Generally, if a friend asks you for money, say no or just give it to them. Don't expect to get your money back. So, if you want to lend money to a friend, you’ll need a plan to get it back.
Unfortunately, they probably won't remember on their own. You can use this guide to navigate this tricky situation and get your money back.
Lending money to a friend can be complicated, and asking for your money back can feel awkward.
If They Owe You Money, Remember to Ask for Repayment Directly
If you haven’t heard from your friend who owes you money in a while, call them to see how they're doing. Then, once you catch up, ask for loan repayment directly. Keep it short and sweet while matching their tone and demeanor.
Gently remind them of the amount owed and your agreed-upon repayment terms. Don’t forget to tell them what you need to use the funds for, especially if you have to handle any immediate expenses.
Although they should pay you back without extra prompting, appealing to their emotions may encourage them to pay you back faster. If they agree to repayment, meet up at a casual place to settle the debt and catch up with your old friend.
Create a Payment Plan If They Can't Pay You Back Immediately
When you talk to your friend about repaying what they owe you, they’re likely to claim that they don’t have the money at that time. If that’s the case, you can work around their financial woes by setting up a payment plan.
First, you’ll want to determine how much they can pay you each month. Then, consider breaking it down into weekly payments to make things easier for your friend.
Let your friend lead the way in planning the payments to avoid overextending their finances. But make sure that the payments will make you whole in a reasonable amount of time.
Encourage Your Friend to Find Creative Ways to Earn Some Money
When your friend’s money troubles don’t seem to end, you may want to help them find creative ways to earn back the funds. You can work together in brainstorming fun side gigs that will bring in money fast.
Cleaning services, food delivery, and dog walking are good ways to earn extra cash when not at work. Make sure that you agree on a set percentage of their earnings that’ll go toward paying you the money they owe. Otherwise, their extra cash is likely to disappear before you are returned your money.
Take Your Friend to Small Claims Court
You may need to take your friend to small claims court if all else fails. You can start with [mediation], although it’s not likely to change things if your friend is unwilling to pay off their debt.
The mediation process involves having a third party help talk it out, present new ideas, and get both parties to agree. On the other hand, the small claims court leaves it up to the judge to determine what to do.
How to File in Small Claims Court and Get Your Friend to Pay You Back
If you're hoping to file in small claims court, you'll want to check your county's small claims website for details on how to file. Each county may have different rules for filing fees, small claims limits, paperwork, or filing procedure. So make sure you are following the rules that apply to you.
This may sound like a lot of research, but this research may save you time. Or if you want to save even more time, file with Dispute. Not only will you save time in finding information, but you'll save time generating paperwork, sending paperwork to the courthouse, and looking for courthouse information.
If you file a complaint in small claims court, come prepared to show the court evidence of the money owed and your attempts to collect payment. Evidence may include bank statements showing the original loan amount, text messages about repayment, and any record of partial payments made by your friend.
The judge will also listen to your friend’s side of the story to get the whole picture. After that, they’ll review all the evidence, reflect on the testimonies, and use their legal expertise to decide how to best handle the case.
If you win your case in small claims court, the judge will order your friend to pay you immediately. Although that might mean you’ll lose your friend, their unwillingness to pay back what they owe shows they weren’t great friends.
At Dispute, our app makes the small claims filing process easy and affordable. Let the app manage all paperwork, court dates, and filing. All you have to do is check your user dashboard for updates on your case. Our tools make it easy to manage the details for any state and county. All you need to do is put together evidence and show up for your day in court.
