Customer refuses to pay crocheter for her work because she accidentally sent the payment to the wrong person, demands she give items to her anyway: 'I don't think I should just hand over the items since I wasn't paid.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Nov 17, 2025 11:00 AM EST

You shouldn't accept something for free just because you made a mistake.

If you've ever worked in retail, you've likely experienced this situation. Someone will come up to the cash register with an item that's missing a price tag and, in their quest to figure out the real price, will make the hackneyed joke, "So does that mean it's free?" I'm sure that nobody making that joke thinks it's particularly original, nor do they mean it as an earnest inquiry. Still, it's difficult to pretend that you find it amusing after having heard it 100 times already.

Everyone wants to get a good deal, but very few of us are willing to manipulate, lie, or steal to achieve that. It's way better for your soul to merely wait until an item is on sale or lowball the eBay lister to sell you an item listed as $100 for $20 than to commit credit card fraud or identity theft so you can buy a macrame bedroom decoration. That sounds like an obvious thing to say, but not everyone thinks that way, and they don't need to break the law to scam their way out of paying for crocheted products.

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • A woman is crocheting yarn into a garment
    via Tanaphong Toochinda

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

  • The coworker in this story is a textbook manipulator, and the woman she's trying to “buy” crocheted items from is a textbook doormat. The coworker “accidentally” sent the money for the items to the wrong person, and she thinks that means she should get them for free.

  • Am I the bad guy for requiring payment for my work after initial payment was sent to the wrong person?

    I crochet and few months ago I crocheted some items for a coworker. I'm usually fairly lenient on payment bc we don't make a lot of money and I know things can be tight.
    via u/jenkinscraftingco
  • I made the items and as I said it's been a few months now and I'm still waiting for payment. Recently another coworker said they would pay the money so the first coworker could get the items.
    via u/jenkinscraftingco
  • A smart business man pulling a credit card out of his front pocket
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

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

  • The problem is they sent payment electronically to the wrong. person on a payment app. They of course contacted this other person to get the money back but it looks like the person it was sent to isn't going to return the funds.
    via u/jenkinscraftingco
  • While I feel bad this happened, I still need to get paid for the work I did for the agreed upon price. It's a lot of money to be out, but I don't think I should just hand over the items since I wasn't paid. It sucks the money is gone, and I don't wish that on anyone, but I still spent time and my own funds getting the materials and making the order.
    via u/jenkinscraftingco
  • A group of balls of yarn sitting on top of white fabric
    via Natalia Blauth (Unsplash+)

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

  • I feel bad, so AITAH for still requiring payment even though now more money is going to have to be paid?
    via u/jenkinscraftingco
  • VelvetCharmiez You're not the bad guy here. Their mistake doesn't turn your work into a freebie. You put in time, materials, and effort, and that has value. If they sent the cash to the wrong person, that's on them to fix or eat the loss. You're allowed to hold the items until you get paid. It's business, not drama.
    via u/VelvetCharmiez
  • jenkinscraftingco OP That makes sense My husband says it's the same if you mean to pay one bill but you're accidentally pay another. you still have to pay the original bill. they're not going to care or erase your debt just bc you spent your money on another company.
    via u/jenkinscraftingco
  • I just feel bad because to me it's a lot of money to be out and I would legit cry if it was me. She seemed real upset but, I still need payment. I guess I just needed to hear it (read it) back to myself and stop second guessing. Thank you :)
    via u/jenkinscraftingco
  • DesperateLobster69 "She seemed real upset" BECAUSE SHE WAS ACTING!!! AND SHE TRULY DOESN'T WANT TO/ISN'T GOING TO PAY YOU!!!!!!!!!! Tell the leeches you require payment upfront & without it, you won't be making them SHIT!!!! Full stop. No discussion. No back & forth. It is what it is!!
    via u/DesperateLobster69
  • SunnyPsyOp23 If you were robbed and someone stole your rent money, you would still have to pay your rent. Whoever this person is must lead a charmed life to think this way.
    via u/SunnyPsyOp23
  • jenkinscraftingco OP I suppose, though they aren't off better financially from me, at least not by much. I try to be sympathetic and I'm not banging their door down or anything.
    via u/jenkinscraftingco
  • Part of me thinks they thought I'd just say I felt bad and hand over the stuff, but I can't do that. I did tell them I'd be listing the items online if they couldn't pay to recoup the cost and time I put in. They can still pay up until it's sold but I can't just hold on to these items indefinitely.
    via u/jenkinscraftingco
  • meanbunny96 Put the items up for sale, this coworker is playing the sympathy card to get free items from you OP. Even if it was a genuine mistake, then it will be a lesson for them to pay better attention and check the details before sending a large sum of money. Giving them the items for free wouldn't be helpful because there would be no repercussions for the mistake they made. Honestly just sounds like this coworker is trying to get these items from you without paying and it's pretty scammy
    via u/meanbunny96
  • Entry-Party NTA. Are you absolutely certain that she paid the money to the wrong person, or is she saying that to avoid paying you? Even if she did pay the wrong person, that's her problem not yours. She gets the items when you get your money.
    via u/Entry-Party
  • jenkinscraftingco OP To be honest I'm not 100% certain since I never saw the receipt sent. but she gave me the name of the account and while their name is similar to mine in the payment app, person's picture looks like my photo negative. So it's very obvious looking at their picture that that person is not me
    via u/jenkinscraftingco
  • Entry-Party Jeez! If she's that thorough at checking the details of the person she sent money to, no wonder she sent it to the wrong person! (presumably).
    via u/Entry-Party
  • angelicak92 They can talk to the bank about reversing the payment. It's not a you problem. They still need to pay. Nta
    via u/angelicak92
  • jenkinscraftingco OP Ooh I didn't know that was an option. Maybe I should suggest that?
    via u/jenkinscraftingco
  • Alternative-Dig-2066 It depends on the method. Zelle is apparently unreverseable.
    via u/Alternative-Dig-2066

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

terrible coworkers customer service crochet work coworkers customers Crocheted reddit story entitled customers karen coworker reddit thread Reddit coworker karen customer
Scroll Down For The Next Article