In a modern friend group, it’s inevitable that you’re going to split costs with your pals using Venmo from time to time. However, it also means that there will be ample opportunity for people to abuse their Venmo privileges. Divvying up the dinner bill is one thing, but nickel-and-diming everybody when they eat some of your old tortilla chips is taking things TOO FAR. (And yes, I am looking at MY OWN FRIENDS when I say this.)
Recently, Nicole Cliffe asked her Twitter followers to share the pettiest Venmo charges they’ve ever received.
What is the most unreasonable Venmo request you or a friend has ever received? (I am inspired by a guy who unexpectedly Venmo’d his friends the next day for the cost of the food he cooked them for dinner.)
— Nicole Cliffe (@Nicole_Cliffe) May 29, 2018
The responses were proof that I am not the only one who begrudges someone for Venmoing their own guests at a potluck.
Honestly, some of these petty requests make me feel true, physical anger.
Daughter of college friends (not close) moved here after school. They asked if I could give her career advice. Took her to upscale restaurant, advised, offered introductions. Leaving, I offered to pay her valet. She said she parked on street. Parents Venmo’d me for meter money.
— Citizen Chug (@CitizenChug) May 29, 2018
A friend split a hotel room with another woman at a wedding, then got sexiled and didn’t sleep there. Still got the Venmo request, though. (Everyone in this story is over the age of 35.)
— Sarah (@sosomanysarahs) May 29, 2018
Friends had a wedding reception in Vegas and table service at a club afterwards. Too many people for the table, my wife was pregnant and secretly not drinking, fine, we had a drink and left. Next week the groom sent everyone a spreadsheet with how much we all owed for the table.
— nathan edwards (@nedwards) May 29, 2018
My friend ordered three martinis and I had club soda and she tried to split the bill evenly at the end and then made a big sad show about being worried about overdrawing her account when I refused. Sorry, lady.
— socallmeshirley (@socallmeshirley) May 29, 2018
I was charged for a glass of wine I drank (it was $12 wine), when invited over to dinner. Kicker, I also brought wine but chose to drink some of the bottle already opened that was offered to me. I left $19 wine with dinner invitees.
— Christina Warren (@film_girl) May 29, 2018
Group potluck. We all brought sides and wine (some even brought entrees). Friend cooked one main dish, which was burgers sous-vide. Machine wasn’t working. We waited two hours to eat near raw burgers. Got venmo-ed the next day for the meat.
— Shane Pangburn (@shanepang) May 29, 2018
Had one bite of one pickle and whoops now we’re splitting this $17 pickle plate evenly, sure do wish I’d known that before I expressed curiosity about the pickles
— Grace C Phillips (@gracekelly812) May 29, 2018
A friend got Venmo’d by a Tinder date for the cost of her single coffee the next day because she didn’t go home with him. He’d paid for her even though she repeatedly said she’d pay for herself.
— EM (@mclaineileen) May 29, 2018
However, some people actually used Venmo PAYMENTS as an opportunity to be petty.
When I am in a good mood I Venmo friends 2¢ and a compliment.
— AJ (@ajchavar) May 29, 2018
Not exactly the same thing, but I like to send my buddy small amounts when he’s being petty. Like he complained I sloshed his beer so sent him .02.
— Rob K (@roberthenryk) May 29, 2018
In the end, though, let’s be honest: if you’re going to be this fussy about your food, maybe you shouldn’t be sharing it with other people??
I was once sent a Venmo request for 38 cents for my part of a shared jar of salsa
— Ashley Dobson (@ashleyddobson) May 29, 2018