26-year-old boyfriend refuses to pay his 22-year-old girlfriend back $240 for a scooter that he promised to buy back from her: 'I feel like I helped him out when he was in a tight spot, and now I’m being put in a corner.'

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Christiana Maimone • Freelance Writer
Jul 10, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

Relationships are a two-way street. Any healthy relationship involves being able to rely on one another when things get hard. Over time, you learn how to work through things like emotional hardships, communication differences, or financial stressors. Love is a give and take, but some people just take and take. If you've had the misfortune of dealing with a freeloading partner, you might relate to this next Reddit story. 

Here, we have a young couple who live together. When money gets tight, the boyfriend sells his scooter to his girlfriend for $200 and agrees to buy it back from her when his finances are more secure. Well, that time comes, and he starts using the scooter again to get to work but refuses to pay his girlfriend back for it. This leaves her scrambling to figure out her transportation for her college courses and wondering why her boyfriend isn't acting like much of a boyfriend. 

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  • 01

    F-22 and M-26 My boyfriend sold me his scooter when he was unemployed, and now that he has a job, he’s demanding it back — but hasn’t paid me back yet.

    Hey everyone, My boyfriend (M26) and I (F22) have been fighting about a scooter for the past two weeks, and it's starting to really affect our relationship.
    via Practical_Task_358
  • 02
    44444
    via Pablo Merchán Montes (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models. 

  • 03
    A couple of months ago, my boyfriend lost his job and was short on rent. He had a scooter, and in need of quick cash, he sold it to me for *20,000 (~$240). 1
    via Practical_Task_358
  • 04
    it to me for 20,000 (~$240). I bought it without hesitation, and we agreed that once he gets a job, he could buy it back from me which I was completely fine with.
    via Practical_Task_358
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    Cheezburger Image 10520943360
    via Pablo Merchán Montes (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models. 

  • 06
    Since we live together, we both continued using the scooter for the next 5 months, but now that he's working again, he needs the scooter. And has been taking it for the past 15 days.
    via Practical_Task_358
  • 07
    Now, here's the problem: I'm starting college next week and will need transportation. So I either need cash for my commute or the scooter. Anyways it's his
    via Practical_Task_358
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    or the scooter. Anyways it's his scooter and I am not forcing him to give me back the scooter all I'm saying is if he can repay me my 20k. I can either buy a new one or it's enough for this semester transportation fee.
    via Practical_Task_358
  • 09
    Although, he's not ready to buy it back as he's saying that I have to service it first only then he'll buy it back. The scooter is a second- hand scooter when he gave to me
    via Practical_Task_358
  • 10
    it was not in a very good condition. I told him I don't think that's fair because: 1. I still technically own the scooter -1 paid for it, and he hasn't repaid me. 2. We've both used it. 3. I think there's no need for me to get it serviced.
    via Practical_Task_358
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    He insists that it's still "his" and that it's on me to get it serviced before giving it back. I feel like I
    via Practical_Task_358
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    before giving it back. I feel like I helped him out when he was in a tight spot, and now I'm being put in a corner.
    via Practical_Task_358
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    am I being unreasonable for not wanting to service the scooter before giving it back to him? Am I the a hole in this equation?
    via Practical_Task_358
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    Cheezburger Image 10520943104
    via Curated Lifestyle (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models. 

  • The people of Reddit have spoken and are clearly on team girlfriend. After all, she bought the scooter from him to help him during a tough time, and when it came time to pay it forward, he fell short. I don't blame the girl for feeling conflicted about this. He showed her that he isn't very reliable. 

  • 15
    cotton_candy_kitty Your boyfriend is taking advantage of your kindness. He relied on you and now he's saying you can't rely on him. He's telling you exactly who he is. Believe it.
    via cotton_candy-kitty
  • 16
    WayOfIntegrity This is BF material? I don't know you, but will say that you can do better.
    via WayOfIntegrity
  • 17
    Dongar00 Keep the scooter get rid of the boyfriend
    via Dongar00
  • 18
    Matilda_Mac The scooter belongs to you. If he doesn't want to buy it back, sell it and get your money back.
    via Matilda_Mac
  • 19
    outofnowhereman 'Boyfriend' lol
    via outofnowhereman
  • 20
    BreezyGofficial Girl, sell the scooter and get your money back. He's not going to pay you. He's going to keep using it until it breaks, then you'll have no money and no scooter just like you do now.
    via BreezyGofficial
  • 21
    KoalaDLR Leave him. On YOUR scooter lol...
    via KoalaDLR
  • 22
    Glittering_Mix_8932 We now see why he may have lost his job. His reasoning skills s k.
    via Glittering_Mix_8932

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Tags

boyfriend aita bad boyfriend AITAH freeloader reddit story relationships scooter girlfriend finances financial pay back exes relationship fails Reddit college
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