Utah nail tech’s sweetest client asks to pay her with lunch instead of money. Then she sees the Venmo notification: ‘The audacity of this girl’

A Utah nail technician says what began as a promising client relationship turned into a lesson about setting firm business boundaries after a series of increasingly unusual requests culminated in an unexpected Venmo payment that left her stunned. TikTok creator Shel Cole (@myfavfoodispasta) shared the story in a multi-part viral video series.

According to Cole, the client first booked a pedicure while Cole was still in nail school. The appointment went well, and the two discovered they had several shared interests. Cole said she believed she had gained a regular customer. However, problems began during later appointments.

Cole said the client repeatedly asked whether she could remove an ingrown toenail despite being told several times that nail technicians are not medical providers and that treating ingrown toenails falls outside their scope of practice. After Cole declined, the client also contacted her instructor with the same request, but received the same answer.

Then the payment issues started

As the appointments continued, Cole said the client also asked to delay payments until payday, requested multiple free adjustments after deciding her nails were too long, and even asked whether Cole would travel to her home to file them shorter. Cole declined and instead scheduled the appointment after the client’s payday.

Before another appointment, Cole quoted the client $50 for a nail set after discussing the requested design over text messages. According to Cole, the client then asked whether she could buy her lunch instead of paying for the service.

Cole said she reiterated that payment would be $50, due at the time of the appointment. The client responded that she respected those policies.

Shortly afterward, Cole received a Venmo notification. Instead of sending the full amount, the client transferred $40 and included a note indicating she would pay the rest later. Cole said she was shocked by what she saw. “I could not believe the audacity of this girl.”

In a follow-up video, Cole displayed a screenshot that she said showed the $40 payment with a message stating, “Saturday nails. I’ll pay more Tuesday if needed.”

Cole said she immediately reminded the client that the remaining $10 would still be due during the appointment. The following day, she said the client again suggested paying with food rather than money before her husband ultimately sent the remaining balance along with a $5 tip.

Then came the disappearing Instagram video

Cole said the relationship ended after another appointment during which the client arrived late and later sent what Cole described as an inappropriate disappearing Instagram video while asking for medical advice. Cole said she blocked the client immediately afterward.

Reflecting on the experience, Cole said the situation changed how she approaches her business. “The whole situation really taught me that being kind and being a pushover are not the same thing,” she said in the video. “You can be professional, and you can be kind, and you can still have boundaries.”