Someone who owes me money is not paying me back - Suggestions?

Question

Hi. Someone who owes me a lot of money has not replied to my voice messages for a while. I don't know her address, I only hav eher telephone number. She has been avoiding me for obvious reasons. She had promised she would pay me back after I had taken out a loan for her. She was paying in monthly until a few months ago. What is the best way for me to recalim the money (the loan is in my name so there is no paper trail or evidence that I got the loan for her), I only have her mobile number. Thx.

Thanks for your lovely responses. This 'friend' was a friend of a friend. She wanted me to be her guarantor for a flat she was renting. So I became her guranator. After a few months her payments were behind. The agency threatened to take me to court if I didn't pay the outstanding amount. The only option was to take out a loan and pay the agent to escape court injunction. The friend said she would pay me monthly and then clear the loan in one go when she got a job. She was paying me back every month for a year, then for the last 4 mths she hasn't paid me. That's why I am in a serious position. If I didn't take out the loan to pay back the agent then I would have been in court. I could find out her address from the register because I know the area she lives. I will consider other suggestions as well. Thx

Answer 1

take her to small claims court or Judge Judy....

Answer 2

There's a saying, "Neither a lender nor a borrower be". It is always dangerous to do this sort of thing or to act as guarantor. Friendships, relationships etc are lost as a result of things like this. But in your case, it doesn't even sound as if you know the person well, not even having an address. I don't think you have a leg to stand on. You are responsible for the loan so if you were to stop paying you would have the debt collectors looking to you. It will be your credit record and rating that is affected. You can't even threaten to sue her without an address and that would probably be a waste of money anyhow. I think this will be a valuable and expensive lesson for you.

Answer 3

well this one really sucks.

on the one hand I have to question your decision to stand guarantor for someone you didnt know that well. Could you not bring some pressure onto the "friend" she is a "friend" of. Looks like you have had a really expensive lesson.

on the other hand you really need to find this person. I would try 192.com, the electoral register and if the amount of money warrents it a private detective agency. Then once you have the name and address county court job. You can prove you were guarantor, you can prove she didnt pay the rent, you can prove you did. only thing you cant prove is the fact she said she would pay you, but thats still a verbal contract, and if she has paid some monthly payments you have history to prove she was doing it.

Answer 4

Hasan:

This should be a lesson learned! Never, under any circumstance should you take out a loan for someone other than yourself!

Count your losses, pay the loan and move on. Hopefully, this person will come around and pay you back. But.....I wouldn't count on it. Legally, there is nothing you can do since this person is not listed on the loan.

Answer 5

Looks like you have learnt a lesson , the hard way

Don't wory you are not the first person to do so

I found out , do not lend to family or freinds , as they are the ones that do not pay.

I lent a member of my family a lot of money , and have even given up hope of ever getting it back , but then again they will never borrow any more , and one day the subject will come up , when they don't expect it

Answer 6

I hope this is in the UK, as in the UK your verbal agreement is deemed a contract. If you do live in the UK, go straight to a soliciter (if you can't find one try any Magistrates Court - the places are crawling with them). Failing that, try to fool her into paying you back. I agree with the baseball bat as a last resort, but a crowbar can be just as effective.

If you live outside the UK I can't help you on the law front, but the bat is still good.

Answer 7

Your first battle is to find her and serve her with court summons.

In small claims court, they are pretty lax. You don't always need to have a contract, but you have to find some type of paper trail.

Did you give her a check, or was it cash?

When she paid you, was it in cash or by check/money order?

Either of these will help establish a trail. But it's gonna he a rough trial.

Answer 8

the best way to get that money back is by going trough the small claims court. try www.claimonline.co.uk or go to your local magistrates court (free) and they will give you info on how to make a claim. but you need her address full name and the date when it happen. yu can only make claims for something that happened less than 6 years ago.
good luck
bianca

Answer 9

Sounds like you may have to put this down to experience and learn a valuable lesson! Do'nt take loans out for other people!You have nothing to take to court,take out an advert in the paper stating that you are owed money by this person and would she please get in touch.Even if you do'nt get your money back,you will really have embarrassed her!!!

Answer 10

leave a message on her answer machine threatening to sell the debt to a debt collection agencey. - you can't actually do this as legally it is YOU who owe the money, but she may not know this. if that doesn't work try telling her that you will take out a full page ad in her local paper telling everyone that she owes you money and is refusing to pay!

Answer 11

If the loan is in your name then, legally, there is nothing you can do about it. *You* are legally responsible for the debt.

She got what she wanted from you and now she's gone. Just learn from this, and next time don't be such a sucker for a pretty face (and/or a roll in the hay).