what would you do if a family member owned you money and refused to pay?

Answer 1

forget about the money as you should not spoil the relations. That relative will never come to you to lend the money again, u know.

Answer 2

Tough question - depends on a few details....like, how much money ? Why did you lend it ? Did you get an agreement to be repaid in writing ? And, most importantly, how important is it to you to be repaid ? If you have lent money and this family member is refusing to repay without any legal intervention (like small claims court) then you will need to consider just what it will do to your relationship with that person (and with the rest of the family) if you pursue it. The bottom line is that rarely - if ever - does anything positive come from having to legally pursue repayment. If the family member you loaned to does not have the integrity to repay without legal intervention, then you will gain little by pursuing it.

(And just a note about Small Claims Court - you are still going to have to be able to prove that the loan took place. If you don't have it in writing then you will be presening "parol" evidence - verbal evidence. You-said-she-said kind of thing. Judge Judy. The People's Court. You may say it was a loan; they may deny any money exchanged hands whatsoever - or - if it did, then it was a gift and not a loan. You will need back up -- other people - to testify that, indeed, you did loan the money. Otherwise, you are out of luck there, too.)

Bottom line is that when you loan money to family, you need to think if it in terms of a gift. Or, it has to be a loan, in writing, with agreed-upon penalties for a failure to repay.

Hard, hard lessons.....

Answer 3

Several times, politely ask the family member to repay you. If you don't get repaid, don't loan money to that person again.

The same thing happened to me, except it was a friend. And the friend kept buying herselp new things, not repaying me. So the next time she got behind in her bills, she asked me for a small loan to help her until she gets her paycheck. I said, "Sorry that I don't have any extra money." I remained friends with her. Not worth breaking a good friendship up over money. I just won't be her lender anymore.

Answer 4

Is the relationship worth wrecking over money? Isn't family more important and don't you feel good helping someone? I always figure I can make more money, but not relatives. Just don't loan them anymore. If you loan money, you should always ask yourself, am I comfortable with NOT getting the money back?

Answer 5

Depending on the amount of money it was. If a large amount then take them to small claims court. If it was not an amount worth going to court over then I would take it as a lesson learned and not lend them anything again.

Answer 6

depending on how much, just let it go and let them know they will never get anything else till they do right by me. If it's a lot, small claims court, but you'll ruin your relationship. But that's probably already in the crapper. And if it where me, and it's already in the crapper, A boot in the booty will soon follow as well. The dragon don't play no funky monkey with my money.

Answer 7

I would take the person to court and never loan anyone money,especially in your family.

Answer 8

I would talk to him/her and just inform him/her that the money was loaned in good faith and if he/she is decent enough, he/she should pay as soon as possible.

Answer 9

That's a tough one.
Make payment arrangements with them, including paperwork, have them sign the paperwork.
If they still won't pay, you have their signature take them to court.

Answer 10

oh i have been through it..and i tell you, they're gonna pay for that! and they pay my money.no one mess with my belonging..especially my money.