Cheap dude steals neighbor's WiFi for a year, begs her to split it after she changes the password: 'You were literally stealing from me for a year? And now you want to negotiate?'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Dec 7, 2025 8:00 AM EST

He should pay for her Wi-Fi for a year and some change if he wants to keep using it!

Nobody likes paying for essentials. The fact that I have to pay for the lights to go on in my apartment is kind of annoying, but it has to be done! I'd much rather put that $100 into something fun, but doing necessary things over fun things is what adulting is all about. You don't want to pay to live in a house with a working fridge, but that's what you've got to do. 

There are always areas where you can cut corners to pay less on your living expenses. It's much cheaper to live with four roommates than to live alone. You can always live in a less safe area to save money on rent. You might choose to cook all of your meals at home instead of eating out. You may live in a frigid house in the winter to save a couple of hundred bucks on heating. We all have some areas we're willing to compromise on to bring down our cost of living. 

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  • A man laying on a bed holding a cell phone
    via Andrej Lišakov (Unsplash+)

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

  • One thing you can scrimp on is Wi-Fi by purchasing the cheapest, worst Wi-Fi on the market. The guy in this story went one step further. He decided to use his neighbor's Wi-Fi instead of buying his own. When she found and changed the password a year later, he begged her to go splitzies with him.

  • My neighbor has been using my Wi-Fi for a year and now they're asking me to split the bill

    I live in an apartment and about a week ago my internet was acting super slow. Called the provider and they sent a tech out. Guy takes a look and says that I have like 3 devices connected that aren't
    via u/ToasttterGoblin
  • mine. Turns out my neighbor somehow got my password (I think from the previous tenant maybe?) and has been using my wifi this whole time.
    via u/ToasttterGoblin
  • Man wearing headphones looking at computer screen
    via Vitaly Gariev

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

  • I changed the password obviously and the next day theres a note under my door. Its from the neighbor apologizing but also asking if we could "work something out"
    via u/ToasttterGoblin
  • since their financial situation is tight and they cant afford internet right now. They offered to pay half my bill going forward if I give them the new password.
    via u/ToasttterGoblin
  • Part of me feels bad cause I get being broke, I've been there. I actually have some money saved up now though. But also like... you were literally stealing from me for a year? And now you want to negotiate?
    via u/ToasttterGoblin
  • Headshot of good looking young female in glasses isolated on gray background with head turned leftwards scratching chin with fingers in deep thinking with uncertain expression and doubt on face
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

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

  • We share a wall and I can hear everything. If I say no I'm worried it'll get awkward or they'll resent me. They seem nice otherwise, we've chatted a few times in the hallway. But this whole thing feels manipulative somehow?
    via u/ToasttterGoblin
  • Kryptonite-Rose Tell them you are using the WIFI for work purposes and due to security can no longer share.
    via u/Kryptonite-Rose
  • Educational-Mind2359 I think most people are going to say no don't do it. Your internet will be slower and if they do some questionable things on your network it could get you in trouble.
    via u/Educational-Mind2359
  • QwestionAsker Short answer: no, don't do it Long answer: if anything they Owe YOU money for using half your internet for all that time. you don't owe them anything. They literally stole from you.
    via u/QwestionAsker
  • GUN_COLLECTOR Are you going to pay their rent next or support their new born child? Maybe go half on car insurance.
    via u/GUN_COLLECTOR
  • Traditional-Stage-12 No fuck them Imao, unless they want to backpay you for all the internet they already stole, And even then you gonna have slow internet speeds
    via u/Traditional-Stage-12
  • GVtt3rSLVT Dude if I can use your WiFi, I can access anything on your devices.
    via u/GVtt3rSLVT
  • craptasticluke If you otherwise have a good relationship with this person and are comfortable communicating with them every month to get their share, I wouldn't blame you for helping them out. But you definitely aren't obligated to. The only real concern here is if they might use your internet to access or download illegal content, you could potentially get in legal trouble since the service is under your name. Just something to keep in mind.
    via u/craptasticluke
  • MinionofMinions Some routers let you have a "guest" account that limits the throughput. You could still share and not have to worry about slow internet, plus get some cash out of it.
    via u/MinionofMinions
  • anonymous-12358 It's a security risk on top of your neighbour being an asshole.
    via u/anonymous-12358
  • Moon_Frost People need to grow a backbone. Why are you feeling sorry for someone that's been stealing from you? Personally I'd tell them their lucky you don't report them. Worried about awkwardness and resentment from a thief... Christ.. If they were broke and wanted to do this, they could have asked first as a sign of respect, being broke is no excuse for this. For starters, even if you had the bandwidth to support them without affecting you, would you really trust someone like that on your hom
    via u/Moon_Frost

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broke poor stealing internet password wifi advice Bad Neighbor Reddit theft cheap apartment
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