To ask colleagues to pay me back after a month?

[FreeBeeBird]

We had a colleague going on mat leave last month and I have proposed to buy her a gift as a small, closer group (8 of us). I offered to sort the gift and pay in advance, shared all the options and agreed on a budget with everyone. Problem is that 2 of them haven’t yet paid me back and now I feel it’s been to long to say anything. I am not very comfortable asking for money but we ended up paying £15 so I am left £30 out of pocket for this. Is it pathetic to ask for the money back? I work in a high earning industry and my colleagues are all pretty well off so it isn’t a matter of them not having the money. Equally because of that, I feel a bit bad chasing people for it. What would you do?

100% ask for money, it shouldn't be awkward OP. I'd feel embarrassed if I was the person who hadn't paid and received a reminder!

Don't out them, just send a polite reminder of your bank details and amount due.

Message them OP - I do the birthday collections for my team and it's always the same person who doesn't pay. I message him until he does - they are the ones who should be embarrassed

I would email the two colleagues directly with your bank details. "Hi, just checking my accounts can you pay the £15 for Sarah's maternity present please." No sorries, or messaging the general group. Unless you're on a six figure sum, £30 is a reasonable amount of money and you did the grunt work organising it, so they just need to pay up.

What did you end up doing op? It’s pretty rude to start a thread and not even bother to reply to all the people who took their time to give you advice.

@FreeBeeBird to the group: “hi, two people still to pay, £15 each please, don’t make me name and shame (wink emoji)”

The post directly above is a good suggestion. Or, did you send a group email organising it? If so, send a reply message to the group and say ‘could the three of you who haven’t yet paid me for your gift to x person please bring the money in?

I’d put three so it seems like you are £45 out of pocket. It’s a triviality of a fib but it will stop you worrying about looking mean (which you are NOT - they are the tight / cheeky ones!).

Gosh, £15 each is steep. Maybe people felt awkward saying no initially - gets very expensive for people with this new trend of buying gifts for the lovely things happening in people’s lives. Have either them had things happen in their lives, such as periods of sick/operations, and not received group gifts?

Did those two actually agree that they were happy to contribute towards the gift?

Just send a brief email to those who haven't paid. Keep it formal and impersonal. Include all the pertinent information.

Title: Payment Reminder

I'd appreciate if you would forward your contribution of £15 for Sally's gift, which is now overdue.

Banking details are below.

Thank You.

People who are loaded are often loaded because they frequently 'forget' to pay their dues and they rely on others feeling too embarrassed to pursue it.

Ask and ask again and again, and put a big A4 note on their computer screen saying "remember to pay £15 - 1 month overdue" to up their embarrassment stakes.

No one is loaded as they held on to the occasional few quid. That’s not what makes you loaded.

But that mindset of 'getting out of paying your dues' does. If they're happy to do it for £15 they'll be happy to do it for £500,000.

No, you get loaded from earning it or inheriting it. And no one who owes half a million gets away with not paying it.

Hi, you still owe for Doodah’s maternity present. It’s £15. Here are my account details XXXCC. Thanks 😊

You're a little naive. Although you're not alone, I don't think a lot of people really understand how rich rich people are and how aggressively they make sure they stay rich. Earning and inheritance are not the only way to make money. Investing wisely and hiding your dividends from the taxman is also quite effective. That's literally what non-dom status is all about, and why people set up shell companies in the Caymans. I promise there are people who get away with not paying a lot more than half a million.

Bernie Ecclestone was found guilty of hiding £400 million pounds (only a small portion of his wealth.) He dodged tax and penalties on this over 30-year period and the amount he eventually paid back was a staggering £652 million pounds which is very likely less than the full amount due. Compound interest means that he's made even more money by holding back on paying that £652 million for 30 years. Not paying your dues on time can make you money (even at low amounts) that's why it's actually quite an effective mindset to keep yourself rich.

Do we think Ecclestone is the only rich person to do this - hell no. The others just haven't been caught yet. Half a million is small fry in the grand scheme of things. But the mindset is the same whether you're forgetting to pay over £600million to the taxman for 30 years or not paying £15 you've promised for a gift for 30 days.

Your call. I’m sure you can just eat it. i would /have/did/do.

or send them a message, hey just reconciled my books, I haven’t received transfers from you for baby gift. E-transfer is [email protected].

This kind of thing has happened to me so many times! I hate asking and often don't but this kind of behaviour really annoys me....at best it's careless and inconsiderate. I'd send a reminder to the whole group saying thanks to those who have paid and here are my bank details for those who haven't. I've actually stopped offering to organise things like this where I know I'll likely be out of pocket......

Of course you shoud ask, otherwise you’ve paid £45+ for the gift instead of £15.

Remind them politely. They have just forgotten.

A place I once worked at, your name only went on the card if you contributed.

I would send a private message to say can you check with your bank as the £15 for xyz's present has not reached my bank yet. That way you are not accusing them but getting them to look into it their end. They could have paid but it went to a wrong account. (I once sent money to the right name but wrong person on paypal)

I only work p/t so often owe money for gifts (agreed when im not there) but have no problem with colleagues asking for money from me im also a bit scatty so once a month i always say to my 6colleagues "do i owe anyone money" just incase I've forgotten- i never ever feel offended when they ask/remind me. Please send them a private email reminder it's the right thing to do they will probably just have forgotten & be more embarrassed than you

It’s a great time to ask as it’s payday. Just post on the WhatsApp something like - hi folks, a couple of people have forgotten to give me the money for x present so as it’s payday I’m hoping it’s a good time to remind you! Cheers

I would ask them in the WhatsApp chat (so the others can see)

I’d send a gentle reminder on pay day and hope they can sort it straight away.