AITA for replacing room keys for $2 to avoid a $250 fee in our housing units?
In a small, overlooked dorm just beyond the college's reach, students grapple not only with their stud*es but with a frustrating, silent battle over the worn-out room keys.
These fragile magnetic cards, handed down through countless hands and years, carry the weight of locked doors and mounting stress, their fading stripes a daily reminder of a system that overlooks the human cost of convenience.
For those like the narrator, who work late into the night, the $250 penalty for a lost or malfunctioning card isn't just a fee—it's a barrier to safety, independence, and peace of mind.
The struggle to come and go freely becomes a quiet ordeal, revealing a deeper story of resilience amid neglect and the yearning for dignity in a place meant to be home.
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The original poster (OP) faced a significant financial burden and practical difficulty due to the housing company's excessive $250 fee for replacing faulty, old key cards, which directly conflicted with their need to access their home after working late hours.
In response, the OP chose to bypa*s this policy by using technology to clone replacement cards for themselves and others at a minimal cost, essentially creating an unauthorized, affordable service.
Was the OP justified in undermining the management's high-cost policy to provide necessary relief to fellow residents facing an unreasonable fee, or did their actions const*tute theft of service and a genuine security risk that warrants management's intervention?
The debate centers on whether equitable access outweighs strict adherence to a financially exploitative contractual term.
Commenters Came in Hot with Their Takes:
The internet jumped in fast, delivering everything from kind advice to cold truth. It’s a mix of empathy, outrage, and no-nonsense takes.