My brother owes me money and refuses to pay it back,what are my options?

Question

Last October I lent my brother 2500.00 against my better judgment.He needed to pay off his restitution,and buy a dependable vehicle for work.He had agreed to pay me back 200 a month.I have seen only 40 dollars a month payments,and then it was 10,and now nothing.I tried to be patient and supportive of him while he was trying to make ends meet and pay me back at the same time.Now he refuses to pay anything back,and he only owes 1920.00,aftre I deducted 500 because he helped me move.I really dont want to take my brother to court,but I cant afford to be out of this money.Advice only please and save the smart aleck responses.I know I went against my better judgment,but family is supposed to try to help one another out.

Answer 1

I don't think you should take him to court, depending on how much proof you have that he owes you the money, you might not win. Suing a family member is really sad and even though he owes it to you and should not take advantage of that love, your relationship is not worth that money. He should be thinking the same way and should want to pay you back.
It sounds like you will need to make this easy for him. I don't know if he would get an extra part time job for a couple of months so he can pay you back ASAP and get rid of that debt. If you were willing to make compromise and think he might not pay you back suggest halving the money he owes you and have him pay you $100 a month for 10 months and then get him to help you out with other things you might need (like you did for moving). Get him to do yard work if you have a yard, have him wash your windows or shampoo your carpet. It is difficult to know what will work but you will have better luck by giving him a lot of options.

Answer 2

Unless you go to court, there's really no reason to ever speak of money to him again.
Since he is not listening (or paying) there's no reason to waste your time or effort on this subject. You have learned about your brother's adult character the hard way, through experience, and paid $2,000 for the lesson.
Don't pay any more.
Many good families give NO financial help to each other, ever. This includes anything, even letting someone use a car for an errand. There is no rule that you must pay money to be a good family member.

Forget the debt, but don't make the same mistake. Your brother will quickly learn to victimize his friends, in-laws, total strangers, if you refuse him more money. Let those people pay his way, for a change.

Answer 3

I agree with you that family is suppose to help each other out and since I have been on both your side of this situation and your brother's side of this I know how you both feel. It is possible that your brother feels that he has all the time in the world to pay you back. Try talking to him and explaining that you need the money and that you would appreciate it if he could pay you even just small amounts every time he gets paid and you need to try to be understanding that times are tough and it may take a long time for him to pay you back. I have come to terms with the fact that I will never get paid back the money I loaned out, as for the money I had borrowed I paid that back when I got my taxes back the year that I borrowed it for the simple fact that I could not afford to take any extra money out of my checks. In fact I was having to pick and choose which bills to pay; if that is the kind of situation that your brother is in then please continue to be patient, perhaps he can pay you back with his tax return (if he has not gotten it yet) but if he is out spending extra money and you know this for a fact then I would lose my patience but unless you have it in writing there really is nothing that you could do leagally well you could but I don't think that anyone really wants to do that to their own family.

Answer 4

Seriously, sit down with your brother, and try to come to an agreeable payment plan that he can stick to. Then draw up a document that states this and have him sign it.

Then you will have some recourse to get it back from him by going to court if necessary.

Otherwise, I think you need to be a little bit tougher, even though he is your brother, he is taking advantage of you and the fact you ARE family.

Show him you are serious. That you NEED the money back, then try and show him you are willing to work with him to make it so he can pay you back in a reasonable amount of time.

If that doesn't work, well, then you have learned a valuable lesson for the future....trust NO one....even family.

Answer 5

Well I'm kind of in the same situation as you. My brothers my only brother and I love him with all my heart. Money's money but family's worth more. My brother ask me to borrow more money off of me I told him I love him but I won't give him another red cent. I figure if he can live with the thought of owing his sister money more power to him. He may owe me but I won't let money destroy us.

Answer 6

Sorry to hear that, The reality is you lost out on that money, be the better brother and take the loss. In 1999 I let my brother borrow $1,500 it's now 2015...I received 1 payment of $500 in 2011 and the worse thing he is well off, 2 cars, new home, great job and his side business....but I learn to use it to my advantage, If anybody ask me, if they can borrow money I say "NO", They always say "why?" and I say, "If my own brother won't pay me, you definitely won't pay me".

Answer 7

Hopefully you got this loan down in some kind of writing...other wise if you take him to court it is your word against his.
Talk to him one more time...explain your situation and that you helped him out when he needed it and now you need the money back...so he needs to take care of the debt.
If that does not get it then you will have to go the court route...if nothing in writing, like I said...it will be your word against his. That leaves it up to the judge to decide.
I don't think I would have anything to do with my brother for awhile after this...then when you do...don't loan money anymore.

be cool...

Answer 8

see if your brother is being clear that he wont be giving your money back so you should better ask him the following things
1)why
2)if yes-then when
3)why did he broke your trust

but remember one thing money can flow at any time especially when family matters.
one should never lend money without keeping a stamp paper record

Answer 9

I agree... you learned the hard way. Never lend money you can't afford to lose. If you're giving money to friends and family, you have to expect that it might not come back to you, but is that a chance you're willing to place on your friendship or brotherhood? Moving forward, take the loss and never again lend money you can't afford to lose.....

Answer 10

Oh for sure I'd be calling up any one of those court shows on T.V. lol Or you could take him to civil court in your own city/town. It's too bad it has to come to that, but he obviously doesn't appreciate how you helped him out, and should definitely be held accountable for his poor behavior, through whatever measures are necessary. Good luck to you, and I hope your brother fixes this before a life-long rift develops.