A four-months-pregnant Redditor returned from Europe to dead fish, parched reptiles, and a ghosting bestie who trashed trust. Veronica, gifted a free room in her boyfriend’s five-bed home, skipped rent, neglected pets, and spread vicious gossip.
Fuming and facing thousands in damages, the couple eyes lawsuits. Reddit’s hooked on this friendship flop, debating justified justice versus petty payback in a saga of betrayal and tanked tanks.
Woman sues her ex-friend for unpaid rent and pet neglect after betrayal and defamation.
In this story, our generous Redditor and her boyfriend opened their home to Veronica, a self-proclaimed “bff” who’d been job-hopping like it was an Olympic sport.
No written lease, just texts sealing a sweet $800/month deal (utilities included!) for a private bedroom and bath.
Veronica delayed payments, quit seven gigs over “bad vibes,” and splurged on massages and meet-cute trips while claiming broke status.
The real kicker was that she volunteered to pet-sit during a three-week Europe getaway, pocketing $100 for reptile chow but leaving a disaster zone: dehydrated reptiles, dead fish, filthy tanks, and missing supplies.
The Redditor spent hours cleaning and hundreds replacing losses, only for Veronica to bail silently, block everyone, and launch smear campaigns, including wild rants to the OP’s manager and a friend suggesting pregnancy termination.
Flip the script, and Veronica’s defenders might paint her as a struggling soul drowning in financial woes.
Some friends of the Redditor even hesitated on the lawsuit, citing her money troubles and the initial plan to let bygones be.
But let’s be real: motivations here scream entitlement. Veronica wasn’t just flaky. She exploited kindness, neglected responsibilities (pets aren’t optional decoration), and escalated with defamation that threatened jobs and peace.
This saga spotlights broader roommate horrors and the perils of informal agreements.
According to a 2023 Apartment List survey, over 40% of renters have dealt with unreliable roommates, often leading to disputes over utilities or damages.
Family-like bonds complicate it further. Think blurred lines between favor and contract. Psychologist Dr. Suzanne Degges-White notes in a Psychology Today article, “When we mix friendship with finances without clear boundaries, resentment brews fast because expectations clash with reality”.
Here, it rings true: The Redditor’s pet care trust shattered, amplified by pregnancy stress, while Veronica’s bad-mouthing added emotional sabotage. The expert’s take urges written leases and open money talks upfront, solid advice to dodge this dumpster fire.
Opposing views deserve airtime too: Financial hardship is real, and suing someone broke might feel like kicking a puppy. Yet actions have ripple effects. Pet neglect is cruelty indeed, especially for a zookeeper pouring love into her critters.
Neutral ground? Document everything next time: texts as pseudo-contracts, receipts for expenses. Solutions include small claims court for rent/damages (often under $10K, no lawyer needed) and countering defamation with evidence like screenshots.
Broaden it: Society’s “help a friend” ethos is sweet but risky, as stats from the National Multifamily Housing Council show informal sublets spike evictions 25% higher than leased ones.
Here’s what people had to say to OP:
Some say the ex-friend earned consequences by her actions.
Some call her a parasite and urge suing without hesitation.
Some advise legal steps and future precautions.
Some note badmouthing escalated the need to sue.
In the end, this Redditor’s lawsuit feels less like revenge and more like reclaiming what’s owed after a betrayal bonanza, from ghosted rent to ghostly fish.
Do you think suing for $4,800 plus damages is fair game when bad-mouthing hits jobs and pregnancy joy, or should compassion for her “struggles” win out?
How would you handle a flaky friend turned foe: contract everything, or risk the heartstrings? Share your hot takes with us!
