$

I am owed well over $1,500 by people I know.  I had no idea how much money I've loaned out, neglected to collect, not worried about...until now, when I overdrafted my bank account and racked up $200 in overdraft charges because I tried to use my check card to pay $5 for parking and $1.75 for lip balm.  But we'll talk about THAT another day, it's still not resolved.

I generally get paid back when I loan people money, so I don't worry about doing it; but in these times it seems everyone has a problem.  Meanwhile, these people have the same jobs they had before, so I don't understand where the money is going.  But it's not my place to question.

So I'm spending the day making calls, sending emails, asking politely but directly for what people need to give me; it's a terrible feeling, listening to the stuttering and the apologies, perhaps twinged with the regret that I didn't forget to ask for the money like they hoped.  Or I could be making that up in my head, but sometimes it must be true.

Suze Orman would kill me.

Comments

[avonlei]

ive done that before...and its outrageous what these banks charge....hope it all works out for you hon....blessings

[Jewelry Rockstar]

I over drafted on my account because someone who owed me money wrote me a bad check. Try to avoid taking a check. Ask them to make a paypal payment because it will be more convenient to you and them.

[David]

I was instructed by a friend to never loan friends money, unless you absolutely have no intention of ever being repaid. Otherwise it only leads to trouble.

[Margie]

Have you spoken to the bank and get them to help you? They may waive it this time just to help you out. I know they did it for me when something happened.

As for friends, I'm all for being a good friend but man, as I've gotten older, I tend to not loan it out because I will never get it back. Ever.

[hephaestion]

I would never loan money to a friend or anyone else. I tell people who need money that I will gladly GIVE them some money to go towards meeting their needs, but I never lend. Better to lose $50 as a gift than to lose $500 and a friendship as a loan.

[Glenn D.]

Dan, did you try my suggestions from your last post? Seriously just tell them that the last item you bought (toaster, shirt, cat toy) was defective and you have been trying like mad to contact the bank to get your money back because the store won't take it back. Then you can say that this bogus charge caused you to overdraft. Seriously it works for me every time!!! Well I usually keep a few grand in my bank account.

And these so called friends don't sound like they really are your friends otherwise they wouldn't backstab you and renig on the money. Even when I was broke I always found a way to pay people back. And poor people don't make good friends. You should be borrowing from them.

[DPOE]

Well for some reason my friends all think I am connected to something shady and underground so they don't ask lol. That does suck though and I just wouldn't do it. Also, what kind of friend asks for money??? I was taught that it is highly inappropriate. I am lucky that my bank doesn't actually charge me overdraft fees. It's a small town bank and my family has all of our personal and half of our business accounts there so that's probably why plus sometimes people forget to deposit a damn check ya know. It happens. Talk to your bank but I hate dealing with those massive financial institutions because you talk to someone who you don't know and doesn't give a shit ya know?