Is it rude to take an hour longer than you said to get ready?
Guilty
The short answer
Yes. A time given to someone who is waiting is a promise, and 100 minutes past it is a broken one.
The ruling
From the public record. Names are replaced with roles.
Small claims division
Case no.PC-2026-00142
The boyfriend v. The girlfriend
Filed 10/07/2026
- Plaintiff
- The boyfriend
- Defendant
- The girlfriend
Statement of claim
She said she would be ready at 8. I sat on the couch with my shoes on. It was 9:40. We missed the reservation.
Charge
Material overstatement of readiness, resulting in the loss of a dinner reservation
Judgment
Guilty
Girlfriend found guilty of saying 8 and meaning 9:40
Sentence
The defendant will book and pay for the next dinner, choose the time, and be ready ten minutes before it.
How the court usually rules on this
The court allows a reasonable margin, usually around fifteen minutes, for getting ready. What it does not allow is a confident time that was never realistic. Updating the other person as the delay grows counts in the defendant's favor. Silence followed by a single "almost ready" does not.
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