

Not that this will help you, but maybe for someone in the future. When we travelled to visit my brother, he reserved a hotel room for us on his credit card. When we arrived, I had them rip up his charge slip and put the room on my card. If you check in first, be sure the hotel knows that you aren't paying for both rooms. Your "friend" will be with you and then they need to take care of payment directly. This way both rooms are reserved together, but you aren't stuck with paying and trying to collect later.

At least time will let the bad times fade and you will still have good memories of your son's birthday.

 

[Harmony]

I hope people that have issues with "speaking up" pay attention. NEVER, EVER let anyone bully you into doing something that you feel uncomfortable with or that you simply DON'T want to do! Real friends will understand if you put it kindly. People that don't understand, aren't real friends so don't feel bad about setting limits.

As for the OP, I hope you send them a list of what is due and name the date. If they don't respond, let them know that you will take the issue further. I hope all turns out well for you. In the future, don't be passive, speak up and be heard. It's the only way things will work out for you. You only have one life...don't waste it being a doormat for people who don't deserve it! (not that anyone deserves to be a doormat but you get what I'm trying to say ) Many {hugs} to you. A tough lesson learned but I'm sure it's learned and if anything good were to come from this situation, that's a huge positive!

 

[woody73]

It's a good thing your son only turns 16 once!

 

[livinfreeinaz]

They PAID!!!!!! Yeah, now I can do the happy dance!!!! Actually he paid, I kinda figured he would. She just said they would make the monthly pmts on our cc. She even had the nerve to ask when we are going back!!!!! NEVER!

Thanks for all of the support.
Livinfreeinaz and family.

 

[darph nader]

I was going to post to this the first day but since it's a family board, i couldn't. At least they(he) ponied up with money. Next time you go wait until you get back and tell them what a good time y'all had. Then mockingly apolgise,saying it was a business trip or something on that order.

 

[woody73]

They PAID!!!!!!

Great news!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Congrats, some things do work out.

Jack

 

[Harmony]

Next time you go wait until you get back and tell them what a good time y'all had. Then mockingly apolgise,saying it was a business trip or something on that order.

There is absolutely no reason to apologize. Every family needs quality time alone. Next time, just tell them that you'd rather it just be 'you guys'...end of story. If they don't like it, oh well! LOL

BTW...great news that they paid! Yay, way to go!

 

[momrek06]

They PAID!!!!!! Yeah, now I can do the happy dance!!!! Actually he paid, I kinda figured he would. She just said they would make the monthly pmts on our cc. She even had the nerve to ask when we are going back!!!!! NEVER!

Thanks for all of the support.
Livinfreeinaz and family.

GREAT NEWS, OP !! We all LIVE and LEARN and you have learned not to give out any more info ....someone asks you "what your plans are"(for anything at all) ..from now on...all your answers will be "I don't know!" ....And also in this day and age when everyone is trying hard to budget this or that...no more using YOUR cc to pay for anything....nope, that is OUT!!!

YUP, it all comes down to living and LEARNING....!!!!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

They PAID!!!!!! Yeah, now I can do the happy dance!!!! Actually he paid, I kinda figured he would. She just said they would make the monthly pmts on our cc. She even had the nerve to ask when we are going back!!!!! NEVER!

Thanks for all of the support.
Livinfreeinaz and family.

They paid: YAY!!! What a relief that must have been. Glad that worked out.

She asked when you're going back: Did you laugh out loud??? I did when I read that! If she happens to find out when your next trip is (boys talk, too!) then just firmly say, "Oh, just the family is going this trip" and leave it at that. And the next one is guaranteed to be a GREAT time after the last trip!

I'm assuming you'll go again... because I am (still) planning our first trip, and already looking ahead to when we can have a 2nd trip! (Is that normal???)