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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
Katie Williams

Edinburgh woman hits back at couple 'using her office' during Festival Fringe

A couple staying in the city for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has come under fire after being called out for 'abusing' a friend's hospitality.

As we know, finding accommodation in August in the city is like the Hunger Games, with rent prices soaring and AirBnB's quickly getting booked up. One woman opened up her spare room to a couple - who she says are friends but she doesn't know them that well.

She took to parenting forum Mumsnet to ask if she was being unreasonable for being upset as she asked, "Did my guests abuse my hospitality or is this how friends behave?"

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In the post she explained how they are out most of the day and night but haven't treated her to anything or shown any sort of thanks to her for letting them stay. The last straw was when they finished a bottle of pricey gin.

To fellow Mumsnet users, she explained: "Offered my spare room (my office) to a couple I don't know that well who are in Edinburgh to see Fringe shows. They are out drinking and seeing shows all day and most of the night and didn't pay for me to attend any shows with them or take me out for dinner or even bring me a bottle of wine.

"I get that they are here to network but they both have jobs and I saved them over £500 in accommodation costs. Last night they polished off a bottle of really good gin when they came in drunk.

"I feel they are treating my place like an AirBnB and not treating me like a friend. I just asked them to replace the alcohol they drank because I don't see why I should subsidise them.

"I can tell by their body language that they are deeply insulted that I asked them to do this. Am I being unreasonable for expecting a gift and telling them to replace expensive booze?"

The comments quickly stacked up with many appalled at the behaviour of the pair.

One replied: "I'd take it as a lesson learnt NOT to give away your spare room during Fringe to people you don't know and for FREE!! Real friends should of course take you out for a meal, bring a gift etc. These don't sound like close friends though."

A second replied: "You don’t know them that well so you aren’t a friend to them so they don’t feel they owe you anything, they are just using you as free a crash pad. Friends don’t treat people like this. in their situation I’d have bent over backwards to show my appreciation to any friendly person who had opened their home up to me.

"Good for you telling them to replace the gin!"

A third added: "Awful behaviour from them. I'd be mortified if someone I was staying with asked me to replace something I'd eaten or drank...quite clearly I would have stepped over the line and would have apologised and replaced."

"I would have turned up with booze and flowers minimum. And for a weeks stay bought more and food. They're obviously just using you and haven't the decency to repay your hospitality," another piped up.

Another sympathised with her and said: "Been there done that OP. This is why we no longer allow people to stay during the festival unless they are very good friends."

"OP, I feel for you. We used to get the most random "friends" get in touch every Aug when we lived in Edinburgh. They are not your friends, they are taking advantage of you. Next year just say no," someone else agreed.

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