Let someone borrow money, did not pay back

First some background. I volunteered at a food pantry for a couple of years and became friendly with a couple that worked there. They had invited me to cookouts and birthday parties. There was an incident with their boss and I left the volunteer position. About a week later, they asked to borrow $300 and said they would pay me back the end of the following month. That timeline came and went and nothing. They didn't respond to my texts about payment. I was thinking of suing them in small claims court, but before I do that, I was thinking of going back to the food pantry and let people know that they welched and then walk out. Does anyone think I should do this, or just take them to court? I really feel like I have been used, I am upset and feel like a jerk. Just looking to get advice. Thanks

Well Joe, honesty can be an expensive gift, so you really can't expect it from cheap people no matter who they are. Off to court you go & there's really no need to mention it to others as they could well think you a bloody fool. Learn from it all as even going to court may not get your cash back as it'll still cost you. Good Luck.

I don’t think that this is really worth your time. Now $300 isn’t a small sum by any means, but the court fees and time you have to spend might not really be worth it in the end. Not to say that what these people did isn’t shitty. They used you, and to be honest screw em. That’s just my nonprofessional opinion. Make sure you can REALLY trust someone before lending them a hefty sum of money. Stay frosty dude!

Don't stoop to their level. The legal way is always the best and most appropriate way. Less stress, and you could possibly get your money back. I know it isn't much, but you didn't have to let this person borrow anything, but you did out of the kindness of your heart and believing that they would pay you back. For them to not even acknowledge you or even say anything about the money around the time the that the loan was to be paid back, is totally disrespectful and inconsiderate. The best way to punish someone like that is to go to a higher authority and show them that you mean business. Make them feel powerless in that court of law and take back everything that's owed. Because after court, if granted your money back, if they don't pay you, there's serious consequences for that. So all I'm saying is be stress free and play smart.

Hey Joe, What it costs you could nowadays be so little compared to what you stand to regain, but I assume it depends on which country you're in? Is that American Dollars? I don't know about petty claims costs there but - you would? "I really feel like I have been used, I am upset and feel like a jerk." What if they'd paid you back and things were therefore still good, nothing to report on here? Would you feel like a jerk then? No, you wouldn't would you. So your act wasn't the problem, nor anything remotely 'jerk-ish'. (Wash thy mouth out immediately with a lager!) What you did was sweet, caring and generous. IT'S WHAT THEY DID WITH THOSE SANE, HEALTHY, CORRECT HUMAN QUALITIES OF YOURS THAT'S THE 'JERK' BIT. They're the jerks. New mantra for you: "Right qualities (mine) - WRONG RECIPIENTS (those 2 scum-bums)!". All it proves is, you're healthy and lovely with it. And on a man, that's pretty irresistible to likewise empathetic women. So look at it this way: It cost you....300 bucks to find out beyond any shadow of court-worthy doubt, the TRUTH of 'what you're like' in other (sane, healthy) people's eyes - which is: that you are a real catch (because you'll make a great Dad)! 'They are the few that spoil it for the rest'. So although you SHOULD have been safe to lend people who've CONVINCED you, were friends, and trustworthy ones at that - thanks to THESE bozos, we have to leave it much, much longer before we act like close family (or a charity or bank). Or (if the person has power over us and would, say, fire us if not) we have to minimise our loss just in-case by saying, 'I would love to be able to afford to help you, but I can't afford it, I'm struggling at the moment' and - if you get a healthy response back from them, then offer to give them all you CAN afford (20 quid). However, the saying does go - "Neither a Lender nor Borrower Be". (Obviously penned by someone who'd been conned.) On the other hand - why should GENUINE friends go without, just because of these horrid, inhumane scammers? Here are some things to ask yourself if you find yourself put on this highly awkward and embarrassing, socially-paralysing situation: 1. Why do I feel awkward and embarrassed, put majorly on the spot, and too scared to say No? 1. Why might they be asking ME? 1. Do I sense that if I say No, I'll be chucked or ghosted? 1. Why aren't they too embarrassed to ask me in the first place? 1. Have they had practise at asking good but new friends to loan them money? 1. If yes and they paid said friends back - why aren't they asking said friends or why aren't said friends happy to loan them AGAIN? 1. Why not do the more logical, more universally common thing: just ask any/all of their family members and thereby NOT risk even unintentionally poisoning our friendship? 1. Or have they already but been turned down. Why might that be? 1. Might it be that they FAILED to pay them back, possibly more than once, ergo CAN'T ask again. 1. Why don't they feel they can approach their bank for an overdraft/loan, either? 1. Or have they, but were turned down (if so - why?) I'll bet you can think of some more. But also in-future: you're allowed to say: "Umm...I'mmmm nnnnnot sure about that...Need to check my bank balance and get back to you". And then it's, 'Ach - damnit, I can't - aww, bloody hell, I'm SO SORRY'. (If you tell the truth and they're a Narc, they'll use it against you and emotionally blackmail and guilt you to the ruddy moon and back so - just lie for the power of NO-ONE getting hurt! (You'd be able to tell as time unfolded, with you dragging your feet or offering above-said gestural amount ('every little helps'), whether or not they were genuine people genuinely in a position of desperation whom therefore had no choice but to sod everything and ask.) But I'll say it again: Malignant Narcs, especially Narc-Sociopaths (and/or drug-addicts and -abusers) deliberately go for the most attractively-healthy humans whom accordingly are the most empathetic, kind, compassionate, socially-morally responsible, and generous. Plus, being the biggest 'rays of sunshine' whom thereby evidently got healthily-programmed and -raised - you've got what they should have had but were denied and deprived of, so they secretly 'hhhhhate you, you sssmug bsstd' ("Pathological Envy (& Resentment*)" (*not of your doing). So there we go: You're normal, healthy, and a real catch. Say it with me: "Ththththank-you, Narcs, and thththank-you, Fans! :))))". :) Money well spent, methinks. But hey. Why does that mean you can't get it back anyway? I say, have both! Depending on the court cost of lodging a Petty Claims Action - go kick their arses as well! After all - yes, cheers, thanks for the massive validation at how gorgeous I am, but, here's the trouble-bubble: I didn't pigging order it - you forced it on me. Now show 'em your scary side. So scary, you go the legal route. Because you mean business so want the expert professionals to handle it. INNIT. Another benefit of going via court: you'll avoid anyone thinking you're a fool if you act like a mature, not just man but businessman; rather, they'll be impressed that you fought back like Bond, James Bond. There ya go - everyone's perfectly good/true/valid advice combined, and no congealing, to make a complete 'dish' (- custard pie) (in their faces). :) (I didn't mean for that to be so long, interestingly.) There's a Plan B if you're interested? ______________ (PS Chaooo: "Stay frosty dude!" I love that...made me laugh. It's cute, funny but to-the-Savvy-point.)

Any update for us, Joe?

Yes, this is awkward and leaves you hanging high and dry. Once I was given this advice and I have handled any requests to borrow money this way ever since: "Never loan someone more money than you'd be willing to gift them." I know this does not help you now, but just know, you paid this into the karma bank.

"Never loan someone more money than you'd be willing to gift them." Oooh, I LLLLIKE thatm AKGEM! And I agree about the Karma Kredits. ...In fact, I REALLY like that, so let's repeat it larger so the readers don't miss it. 'NEVER LOAN SOMEONE ORE MONEY THAN YOU'D BE WILLING TO GIFT THEM' (Nice one!)