From Overcharged Student to Petty Avenger: The Tale of Fishy Revenge and a Bedside Surprise
Ever paid extra for something you never received? Most of us have, and usually, we grumble, maybe leave a scathing review, and move on. But what if you’d been overcharged for an entire year—while the person getting your “premium” service barely bothered to show up? On Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge, one former student’s tale of silent suffering, ignored notes, and one unforgettable act of olfactory vengeance has captivated thousands.
This is not just a story of student housing woes; it’s a masterclass in pettiness, a demonstration of what happens when you push a stressed-out, grieving, 21-year-old just a little too far. And, as the Reddit comments reveal, there’s more than one way to slice a story like this.
The Setup: When Room Assignments Go Rogue
Our anonymous hero (let’s call them “OP” for Original Poster, in true Reddit fashion) was just trying to survive their final year of college. They’d shelled out extra cash each month for a larger, better room in a shared house—a premium, by student standards. But when move-in day came, the prized space had already been claimed by another tenant, who was rarely seen and never keen on conversation.
Most of us, upon realizing we were paying £40 more a month for less, would have immediately fired off emails to the letting agency or staged a dramatic confrontation. Not OP. As they later explained in an edit, life was already overwhelming: “I was a 21 year who was trying to get through his final year at college without failing and whilst grieving a close family member. I didn’t have the bandwidth or personality back then to just sort it out so simply as I would do now and I didn’t like confrontation.” Sometimes, the path of least resistance means swallowing the injustice… for a while.
The Boiling Point: When Petty Revenge Becomes the Only Option
As the months ticked by, OP tried subtle diplomacy—leaving notes for the room thief, asking him to pay the difference or, at the very least, acknowledge the situation. But the imposter’s vanishing act continued: in, out, silent, gone. By the time graduation loomed, OP’s patience had evaporated.
What’s a wronged tenant to do? According to Redditor u/cynic_male, “Good on you, for not only the turd but also the fish.” Yes, you read that right. Petty revenge took the form of a “massive dog turd in his bed,” and, for good measure, “a few smelly fish in his wardrobe and in the pockets of his suits.” OP admitted, “Wish I’d seen his face when he got back, probably several days later, to the smell.”
It’s the kind of move that splits the room—literally and figuratively. One commenter, u/redthrull, couldn’t resist the pop culture nod: “Be honest. You did an Amber Heard, didn’t you?” (OP’s reply: “Hehehe you win the internet for today.”) Another user, u/GreyGnome, riffed on the classic, “So long and thanks—here’s all the fish!”
The Reddit Peanut Gallery: Wisdom, Skepticism, and Schadenfreude
If there’s one thing Reddit loves, it’s an armchair quarterback. The top comments almost unanimously wondered: why not just tell the agency and get the room switched, or at least have your rent adjusted? As u/TenaCVols asked, “Just curious as to why you didn’t tell the agency that you were in a different room so they could adjust your rent accordingly?” The follow-up from u/Quendor was even more pointed: “Why do that when they could just fume silently for several months and still be out hundreds of pounds for nothing?”
OP defended their actions (or inactions), pointing out how overwhelming life can be at 21, especially with personal grief and academic stress. It’s a sentiment many can relate to, even if hindsight makes for easy judgment. As OP shot back to one doubter, “I was just a young student who didn’t know much about the world, I’m sure you didn’t have everything figured out at 21 did you?”
Others just came for the show. “Then he wouldn’t have a story to post on Reddit years later?” mused u/Massive_Squirrel7733, nailing the meta-narrative. And u/OpeningReputation252 captured the crowd’s mood: “Not even an idiot would do this! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣”
The Aftermath: Smelly Suits and Lessons Learned
We may never know exactly how the room thief reacted to the aromatic surprise, but the point, as many commenters noted, wasn’t about justice—it was about catharsis. The petty, the silly, the slightly unhinged: that’s the essence of r/PettyRevenge, a place where small victories over life’s unfairness are celebrated with upvotes and fish puns.
There’s a lesson here, but it’s not about property management. It’s about the power of petty revenge when all else fails—and the joy of sharing it with thousands of strangers online. As u/GreyGnome observed, the post was a “layered” act of pettiness, with OP’s final retorts to critics delivering a little revenge of their own.
Conclusion: Would You Have Done the Same?
So, dear reader: what’s your threshold for pettiness? Would you have confronted the agency, or does the idea of a silent, smelly strike appeal to your inner avenger? Maybe you’ve got a story of your own—one that didn’t make sense in the moment, but makes for a killer tale years later.
Drop your thoughts in the comments: should OP have just called the agency—or does this dog-fish combo deserve a standing ovation? And remember: sometimes, the best revenge isn’t just cold. It’s fishy.
What’s your take on petty revenge? Would you have handled this differently? Share your stories below and let’s see who can top the “fish in the suit” move!
Original Reddit Post: Got my money's worth