How many days to pay colleague back?

[feelinginthedark]

I organised the purchase of Christmas gifts from the management team to our staff members - between 5 of us the gifts came to about 500, so they each owe me 100. I bought the gifts as my colleague who had said she would do it at the meeting at which we discussed what to get etc was too busy. The gifts have been delivered, are being distributed, and I sent an email yesterday morning with my account details for people to pay me back for them. Only one person has transferred the money yet - AIBU to be impatiently waiting for my cash??!! What is the acceptable time before I should remind people?? One of them still owes me 50 from a previous wedding gift for a colleague that I organised! I won't be organising gifts from the team again that's for sure but I know that if I leave it until after Christmas they'll forget altogether ...

They probably do intend to pay - it just doesn't seem as urgent when it's not you that's out of pocket. Agree with getting it in advance next time. Then a deadline can be applied.

Just email saying 'thanks to so and so who's already paid, please can the rest of you all pay today.' Don't say that you really need the money for something - that just looks a bit pathetic and disorganised. If you really needed that money you would never have agreed to be out of pocket for something non essential like this.

Did any of them bother to reply OP?

Yes, how many have still not coughed up?

One reply saying that they'd transfer the money this evening. Still waiting...

I think they would have done it by now. First thing in the morning ask them to transfer it now or cash point at lunchtime

That's a good idea, refuse to hand out the gifts until you've been refunded. Your colleagues are forcing you into this position and you will seek to return the items if there's no other form of being compensated.

Feckers. Nothing!

Have the gifts been given yet?

Yes most of them have. And they're not returnable (plants)

As this is work related I would take it to your manager if they have not all paid you today, they are taking the piss. Hope you get it sorted op

Personally I would wait patiently for a week before asking again. It’s a busy time of year and it’s easy to get sidetracked and forget to transfer the money. I’m sure they all fully intend to pay you.

That’s only if you can afford it. If you can afford to pay upfront you should never have bought the presents in the first place.
I arranged presents for staff this year and used a company credit card/bank to pay up front - cost was significantly more than £500 though. That way everyone owes the company not me and it’s easier to chase but without the pressure of being out of pocket myself.

We used to get payroll to deduct it from their pay so no late payments and no missed payments.

Don't wait a week. I don't agree with that at all. If people can't afford it they shouldn't have agreed to put in so much money. It's not up to you to be out of pocket. Get the money back today

2 have paid up plus money owed for wedding gift. One more to go!

Well it is progress never do this again

Chase the last person saying you need them to confirm payment has been made. You need the funds for Christmas.
Ask for money upfront next time. That's what I do.

Plants? I thought they were tokens?

Tokens are things like plants and chocolates pp (a token gift)

Tokens are like gift cards, I get tokens from my work, am I the only one who still calls them gift tokens

£500 is a huge amount for token gifts imo

Happy days OP! Once you get it all back, never again

Why should the OP have to wait? She did all the work and is now out of pocket.

People should be paying you back without having to be asked. I certainly wouldn't wait until after Christmas. The longer you wait, the harder it'll be to get the money.

In future, only do this if they pay up front. You aren't the office bank.

SandyDenny Yes haha gift cards are gift cards, 'small tokens' are little gifts that aren't extravagant.

for future, get the money in advance. Email 48 hours before you're going to buy "anyone who wants to contribute, money by BACS by xx time/date" - anyone who doesn't send it can do their own thing.