Friend owes me money. (Long post)

[Cemkg123]

I met this girl 3 years ago on holiday through a friend, ended up being good friends. Last year I was in turkey for 6 months and she was coming to visit for 2 weeks in August. She is a young single mum to a 6 year old, so she was bringing him and her mum. The day before she was due to travel so said she had no money for the visas to enter turkey and no money for food during the travel as she got paid the day after this. I told her I can lend her £100 to cover costs and she told me she would pay me the next day. She arrived early hours of the morning and I was sleeping so the next day I went to see her. She was crying and said she had been paid but some payments/debt had been taken from her bank which she had forgotten about. I said ok it's fine you can pay me back after the holiday, let's just enjoy. As I wasn't desperate for the money to be paid back there and then.
During the holiday I bought her son some toys, pay for some drinks which I don't mind, I offered. At the end of the holiday her son got an ear infection and couldn't fly, her insurance paid for hotel and new flight, offered to move her to all inclusive so they would be fed and watered but they refused because they didn't want the hassle of changing hotels but they didn't have any money between them, so I don't understand why they did this. They called their family to borrow money but nobody would help, she was crying and I felt bad so I offered them another £100 to go to the supermarket for food for the apartment and to get them by, her child was with then so how could I let him starve. My friend and her mum took the money and told me they would pay me back 14th September as that's when the mum got paid. They went home on 13th, 14th came and b9 money, said that they needed to get food in for the house etc so I said ok pay later. Basically I have asked for my money numerous times and each time there's an excuse. BTW all this time I was pregnant and she knew, and I now have a 4 month old so need all my money.
Told me last month she will definitley pay me on 29th August. I've text her in the days leading up to today but I've had no reply.
I know it's only £200 and I'm not desperate for it but it would be handy to buy new things for the baby as they grow so fast. But also it's the principle, I lent her money to help her out and it makes me angry that she thinks she doesn't have to pay me back. I've recently found out she's done this to other friends (ex friends)
I was contemplating taking her to small claims court just because I don't think it's right that she thinks I'll just go away and let her get away with it. I know that might sound petty but I'm really tired of helping others and not gettin any respect (at least) back. What would you do? Sorry it's long.

OMG get her on TV OP 😂😂😂

Thank goodness you're here, Nathan!!!

Hahaha don't know how I feel about judge rinder... not usually one to air my business for all to see 😂 but she's being really cocky now, I've had to block her on social media because she started gettin nasty, and I didn't want to say anything that would go against me

I was about to say judge rinder! Do it!!

My Grandmother always said don’t loan money to a friend- if they need it, you give it.

A good friend will repay you one way or another.

If they don’t repay you it’s not an issue as the money was a gift rather than a loan! But you have still learnt a valuable lesson.

Watermelon, if a friend is in need I would always help. And if they are respectful and I can see that they want to pay me back in some way or another then I would let it go. As I said in a previous post, if she said she was struggling and was honest and didn't play games with me, I would've said don't worry about it, just keep it. I just don't appreciate being taken for a mug, I have always been there for her, since Xmas when she got with her boyfriend , I've never had a text from her, always me texting first. She would sometimes ignore me for days, but then come running when she was having problems. I realised now that she was never a friend, I was just someone she used when she needed.

I think you could go to small claims court. The texts would be evidence of your agreement in my opinion. You could get a company to trace her for about £45. Try something like Arkline. I think it’s about £45 and usually no trace, no fee. There will be a fee to issue but it’s a simple process and you can do yourself. You could claim back the court issue fee and any other court fees (there would be a hearing fee if it gets to that stage) if you win.

As PP said it might be worth it to teach them a lesson. I’m sure mentions court did get their “backs up” but sounds like they never intended on paying anyway!

Maybe your friend knows where she lives

I'm going to go through with it, I just need to know how to get the ball rolling. Citizens advice never called me back so gonna go in to speak to them. And no my friend unfortunately doesn't know where she lives, she just moved house about 2 weeks ago according to her mum, and she wouldn't give me the address.

I'll have a look and maybe give that a try then, thanks AliceRR

www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/court-fees

It says it'll cost you £25 to make a claim online so you might as well just for the principle and the £175 difference!

I'd out last known address on the paperwork

Or her mothers address

Good luck OP - people like this make me angry.

You can claim the court fee back as part of the value of your claim

Any update ?

I always think the true nature of a person is shown when you lend them money. I think you either have to accept that you lost £200 or take her to small claims. Friendship is over either way.