23-year-old girl uses her friend's credit card without permission during a shopping spree, spends $130 and refuses to pay her back after being confronted: 'Do you really need it back that bad? It was an accident'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Jul 6, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

The foundation of any true friendship is trust. Acts of kindness, such as sharing and generous favors, are meaningful, but they're merely accessories to that foundation. Without trust, those gestures lose their meaning.

When dishonesty begins to seep into the cracks of that foundation, it's important to recognize it early. Address it directly. And if the damage runs too deep, it may be time to question whether the relationship still supports you in the way it once did.

Consider a situation where trust is majorly tested: two friends head out for a fun, girly-time shopping spree. Afterward, one of them accidentally leaves her credit card in the other's car. Days later, she discovers multiple unauthorized purchases on her account (of quite a hefty amount) , yet she is yet to receive a text or an apology, as there is still no sign of "Oh my God, I'm so sorry, I'll send the money back right now."

Something doesn't add up.

At this point, the only option is to confront the issue and ask the difficult question: was this truly an honest mistake due to a card mix-up, or was it a deliberate act of betrayal and theft?

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  • How would you go about handling this difficult situation…?

    On one hand you want to trust your life-long friend and give her the benefit of the doubt, but on the other, the fact that she knows she is in the wrong wrong, yet still choses to turn to excuse after excuse, makes this into a increasingly complicated and potentially the ‘beginning of the end.’

  • 01
    "Either she pays me back by Friday or I'm freezing the friendship like I froze the card'
    via dean-drobot

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

  • 02

    AITA for making my friend pay me back after she “accidentally” used my credit card on a shopping spree?

    Okay sooo this sounds wild, but hear me out. Me (23F) and my best friend Kira (fake name obv) have been tight since high school.
    via SunsetWithAngeles
  • 03
    Like, she's stayed over at my place, we've shared clothes, all that. We trust each other. Last weekend, we went to the
    via SunsetWithAngeles
  • 04
    mall. I bought a few things, and I guess I left my card in her car cupholder after paying for snacks. Didn't even notice it was missing.
    via SunsetWithAngeles
  • 05
    The next day I see THREE random charges on my account: $63 at Sephora, $42 at Zara, and $28 at some food place I don't even like.
    via SunsetWithAngeles
  • 06
    I text her like "uhh girl did you use my card??" and she goes "Omg I thought it was mine!! | swear I didn't mean to. I'll pay I
    via SunsetWithAngeles
  • 07
    you back." Okay cool. Mistakes happen. But like... a week goes by. No money. I follow up, she ghosts me for two
    via SunsetWithAngeles
  • 08
    days, then finally responds saying, "Do you really need it back that bad? It was an accident." BRO. It's not about NEEDING it,
    via SunsetWithAngeles
  • 09
    it's the principle?? $130- something is not "oopsie" money, and she never even offered to drop off the stuff or anything.
    via SunsetWithAngeles
  • 10
    Just used my card and kept it moving. So I told her either she pays me back by Friday or I'm freezing the
    via SunsetWithAngeles
  • 11
    friendship like I froze the card. She called me dramatic and said "I'm ruining a friendship over a simple mistake."
    via SunsetWithAngeles
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10525772288
    via dimaberlinphotos

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

  • 13
    Am I though? AITA for expecting her to make it right even if it. "wasn't on purpose"?
    via SunsetWithAngeles
  • 14
    OK-CANACHK that wasn't an 'oopsie', that was theft NTA ofc
    via Ok_CANACHK
  • 15
    Omnis_hypocrita nta. She spent it, she owes you that money back. And how do you "mistake" a card three times?? She's shady, not you.
    via Omnis_hypocrita
  • 16
    Exotic-Bobcat-4688 Nta. Unless you both have identical looking cards she definitely knew it wasn't hers. If I were you, I'd
    via Exoctic-Bobcat-4688
  • 17
    consider disputing the chargers if she doesn't pay you back within the next week. (I doubt she even will tbh)
    via Exoctic-Bobcat-4688
  • 18
    Royal-Weather4314 Not being paid by now and hearing those excuses without any action would make me question how much of an "accident" it really was.
    via Royal-Weather4314
  • 19
    Tired-CottonCandy "Ruining a friendship" i mean, that requires this person to be a friend in the first place. A friend doesn't rob you like that.
    via Tired-CottonCandy
  • 20
    Hangry Games No, she committed fraud and possibly identity theft. Tell her if she doesn't pay you back within 1 week, that you will have no choice but to file a police report and then call your credit card company. They would likely refund you.
    via Hangry_Games
  • 21
    ShortDeparture7710 If it was a mistake - why is she being weird about paying you back? Because she would have originally been spending that money anyways........
    via ShortDeparture7710
  • 22
    igotchees21 Thats an interesting mistake to make 3 times at 3 different places....
    via igotchees21

Tags

friendship feud stolen drama credit card best friends shopping friends askreddit girlfriends girls friendship-drama dishonest cheezcake theft money
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