‘He’s now my personal debt collector’: Man adds friend to his phone plan during financial hardship, but his friend refuses to return the favor when the man's finances are affected by the government shutdown

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Nov 16, 2025 9:00 PM EST

When we fall on hard times, we can only hope that our support systems will take care of us as we once took care of them at one point in their lives.

Money is a fickle thing, isn't it? When we have a large sum of currency, we feel like we're on top of the world. Our superpower is spending money without checking our banking app, treating strangers to a round at the bar, and picking up the bill at dinner with friends, no questions asked. It feels good to do something generous for others, and knowing that you're making a difference in someone's life is an irreplaceable feeling.

This is what friends are for. You'd probably be taken aback if you found that a friend you've helped out refused to do the same for you. It's an emotional whiplash that strikes a nerve and makes you wonder: "Were they ever really my friend at all?"

Top 10 hardest pills to swallow, for sure. The man in the story below, who is the sole provider for a family of five, is struggling financially due to this year's government shutdown. He explains that when his childhood friend needed a helping hand a year ago, he helped him, no questions asked. The man has an unfortunate awakening when he realizes that his childhood "friend" doesn't actually want to help him, and only cares if he is directly affected. Scroll to read.

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  • 01
    portrait of an unhappy man with coffee looking out of a window
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    "AITA for feeling so frustrated that I’ve decided I’ll pay my debt but cut my ‘friend’ off afterwards?"

    I've a childhood buddy, we have in the past helped each other out when necessary like best friends should.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 03
    He was going through a bind with no phone and asked to join my phone plan I said sure!
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 04
    All I asked for in return was for him to mail my important documents I left at his place, Since he lives 6-8 hours away from where I now live.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 05
    He agreed. I informed him of the time limit I had, Yet he lied about mailing it and dragged his feet to do it.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 06
    I got the document 2 months later after the deadline and I lost out on money (1500)I spent.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 07
    I was pretty pissed but I chucked it as water under the bridge. Almost a year later now I've hit a rough patch & have been maxing out my credit cards just to keep my head above water with bills.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 08
    I never asked for a hand out but each time I called my friend to let him know my situation and that I had to do a payment arrangement he never answered.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 09
    The government shutdown hit me like punch to the gut and I've found myself choosing which bills are most important to pay first.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 10
    man checking his empty wallet
    via Curated Lifestyle For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 11
    I wasn't able to push the phone bill arrangement back in time and it shut our phones off.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 12
    He then called a million times and I woke up to all of the notifications afterwards.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 13
    I expressed my deepest apologies for that and asked that he understand that I'm the sole provider for a family of 5 with no parents to help out and I am struggling to make ends meet.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 14
    i said I'd pay the bill when I can. My buddy said he was on a trip and he really needed the phone so he paid the bill and in doing that it ruined everything leaving him broke.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 15
    I felt like shit until I found out from his own mouth days later that his mom was The one who paid not even him, So I asked how was he broke from paying the bill and he tried to lie but just admitted his money was already just too low to continue the trip.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 16
    This all happened a week ago literally. Despite me reassuring him telling him I will give him the money when I can, He continues to hound me as if i wouldn't pay him back.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 17
    I never owe people-ever I always pay what I owe I'm just going through a rough patch right now.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 18
    He removed himself from the bill immediately and basically told me the cashier at T-Mobile said he didn't have to pay the bill and he could just get his phone off the line leaving me with a suspended line but he didn't.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 19
    I thanked him for it but I dislike the way he's going about things, This the same friend who I helped almost a year ago without question.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 20
    Yet he's now my personal debt collector .. Am i the A hole for wanting to curse him out for giving help I never even asked for and then demanding a quick pay off as if I didn't already tell him I am struggling ?!
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243
  • 21
    I also want this to be our last conversation I quite frankly would rather not have a friend like him, My problem isn't that I've to pay him back it's just his whole attitude and approach.
    via DraftPuzzleheaded243

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