When a 'friend' does a runner with your money

BDEE · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:15

Dj_Jestar said:
Permanently depriving the OP of the cash.. theft in anyway you look at it.

edit: snappish..

He dishonestly acquired the money by falsely agreeing to repay, and has now done a runner. Theft.

*sigh*

Darg · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:17

piggeh said:
Why does he need to sign something? Contracts work through communication of an offer, acceptance of an offer by the other party, delivery of said contract. It doesn't need to be in a formal written agreement as long as the tests of offer, acceptance etc, are met.

How can they be if there's nothing in writing??

As MrMoonX said he can just claim that he was given the money as a present. Absolutely no legal comeback to that without proof, it's one guys word against anothers.

StonedPenguin · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:18

Send the boys in.

KatanaDV20 · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:25

Real sorry to hear this and I hope you manage to sort it out - that is not a small sum of money even if you can manage without it.

But most importantly - dont give this guy the time of day ever again, cut him out of your life forever.

moogle · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:28

Darg said:
How can they be if there's nothing in writing??

As MrMoonX said he can just claim that he was given the money as a present. Absolutely no legal comeback to that without proof, it's one guys word against anothers.

Do people really give money as a present via bank transfer, and such a large amount? Especially as he's only a friend and not a close relative or something.

Plus if he has the texts that he says he has the small claims court would look at that to see who's telling the truth.

randal · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:35

Raymond Lin said:
If you had lent him £150 more (£750) you could've apply bankruptcy in his name!

I would draft a claim form, fill it in but not sign it and let him know your intention and he has 14 days to respond and set up a payment schedule in writing. Failure to do so it will be lodged.

If he wants to play hard to get then all bets are off.

Bung him another £150, send text saying "that other £150 you wanted is there now MATE", then apply for bankruptcy.

Zing!

infernox · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:35

DERp double

infernox · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:36

Agree, Go break some bones.

ince · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:41

Dj_Jestar said:
Permanently depriving the OP of the cash.. theft in anyway you look at it.

edit: snappish..

He dishonestly acquired the money by falsely agreeing to repay, and has now done a runner. Theft.

Nonsense on stilts.

Tefal · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:44

Dj_Jestar said:
Permanently depriving the OP of the cash.. theft in anyway you look at it.

edit: snappish..

He dishonestly acquired the money by falsely agreeing to repay, and has now done a runner. Theft.

Fraud surely?

Rroff · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:45

BDEE said:
Don't do this - It is not theft / not a criminal case - It is a civil case.

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome << This is your course of action if he has totally stopped replying to you.

If court rules in your favour and he doesnt pay he will get a CCJ.

This is the correct way to deal with it. (tho good luck ever seeing it again).

Dj_Jestar said:
Stealing money is a criminal offence. Not a civil offence.

Depends on the situation - in this particular case its probably a civil matter (outstanding debt) rather than theft.

Tefal · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:46

moogle said:
Do people really give money as a present via bank transfer, and such a large amount? Especially as he's only a friend and not a close relative or something.
.

Innocent until proven guilty, OP's the one whose got to prove it.

Plus if he has the texts that he says he has the small claims court would look at that to see who's telling the truth

yeah because it is 100% absolutely impossible to say borrow someones phone for a f ew minutes and send txts between them.

StriderX · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:50

Warn him the money is from a loan shark, then warn him that they want their money back and will be at his residence in the future if he does not.

Of course if this infallible lie is seen through, then the above solutions should suffice. :cool:

ivrytwr3 · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:53

some great advice here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=76953

small claims is the way forward and for the record it most definately, positively not theft.

moogle · 25 Jun 2012 at 19:05

Tefal said:
Innocent until proven guilty, OP's the one whose got to prove it.

He has proof of the bank transfers and like I said if they have appropriate references on them like 'LOAN' or something equivalent do you think a 'It was only a gift' excuse would hold up?

Tefal said:
yeah because it is 100% absolutely impossible to say borrow someones phone for a f ew minutes and send txts between them.

Like I said the small claims court would look at that, I never said that is the full evidence and there is nothing to disprove that.

Surely if that is the case the friend wouldn't look at his phone when this 'incident' happened and go 'hmm thats odd I never sent these texts' and carry on as normal.

Tefal · 25 Jun 2012 at 21:11

moogle said:
Surely if that is the case the friend wouldn't look at his phone when this 'incident' happened and go 'hmm thats odd I never sent these texts' and carry on as normal.

delete the sent box?

Jesus you never pranked someones phone before?

Some txt messages are not going to be proof.

Deleted member 77746 · 25 Jun 2012 at 21:13

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=22214593&postcount=21

Locky · 25 Jun 2012 at 21:18

Pay someone to break his legs (if you find him) /joke.

moogle · 25 Jun 2012 at 21:20

Tefal said:
delete the sent box?

Jesus you never pranked someones phone before?

Some txt messages are not going to be proof.

Jesus do you read only what you want to see?

moogle said:
I never said that is the full evidence and there is nothing to disprove that.

JonJ678 · 25 Jun 2012 at 21:26

He was a close friend. He's buggered off with £600. Let it go- the guy's clearly not having a great time at the moment. Sending debt collectors after him, whether via small claims or not, seems a very cruel thing to do.