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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Owed money

38 replies

Thistledew · 12/03/2011 23:57

More of a WWYD?

I am owed in the region of £5,000 by a charity that I used to work for on a freelance basis. The charity is in financial difficulties and struggles to pay its basic bills each month. I am friends with several of the charity's employees, who would lose their jobs if the charity went under.

I am re-training at the moment, and earning very little. 5k represents about a third of my income in this 12 months. I live with my DP, who has a comfortable salary, and who could afford to pay our mortgage and all our bills with no contribution from me, but things would be tight. I had planned on that money for living expenses, and also to do some improvements around the house, that I have been looking forward to for ages.

I tried to reach an agreement to be paid in installments, but the charity now seems to be wriggling out of it. I really don't know if they could pay if I took them to court - maybe they can, or maybe it would take them under.

What would you do?

OP posts:
Original poster
Thistledew · 13/03/2011 00:50

Unfortunately, it might be. I know they nearly had to close a month or so ago. The trouble is, I can't tell for sure whether it would or not.

OP posts:
Original poster
Thistledew · 13/03/2011 00:56

I actually feel really sad and stressed out about it at the moment. I would love to have that money coming in, but could not live with the guilt if the charity went under.

Also, I cannot think of a single person there about whom I would not feel very guilty if they took home less money in order that I got paid.

OP posts:
BitOfFun · 13/03/2011 00:57

It sounds like the charity is going under regardless- it is hardly your fault.

iscream · 13/03/2011 01:06

Sounds like they are going to close anyways. If you do decide not to ask for your money, at least ask for a recite for a £5,000 donation so you can claim it as a charitable donation.

Original poster
Thistledew · 13/03/2011 01:14

I suppose you are right BOF. And quite egotistical of me to think that I could really save it by forgoing the money Blush .

It is just such a shame, as it genuinely helps hundreds of people each year on things that are really important to them. It has been avoiding closure by the skin of its teeth for nearly two years now, and has only just had a investment by one of its supporters that means it should run much more efficiently.

OP posts:
BitOfFun · 13/03/2011 01:18

Oh I don't want you to think I'm implying you are egotistical Sad, Just don't be the fall guy and get shafted yourself. You sound like a lovely lovely person.

Original poster
Thistledew · 13/03/2011 01:19

Thanks for all the replies. I am quite surprised it was so unanimous, but I suppose things are much clearer if you do not have an emotional investment in it.

I am going to insist on payments by installment.

OP posts:
BitOfFun · 13/03/2011 01:20

Good for you. It is only fair.

Gotabookaboutit · 13/03/2011 01:22

I think to be honest if they are that badly run and cant pay for something done last summer by now you may actually doing the ''community'' a favour, as how many other people have they not paid and how many more bills will they run up before they go under, possibly taking some small local businesses with them?. If they were a company they would be '' trading'' illegally - not sure if the same is true with a charity.

Chil1234 · 13/03/2011 05:12

I think the charity are taking advantage of your 'emotional investment', quite frankly. What makes you so unimportant that your needs are shoved to the end of the queue? If you were independently wealthy you could possibly afford to say 'you keep it' to £5000... but it's very clear that you need the money. I bet the people running the charity aren't hanging back when it comes to their payments!

NB They won't pay by installment, even if you insist because they know that you don't really mean it. They will continue to ignore you until you take legal advice or see CAB. There's a time for sentiment and this isn't it.

ZillionChocolate · 13/03/2011 07:27

Would you have been willing to work elsewhere and donate £5,000 of your earnings to this particular charity?

Moosemummy · 13/03/2011 07:38

Oooh, zillion, you beat me to it with the exact same point! You are planning to give £5k to a charity. If you are really going to do this, do it on a formal basis, write them a formal letter, make sure you gift aid it and write it off for tax purposes. Otherwise, go and get it!

Katey1010 · 13/03/2011 17:48

Can you use a 5K tax write off?

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