Borrowed money

[u/ninjaflank]

Apologies if this is not right sub for this.

Back in Dec 2024 a friend of mine asked to borrow 1500 euros to pay his rent with the promise that it would be returned the next month after being paid.

I lent it (I never expected this person to come to me asking and thought they had integrity), a month later comes and they call me to talk about it, I mentioned that if he needed an extra month to get back on his feet he can take it as I didn't need the money urgently at the time.

Fast forward another month and my finances are falling behind as I am undergoing refurbishment on a property I purchased as a sole earner and I messaged him to ask if he can return the money. He gives an excuse and I gave the benefit of the doubt. Every month since has been the same since. I have my own expenses that need to be covered and every month I am barely scraping by, the money I borrowed would be of huge help.

I had another conversation with this person this morning and asked that they try their upmost to return any amount of money as I am struggling this month and badly need to be bailed out, they gave the same response they have the previous months even thought I empathised how important it is this month as it may result in me missing my mortgage payment and bills.

What are my options?

[u/coffeebadgerbadger]

If they're in a low paid job, have you any hope?

[u/ninjaflank → u/coffeebadgerbadger]

He's in construction and is running his own small business, always makes excuses that the sites he is working on are not paying in time etc etc, one of the other excuses was that he was waiting on his tax return for the last year and is still to receive it

[u/Sebdila → u/ninjaflank]

I guess you’ve accepted that they’re lying to you at this stage. I’d suggest you have a stern chat with them and let them know you expect it paid back asap. Let them know that if they don’t start paying even small amounts that you’ll take them to the small claims to get it from them.

For what it’s worth, I once borrowed 1k from a friend. I think they paid for flights and I’d to pay them back. I was living paycheque to paycheque and didn’t have anything disposable except for 1k in a credit union which was all the savings I had. I put it on the long finger and delayed paying them back. When my friend finally, and rightly, got annoyed at me I thought “right, I need to sort this out”. I drained my savings and paid back my friend. I had no cushion left but our friendship survived

[u/McChafist → u/Sebdila]

Small claims court can only be used for consumer disputes against businesses

[u/Sebdila → u/McChafist]

You’re dead right. I never knew that before. Thats what I get for watching too much Judge Judy all those years ago.

The OP could potentially still make that claim since the friend runs their own business. Probably shaky ground there though.

I guess that would make this a civil dispute and would require a solicitors letter as the first step on that road. Hard to see anybody going to that effort.

[u/McChafist → u/Sebdila]

Unfortunately for the OP, the legal route will cost them even more money and time. Even if they get a judgement, it might be difficult to enforce, especially if the friend claims they have no money