[I forget] or [I forgot]

[ansonman]

Suppose that you met someone by chance at a store last week. Today, you meet him again at a park.

(1a) You say, "It's nice to see you again. Sorry. I forget your name."

(1b) You say, "It's nice to see you again. Sorry. I forgot your name."

Some of my non-native friends think the simple present "forget" is correct because you still forget his name. My other friends think the simple past "forgot" is correct because his name is out of your memory already.

Which tense is correct? Thanks.

[Alan]

Yes, 'forget' (meaning here "have forgotten") happens to be the more natural choice.

This is an idiomatic anomaly applying only to this verb.